Foolproof Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe That Hardens Perfectly
This is the best sugar cookie icing recipe that hardens completely, dries smooth, and gives you a glossy finish ideal for detailed decorating. Make professional-looking cut out cookies every time with this simple, no-fail frosting.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: Coats approximately 3 dozen medium cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (optional, for pure white color)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
- Add the warm water and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients.
- Beat the mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high.
- Beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is very smooth, glossy, and holds stiff peaks. This whipping action incorporates air, which helps the icing set hard.
- If the icing is too thick for outlining, add water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a piping consistency.
- If the icing is too thin for flooding, add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Separate the icing into bowls if you plan to color it. Add gel food coloring sparingly and mix until the color is uniform.
- Use the icing immediately for outlining cookies. Let the outline dry for 15 to 30 minutes before flooding the center with thinner icing.
- Allow the decorated cookies to air dry completely at room temperature for several hours, or until the icing is hard to the touch.
Notes
- For a glossy sugar cookie frosting that dries smooth, avoid using too much liquid. The meringue powder is key to achieving a hard set.
- If you need a corn syrup free cookie icing, this recipe works well as it relies on meringue powder for structure.
- To make the icing smooth for beginners, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve after mixing to remove any lumps.
- For holiday sugar cookie frosting, divide the batch and use concentrated gel colors for deep, vibrant shades.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 48
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 49
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 0