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Royal Icing

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Updated Mar 8, 2019
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Use this traditional icing recipe on your favorite holiday cookies.

Royal Icing

  • Prep Time 15 min
  • Total 15 min
  • Servings 30
  • Ingredients 6
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Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup plus 5 to 10 teaspoons warm water (105°F to 115°F)
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • Betty Crocker™ gel food color(s), if desired

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, 1/3 cup warm water, the meringue powder, vanilla and cream of tartar with electric mixer on low speed until mixed. Beat on high speed 7 to 10 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until very stiff. Tint with food color(s).
  • Step 
    2
    Spoon 1/2 cup icing into small decorating bag fitted with small round writing tip; twist bag to keep closed. Keep remaining icing covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out; set aside.
  • Step 
    3
    To pipe outlines or borders: Squeeze decorating bag firmly and steadily working counterclockwise to create an icing border. Release pressure on decorating bag to cut off flow of icing and complete border. Allow borders to set completely, 30 to 60 minutes, before filling in outlines.
  • Step 
    4
    Uncover remaining icing, and add any icing from piping outlines into bowl; mix well. Stir in warm water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing is consistency of heavy cream. (Make sure icing is mixed well before adding next teaspoon of water so as not to add too much.) Pour thinned icing into squeeze bottle; screw on top. Keep squeeze bottle tip and any remaining icing covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out while decorating.
  • Step 
    5
    To flood or glaze: Using squeeze bottle, fill inside with thinned icing. Use nozzle of squeeze bottle or small metal icing spatula to fill in all areas until completely covered. If decorating with sprinkles, let stand 1 to 2 minutes before adding, so the sprinkles adhere. Let stand about 3 hours or until completely dry. Outlines and floods 30 (3-inch) sugar cookie shapes. Cover and store any remaining icing.

Nutrition

80 Calories
0g Total Fat
0g Protein
19g Total Carbohydrate
18g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon
Calories
80
Calories from Fat
0
Total Fat
0g
0%
Saturated Fat
0g
0%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
0%
Sodium
0mg
0%
Potassium
10mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate
19g
6%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
18g
Protein
0g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
0%
0%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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