If you love decorating cookies, you’ll want to use this Royal Icing Without Meringue Powder made with just 4 basic ingredients.
All you cookie decorators out there are going to love this recipe. Glossy and smooth, this is the perfect icing for dressing up your homemade cookies, cakes, and gingerbread houses.
That’s what you get with this simple yet wonderful Royal Icing recipe – and the best part? No meringue powder is needed!
Sometimes you need options for when certain things just aren’t available. Am I right? This icing is a dream for those who love to add a personal, creative touch to their baked goods.
With its smooth texture and easy-to-adjust consistency, it’s ideal for everything from outlining to flooding, making your desserts not only taste delicious but look stunningly beautiful too.
Royal Icing without meringue powder is not just an icing; it’s a gateway to elevating your baking projects to a whole new level of creativity and flavor. This recipe, with its smooth texture and adaptability, is perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, the joy of transforming a simple cookie into a work of art with this icing is unmatched.
So, grab your whisk, unleash your creativity, and let’s make your baked goods the talk of the town with this fabulous icing!
Common Questions About Royal Icing without Meringue Powder
Can I Make This Icing Vegan?
Yes! This recipe is already egg-free, making it a great option for vegan bakers. Whether you’re making a vegan gingerbread house or just some simple cookies, this royal icing will have the perfect consistency.
I know how hard it is sometimes to find good vegan cookie icing at the grocery store!
Can I Color This Icing?
Absolutely! Gel food coloring works best to achieve vibrant colors without altering the consistency. It has a more highly concentrated pigment than liquid food coloring, so a little goes a long way toward achieving the color you desire.
I think gel coloring is my best friend for icing. Keep in mind that the color will intensify as it sits.
Is Corn Syrup Necessary for the Recipe?
Yes, corn syrup gives the icing its glossy finish and helps in smoothing the consistency. This is a little trick you can keep up your sleeve when making future icings. Here’s to making beautiful cookies!
Storage
Keep in mind that you may have thicker icing the next day as things have had some time to sit and combine further. You can always add just a bit more corn syrup to smooth things out.
Refrigerator
Keeps well for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container on the counter. Make it last even longer by placing it in the fridge.
Freezer
Not recommended as it may alter the texture upon thawing.
Tips
This royal icing will make some truly beautiful sugar cookies. Heck, it will level up any of the holiday cookies you make as well. Whether you color it, or you just want white icing, you’re in for a treat.
- Consistency is Key: Adjust with water or a little more powdered sugar to get the right flow.
- Avoid Overmixing: To prevent incorporating too many air bubbles.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: For vibrant colors without thinning the icing.
- