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Simple Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe


I’ll present you tips on how to make the very best icing for adorning sugar cookies! It is a easy sugar cookie icing that hardens to a clean, shiny end with out egg whites. It’s good for frosting, flooding, piping, and dipping sugar cookies!

Two cookies decorated with blue sugar cookie icing and sprinkles on a countertop, with a bowl of blue icing in the background.Two cookies decorated with blue sugar cookie icing and sprinkles on a countertop, with a bowl of blue icing in the background.

This recipe is my fast, foolproof royal icing different, with out egg whites. It’s a simple sugar cookie icing for holidays and on a regular basis adorning that’s nice for inexperienced persons. All you’ll want to make it’s powdered sugar, corn syrup, and milk. After that, you may taste your frosting and shade it any method you’d like!

The Greatest Icing for Adorning Cookies

  • No particular instruments. All you want is a whisk, a bowl, and easy elements.
  • Simple and dependable. Whether or not I’m adorning cookies for Christmas, birthdays, or holidays, that is the simplest no-fail icing recipe ever. It’s prepared in minutes.
  • The right end. This icing dries right down to a clean, shiny end that’s nice for stacking cookies, but additionally not rock arduous while you chew into it. And the very best half? This frosting truly tastes good!
Sugar cookie icing ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.Sugar cookie icing ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

You’ll Want These Elements

Under are some fast notes. Scroll to the recipe card beneath the put up for the complete, printable measurements and recipe directions. 

  • Powdered Sugar – Additionally known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, for the bottom of the icing. 
  • Milk – To get the correct consistency. This may be complete milk or any variety you’d like. For those who’d favor a dairy-free sugar cookie icing, or for those who plan to retailer the frosted cookies at room temperature, swap milk for water.
  • Corn Syrup – Corn syrup provides shine and offers the icing a softer chew. I like to recommend mild corn syrup.
  • Vanilla Extract – Non-obligatory, for taste. For those who favor a vivid white frosting, omit the vanilla extract, as it’ll add a slight tint. You possibly can additionally use clear vanilla extract.
  • Meals Coloring – Additionally elective, for adorning. 

Learn how to Make Sugar Cookie Icing

Making this icing from scratch takes a matter of minutes and three easy steps.

  1. Begin with powdered sugar. Whisk the powdered sugar or sift it by means of a fine-mesh sieve to interrupt up any lumps. This makes the icing silky clean.
  2. Add the opposite elements. Subsequent, add the milk, corn syrup, and vanilla, and whisk till you’ve gotten a clean icing. 
  3. Ending touches. Regulate the consistency after which divide and shade the icing as wanted. Your cookie icing is able to use immediately, or you may retailer it hermetic. See beneath for extra particulars.
Close up of a whisk drizzling sugar cookie icing into a bowl, showing the smooth consistency.Close up of a whisk drizzling sugar cookie icing into a bowl, showing the smooth consistency.

Adapting the Icing Consistency

Relying on what you’re utilizing it for, you may simply adapt the consistency to make it thinner for flooding (outlining the cookies after which overlaying them with icing) or thicker for piping.

  • For flooding. Made as written within the recipe, this icing is ideal for flooding cookies for a clean end. To skinny it out additional, add extra milk. If the icing turns into too skinny, merely add just a little extra powdered sugar.
  • For piping. For those who’d wish to pipe this icing, lower the quantity of milk so the consistency is thicker.

Learn how to Shade Sugar Cookie Icing

Whether or not you’re coloring icing for Christmas cookies, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or making pastel sugar cookie icing for Easter cookies, gel meals coloring gives you the brightest, most vibrant colours. You should buy gel colours from manufacturers like AmeriColor and Wilton from the baking aisle, craft shops, or on-line.

  • To paint the icing, add a drop or two at a time, and blend it properly earlier than including extra. In contrast to water-based meals coloring (typically present in grocery shops), just a little gel dye goes a good distance.

