Quick and Easy Royal Icing Recipe

Recipe:
1 lb (453 g) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
3 tbsp (28 g) meringue powder** (amzn.to/2UXHefP)
1/4 cup (60 ml) water (plus more for thinning)
1 tsp (1.2 ml) vanilla extract
**Meringue Powder Substitute: replace with 3 ounces (89ml) of egg whites.
I've been making royal icing a long time and I have learned over the years that there is no need to make royal icing more complicated than necessary! It is actually very easy to make and can take less than 10 minutes! In this video I show you how I make my royal icing and how to create stiff, piping, and flood consistency icing for all your cookie decorating projects!
You can find my full blog post plus more resources on cookie decorating on my website. www.thehoneyblonde.com/royal-...
RECIPES
Classic Sugar Cookie Recipe: bit.ly/3sNmWVG
Royal Icing Recipe: bit.ly/2NruPjB
Exclusive Sugar Cookie Recipes: www.thehoneyblonde.com/ebooks
Other Sugar Cookie Recipes: www.thehoneyblonde.com/sugar-...
Royal Icing Help: www.thehoneyblonde.com/royal-...
DECORATING SUPPLIES
My Amazon Shop: www.amazon.com/shop/lindsey.ruel
Cookie Cutter Collection: sheyb.com/collections/lindsey...
Favorite Piping bags: bit.ly/2NePXJF
Projector: amzn.to/35X4kJa
Projector and Camera Mount: bit.ly/3bYHzbv (Code THEHONEYBLONDE for 20% off!)
Nails: bit.ly/3sNoz5K
Hi, I’m Lindsey! And I love to bake cookies! Over the past few years, I have dedicated my free time to teaching myself how to decorate sugar cookies and other fun sweets. I even started teaching others who now have their own flourishing cookie businesses! You’ll find lots of cookie decorating tutorials on my channel, and even more resources on my website, TheHoneyBlonde.com
Follow Me on Instagram @Lindsey.Ruel
Disclosure: Some of the included links are affiliate links which mean if you purchase the product I get a small commission. However, I never include products I haven’t tried and tested myself!

[@incognitogirl6201]

Me: "oh wow, this looks so easy!" Also me: drops measuring cup while pouring in water and just *destroys* the icing. Also also me: stares in dismay

[@tammyardoin-Bithiah]

Sounds like me🤣

[@kimjohnson5400]

Yeah, should have seen my “nailed it” Halloween cookies!

[@user-dq6vi1bp2c]

@@kimjohnson5400 OH TRUE

[@elainem5703]

😄

[@loubrooks3359]

I've watched other videos and was still confused... THANK YOU!!! This was so easy to understand and follow. YAY!!!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Oh, I am so glad! Thank you!

[@fatimedo5994]

@@thehoneyblonde4732 l

[@whitneyc5909]

Agreed!! Very easy!!! Thank you!!!

[@chrissys7332]

I agree

[@dnrtme600]

Best I have seen demonstrating various consistencies AND filling those piping bags!

[@Anna-gh6gm]

You are SUCH a great teacher. Thanks for posting.

[@consumerdebtchitchat]

There is a special place in heaven for you making this video. Thank you!!!

[@mrg9255]

First time making cookies with royal icing. Thank god i found this video with your royal icing recipe. Hallelujah.

[@judichristopher4604]

I am blown away... This is an EXCELLENT Video... and it is short and sweet. Thank YOU so much for sharing this great video. This is the FIRST and ONLY video that I have seen that shows "3" stages of Icing... WOW... I love this video.

[@rachelsime9324]

I actually found that super helpful I like that you used comparisons that anyone can relate to IE the tooth paste consistency that helped me understand so much better

[@FirstLast-mf1og]

Thank you so much! Welcome to the KZbin world! Your going to do great!

[@anavillamariquina8673]

this is the best video i've ever seen for making royal icing!

[@Miss_DaniD]

Thank you so much for sharing this. This is bu far most simple video I've seen on creating real icing. I'm making No. 4 and Princess Crown cookies for my God Daughter's Birthday 🎂

[@sarahmora5207]

I followed your directions for my first time making royal icing! I was stressssed but it worked out in the end. 😄 I will never make another cookie icing recipe. Your recipe is the best!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Oh I am so glad!!

[@tammyardoin-Bithiah]

Thank you, I have been trying and trying to get my consistency correct but tomorrow I am going to use your video, thank you!

