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Best Royal Icing Recipe for Sugar Cookies

A foolproof royal icing recipe designed for perfectly decorated sugar cookies. This meringue powder-based icing dries quickly, pipes cleanly, and delivers smooth, professional finishes every time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Course: Frosting & Icings
Cuisine: American
Calories: 91.5
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 6 tablespoons warm water plus 3–4 tablespoons more for flood consistency
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring

Method
 

  1. Combine sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder in a stand mixer bowl.
  2. Mix on low speed to blend dry ingredients.
  3. Slowly add warm water and vanilla while mixing.
  4. Increase to medium-high speed and beat for 5 minutes until stiff peaks form.
  5. Divide icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring as desired.
  6. Adjust consistency: keep stiff for outlining; add warm water 1 teaspoon at a time for flooding.
  7. Transfer to piping bags and decorate cookies as desired.

Notes

Always use gel coloring to avoid thinning the icing. Test consistency before decorating—flood icing should smooth out within 10–20 seconds.