Hard Setting Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe (Royal Icing Alternative)
Make smooth, glossy sugar cookie icing that dries hard, perfect for decorating cut-out cookies and gifting. This recipe is easy and sets firm for stacking.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: Covers about 2 dozen medium cookies 1x
- Category: Baking Decoration
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup meringue powder
- 1/2 cup warm water (approximate)
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon light corn syrup (optional, for gloss)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
- Add the warm water slowly, mixing on low speed with an electric mixer until the mixture forms stiff peaks.
- Add the vanilla extract and corn syrup (if using). Mix briefly until just combined.
- Check the consistency. For outlining, the icing should hold a stiff peak. For flooding, add water, one teaspoon at a time, until the icing flows slowly off the spoon and smooths into itself in about 10-15 seconds (15-second rule).
- Divide the icing into bowls for coloring, if desired. Use gel food coloring for best results.
- Transfer icing to piping bags fitted with small tips for outlining cookies. Let the outline dry for 15-30 minutes.
- Fill the outlined areas with the thinner flooding consistency icing. Gently tap the cookie on the counter to release air bubbles and smooth the surface.
- Allow cookies to dry completely at room temperature for 6 to 12 hours, or until the surface is completely hard to the touch.
Notes
- For a corn syrup free cookie icing, omit the corn syrup and add 1/2 teaspoon of light corn syrup substitute or use slightly less water.
- Icing consistency is key: Stiff icing is for outlining; thinner icing (10-15 second flow) is for flooding.
- This hard setting cookie glaze is different from buttercream frosting, which stays soft.
- Store unused icing covered tightly with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a crust from forming.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 100
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 100
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 0
Find it online: https://kingscook.com/sugar-cookie-icing-recipe/