[@sarahthomas3583]

Thank you for sharing this video. I'm not that experienced with decorating sugar cookies but I want to do some golf themed ones for my bday party on Friday. I'm going to try this.

[@christinegott3699]

Thank you, Yr tutorial was very informative. Just became a new subscriber. Looking forward to learning yr tricks and trade for decorating. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

[@gayanipramodapeiris7025]

I am so glad I came through this video. Working with icing has been a huge fear for me. I tend to mess up everytime I worked with icing. But your video saved me. This is the best explanation I came across so far and the recipe worked perfectly ❤️ you helped me fulfil my dream of trying out icing on a cookie. Thank you so much ❄️☃️

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You are so welcome!

[@janniejames9626]

PERFECT INSTRUCTION!!!! THANK-YOU

[@Evans951]

That was extremely helpful! I attempted my first try at making royal icing and I gave up because I couldn't get it right. After watching your video, I know exactly what my problem was. I didn't know I still needed to water down the icing to get an outline consistency. Mine was too stiff and so was my flooding icing. I loved how you went into detail about flooding icing consistency. I'm looking forward to giving it another try. Thanks so much for your video.

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Love hearing that! I'm so glad I could help!

[@anitasetiawati2838]

​@@thehoneyblonde4732❤❤❤

[@yeeeeet5008]

The information and tips u gave in this were A-1!!!

[@mariarugolo2487]

I think I finally understand royal icing consistency!! Thank you so much. Happy to subscribe, like, follow, share & save!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thank you!

[@kayganzzz]

Thank you for sharing this! I am a (very) amateur baker and this was super helpful!

[@beatrizmorales639]

Great recipe 🤭🫶 congratulations and thank you 🙏

[@sereneakhtar6389]

This helped so much. Thank you

[@chocolatensunshine]

This video has one of the best explanations! Clear and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thank you!

[@FirstLast-mf1og]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@Wunderbar_]

I just love your explanation. Wonderfully prepared just love it.

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thanks so much!

[@biteit3205]

Loooved it. Great explanation

[@jenniferwong4530]

Great tip to let the air bubbles rise! Thnx😀

[@aminaam0]

شكرا على الوصفة الرائعة ، مزيدا من النجاح ❤️

[@Ladytulip22]

Love this, thank you!! Practicing my piping using your other video 😊

[@marjoriedelosreyes3544]

New subscriber here. I'd love to learn cookie decorating! You're explaning it so well!

[@dunyahm]

Thanks for this easy to follow video! Can’t wait to try this :)

[@tracierendell4422]

Thank you. This will be easy to follow

[@n.m6015]

Thank you so much this is a godsend

[@rachelbaba2698]

Thank you this is sooo helpful love it I keep seeing really fake vids and this is totally not fake thank you

[@leah7659]

Such an informative video! Thank you👏🏾🥰

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You are so welcome!

[@SugarSugarCreek]

Omg thank you!!! Air bubbles were making me insane!!!! I was whipping my meringue powder with the water so no wonder! I think I'll use my hand mixer too as opposed to the kitchenaid and see if that helps

[@marcelonayaravadapalabra7504]

So well explained! Thank you!

[@yahairadiaz1321]

Love this video very explanatory

[@Evegrace_justbecause]

Best, easy to follow royal icing video on KZbin 💜

[@mysticarts8787]

Wow you explained it soooo well im so happy thnak yoy so much for sharing

[@wm6649]

I had been mixing the meringue powder with water before adding the sugar, and I'm always have problems with the bubbles. Thank you so much for this recipe it completely changed and made my life easier 😊

[@delilahmadrigal4799]

love this ! so easy and clear to understand cant wait to try

[@angelicagrayson9491]

Thanks for sharing this video

[@sharon7755]

OMG this tutorial was so easy to follow, so THANK YOU!!!😁😁☺️☺️😀

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You are so welcome!

[@pollophoto]

*_perfecty recipe,..; lovely! thank you! i subscribed_*

[@harunasuzooki]

thank you so much for sharing this! i’m gonna bake a cake for my mom’s bday soon

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Royal icing is really best on cookies since it hardens. I would recommend a buttercream frosting for decorating a cake.

[@harunasuzooki]

@@thehoneyblonde4732 ooooh okay!!! thank you so much for telling me this ❤️

[@LeslieHayman11]

Oh man so helpful thank you

[@nathanieldenu7572]

That is a nice way of making royal icing.

