The Best Foolproof Royal Icing Recipe (Using Meringue Powder)
Create smooth, glossy royal icing perfect for decorating sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, and more. This meringue powder recipe is easy for beginners and hardens beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: About 4 cups 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1/4 cup warm water (plus more as needed)
- 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract or almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar until fully combined.
- Add the warm water and extract to the dry ingredients.
- Using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), start mixing on low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is very thick, smooth, and glossy.
- To achieve piping consistency, add water one teaspoon at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the icing flows slowly off the whisk.
- To achieve flood consistency, add more water, one teaspoon at a time, until the icing flows easily and smooths out in the bowl within 10 to 15 seconds.
- Color the icing with gel food coloring if desired, mixing thoroughly.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent a crust from forming.
- Use immediately or store airtight at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Notes
- For outlining consistency, the icing should hold its shape when piped and not spread much. This is usually the thickest consistency you make.
- For flooding, the icing must be thin enough to level itself out quickly after spreading it inside a piped outline.
- If your icing dries too fast, add a few drops of water. If it is too thin, add a tablespoon of sifted confectioners’ sugar.
- This recipe works great for cookie decorating and can be a good alternative when considering a keto meal plan delivery for low-sugar treats, though this icing is high in sugar.
- See our Pinterest account for more decorating ideas!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 110
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 112
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 0