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Easy Sugar Cookie Icing That Dries Hard

Close-up of sugar cookies with vibrant, smooth sugar cookie icing in yellow, purple, and blue colors drying on a wire rack.
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This recipe provides a simple, glossy icing that dries firm, making it perfect for decorating, stacking, and gifting cut-out sugar cookies.

Ingredients

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  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/2 cup meringue powder
  • 6 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
  2. Add the warm water and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients.
  3. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high.
  4. Beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is smooth, glossy, and holds stiff peaks. This is the base consistency for outlining.
  5. If the icing is too thick for flooding, add water one teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
  6. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring as desired. Mix until the color is uniform.
  7. Use immediately to outline cookies, then let the outline set for 15 minutes before flooding the centers.
  8. Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely at room temperature for several hours, or until the icing is hard to the touch.

Notes

  • For a thinner glaze consistency, increase the water slightly.
  • If you need to store leftover icing, cover it tightly with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a crust from forming.
  • To achieve a very smooth, bakery-style finish, use a small offset spatula to smooth the flooded areas before they dry.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchnkudos.com/sugar-cookie-icing-that-dries-hard/