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thank you 😋

[@kealohamaffey7126]

I used this video 2 christmases ago, but couldn’t find it this past year. I ended up baking the cookies and not icing them, but I was determined to find it before my daughters’ birthday party this weekend. Only took 2 hours on Pinterest and a last resort to KZbin! 🤪 I’m ecstatic.

[@sweetingsbytcl9144]

Loved this video. Thanks for the detailed details 👌🏽

[@dejongl5128]

Thank you for this video! This is the most helpful video I've seen, when it comes to royal icing.

[@stephndest994]

I have been searching and searching for a royal icing recipe and this was the easiest. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@nehayaeltiti4311]

Love this video!! So easy and you explain really well!!! I’d love to see more cookie decorating videos🔥😍

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thank you! I will have more decorating videos soon!

[@piagysling5780]

You know what you doing...... I suscribed 🤗🤗😃

[@joannvavrek5370]

Great video. My icing quite often has air bubbles. Now I know how to rectify this issue. Thanks.

[@TurtleDelMar]

Thank you ❤️

[@faiqahfaiza245]

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO , I REALLY NEEDED IT :)

[@j3w1l59]

your welcome ;) Jk :)

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Glad it helped!

[@foods_and_delights]

Amazing good job 👍

[@galdento2808]

Omg thank you so much for actually putting grams in the recipe

[@canaldatenilu9758]

It is great!

[@sanaamoha5645]

Amazing video & great explain thank u so much 💙💙💙

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You are so welcome!

[@beanparty526]

Thankyou so so much! Xx

[@acacia_alexander]

Thank you! I tried making my mom's recipe and it didn't come out right. I'm a visual learner so your video helped a lot!

[@michelleslifeonrepeat]

Looks yummy. I’m new to icing, it was great to learn that 10 second count technique

[@Brendiux121]

Thank you for sharing this! You make it look so easy!

[@crissyjones1705]

Thank you

[@hudharizzy795]

Thanks so much. You made it so simple and explained everything on point . I am about to make some royal icing now . Hope it will turn out exactly like yours ❤.

[@Angel-cy8wz]

Perfectly well explained vid. Made it so easy to make the first time. Ty

[@fromplanetearth.]

Thank you 🍰🧁♥️

[@DonutBoxers]

that was so easy to understand! i really want to get into cookie decorating, any tips for keeping your hand steady? and i’ve seen a lot of people mention a scribe tool but i don’t have one, will a toothpick or pin work?

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Yes, you can use a scribe tool, toothpick, or other thin pointy object to help smooth the icing. That won't help with a steady hand, necessarily, but it will help clean up some mistakes.

[@eviekelly5153]

Your so underrated!Thank you,I want to make Christmas cookies!

[@lindseyruel7251]

Aw thanks! I hope you do make some Christmas cookies! I can't wait to see how they turn out!

[@cathR1M8]

So now I know where I went wrong...thanks for this video!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Happy to help!

[@user-dv9jv1lc6t]

أدوات المطبخ البسيطة المعتاد عليها

[@analiesecastillo4361]

Hi! How would you recommend dividing the icing? So that there's enough for outlining and enough for flooding? Happy Holidays!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You will only need a small amount for outlining. It takes approximately .5oz to flood a standard size cookie (3"x3"). If you have a scale, you can actually make a rough calculation of how much icing you will need and divide it accordingly. But I typically will make one small bag for outlining (like what you see in the video), and the rest will be flood.

[@gaylewasacase6140]

Thank you!!!

[@kumahilasaadon9487]

Hi , how long is the shelf life of these biscuits with this royal icing?

[@nanak4311]

Such an informative video! Thank you! Do you need to get rid of the air bubbles for flood consistency only? Or should you do it for also the stiffer consistencies?

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Great question! They are really only an issue with flood consistency. The weight of the icing when its thicker seems to supress the air bubbles from forming.

[@nanak4311]

Thank you! ❤️

[@kleoursx4842]

hello! i only have a stand mixer, should i use the paddle attachment? or a different one. thank you!

[@safiyayacoobali8131]

So well explained and easy to follow! One question do you have to sift the icing sugar before?

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

No, you don't have to unless your sugar looks super lumpy. I know people that do, but I don't notice a difference in the icing.

[@katyryan4731]

This is amazingly clear and concise! I notice you didn’t add a piping tip to the second and third bags. Would you normally use one and did you just omit them for video purposes?

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thank you! No, I do not typically use piping tips for piping or flood consistency icing.