Cookie Adorning Suggestions and Methods

Use this simple sugar cookie icing to embellish any of your favourite cookie recipes, from basic cut-out cookies to smooth sugar cookies and chocolate sugar cookies. Listed here are some useful suggestions to remember when adorning your cookies with icing:

  • To flood the cookies, pipe a top level view across the exterior edge or the realm of the cookie you’d wish to flood. Then, fill the define utilizing a small open spherical piping tip. Frivolously faucet the cookie to clean out the icing.
  • To pipe the cookies, be certain to make use of barely thicker icing. Fill a piping bag or zip-top bag with icing, and snip off the nook or match it with a small open spherical tip. For those who want observe, attempt piping the icing on a chunk of parchment paper first.
  • Dip the cookies. For those who’re in search of a sooner possibility, dipping the tops of the cookies into the icing is a fast and simple method to coat the cookies with shade multi function go. 
  • Don’t wait too lengthy so as to add sprinkles. Add any sprinkles whereas the icing remains to be moist, in order that they adhere to the cookies. 
  • Permit the icing to set earlier than storing. Permit the cookies to sit down at room temperature to harden earlier than you retailer them. See the Learn how to Retailer part beneath.
Close up of a sugar cookie topped with blue sugar cookie icing with a second unfrosted cookie in the background.Close up of a sugar cookie topped with blue sugar cookie icing with a second unfrosted cookie in the background.

Regularly Requested Questions

How lengthy does sugar cookie icing take to dry?

Relying on the humidity in your kitchen, sugar cookie icing can take wherever from 2-3 hours or longer to harden at room temperature. For those who plan on stacking your cookies, I’d counsel letting them dry in a single day.

How do I repair icing that received’t set?

In case your icing doesn’t dry, it may very well be that there wasn’t sufficient powdered sugar added. Attempt refrigerating the adorned cookies or putting them in entrance of a fan to assist the icing set.

What’s the distinction between royal icing and sugar cookie icing?

Royal icing is made out of overwhelmed egg whites, powdered sugar, and lemon juice, and dries to a tough, crunchy texture. This cookie icing doesn’t use eggs, and it’s additionally softer due to the corn syrup within the recipe.

Will different flavors work on this recipe?

Sure! Attempt icing taste variations utilizing orange, lemon, almond, or peppermint extract. You may also add spices to the icing, like cinnamon or nutmeg, for a festive model.

Overhead view of sugar cookies decorated with blue cookie icing and sprinkles on a countertop, next to a bowl of blue icing and a jar of sprinkles.Overhead view of sugar cookies decorated with blue cookie icing and sprinkles on a countertop, next to a bowl of blue icing and a jar of sprinkles.

Learn how to Retailer

  • Retailer adorned cookies. Permit the icing to set earlier than you retailer your adorned sugar cookies. Maintain the cookies lined within the fridge and serve them at room temperature.
  • Retailer leftover sugar cookie icing. Retailer any leftover icing in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks.
  • Freeze. You may freeze this cookie icing and any adorned cookies for as much as 2 months. Let the cookies and icing thaw within the fridge. You could want to combine the cookie icing once more earlier than you utilize it.


Print

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Description

This fast and easy sugar cookie icing hardens to a clean, shiny end with out egg whites. It’s good for adorning Christmas cookies and for on a regular basis baking.


  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon milk
  • 1 tablespoon mild corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract *see notice
  • Meals coloring


  1. Add the powdered sugar to a medium bowl and whisk to interrupt up any lumps.
  2. Add within the milk, corn syrup, and vanilla. Whisk till clean.
  3. Add in meals coloring if desired.
  4. Unfold icing onto the cookies, or dip the tops of the cookies into the icing.
  5. High with sprinkles if desired whereas the icing remains to be moist. Permit the icing to set earlier than storing.


Notes

  • * In case you are attempting to realize a vivid white frosting, skip including the vanilla extract, as it’ll tint it barely, or use a transparent vanilla extract.
  • You may add kind of milk to realize the consistency you need. For those who add an excessive amount of milk and your icing turns into too skinny, simply add a bit extra powdered sugar. This icing could be very forgiving.

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