[@alyssagrewe9113]

I love your videos!! Can you reccomend your favorite pipping bags? :)

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

I love piping bags from grunderfullydelicious.com

[@nadinexxxxz]

Great video! Do you also use this 10-15 sec to outline and to fill your cookies at the same time? Thankyou already!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Thanks! I will typically use a piping consistency to outline. But you can certainly use a 10-15 second flood icing to outline, too, especially if you don't have a lot of cookies to make and you don't need much piping consistency icing.

[@zinebhassaine5967]

Thank you so much for your explanation. I have just a small question. What if I don't have meringue powder ? What should i do instead please .

[@renjuzhou3458]

I always wanted to do icing for decorating but I always mess up and this video saved me is so easy to do this thank you🥰🥰

[@kateanderson6770]

I have followed other professional decorators for years, ordered their products & have messaged them when I was stuck with my icing consistencies. None have been able to explain this as simply & effectively as you. (Some even laughed at my failed attempts. 🙄) THANK YOU for this video!!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Oh, thank you! I am sorry that has been your experience, but am so happy to hear that this video was helpful!

[@valeruiz2948]

Thank you! How long does it last?

[@elihandmade8033]

Hi May I know how long I can store the flood icing ? Do I freeze it ? Please guide me. Thank you

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

You can keep it in the fridge up to a week (just stir if there is any separation), or in the freezer for 2+ weeks.

[@Itskellyy1310]

I was avoiding trying to make this because I feel like it’s difficult. I decided to do it. Mine looks just like yours. The same consistency. I let it sit on the cookie over night and it hasn’t hardened at all. Ive seen video of people’s icing watery and theirs hardened well. Any advice on what I could have done wrong? Or how to save it 😬Thanks so much 😅

[@lifewithzinnah]

Hi! I’m using this recipe but substituting the meringue powder for egg whites. My royal icing isn’t setting/drying no matter what I try. I think I either undermixed it or added too much water? When using egg whites do I have to use as much water?

[@briannah3070]

This was SOOO helpful! Would it be ok if I didn’t add vanilla extract? Would that effect the consistency at all? ❤️

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Yes, that is okay. You can add another flavor extract if you like.

[@nicolenobody8613]

When issuing confection sugar I feel I can taste this certain taste. Not sure if it's the sugar but how do I avoid that?

[@Beth-yk9fs]

Will the consistency change if I add liquid food coloring?

[@ilive4anime.]

For once, the video is as the title states. I aploud you, it truly was easy :D

[@iryaperez1452]

Love it ! What would be the best food coloring t use ? As in liquid or gel food coloring ?

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

I highly recommend gel food coloring, like Americolor brand. But you can use whatever you have on hand. If you only have liquid coloring, add the color before thinning to your desired consistency.

[@iryaperez1452]

@@thehoneyblonde4732 thank you !

[@Hi-lt9mh]

Hi I wanted to know whether it is possible to make this using a stand mixer? Thank you so much for your tutorial!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Yes, absolutely!

[@blankitapimentel6801]

Suscrita y mi like 👍 yo estoy iniciándome en la decoración de galletas y aún falta mucho por aprender 😊🤩🤩 No hablo inglés , pero agradezco hayas puesto los ingredientes y cantidades , pedir subtítulos es mucho lo sé 🤨

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Gracias!

[@alinamunoz5586]

Curious how long it generally takes for the flooding icing to dry:) love this video❤️

[@jake-n-g]

Usually 4-8hrs to harden all the way

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

Agree with Jacob, 4-8 hours depending on humidity of your house/area. I set mine under a fan to help dry them a tad faster.

[@renee_kpop]

Is there an alternative to the mirangue powder?

[@neirabektas6682]

This was awesome! I have a question. I prepared all the icing in 4 separate piping bags that I tied off like you did in the video. I am using them for some decorating tomorrow, should I refrigerate the bags or can I leave them out?

[@leilasolis6563]

I think you can leave them because they might get hard in the fridge

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

They won't get hard in the fridge if the icing is in a closed piping bag.

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

I'd recommend refrigerating them. If you leave them out, that's fine, but they may start to separate so you will want to knead the bag to mix up the icing again. The icing will separate more slowly in the fridge, but you may still need to knead the bag to remix. You can also freeze the piping bags if you aren't going to use them for a while. Just let them sit out and defrost for about 10 minutes.

[@maryr9529]

Would you recommend keeping it a little stiffer to make eyeballs for decoration? First time eyeball maker here ha!

[@thehoneyblonde4732]

I recommend using a piping consistency, something that is thick enough to still form a soft peak or mound, to make any tiny details like eyes.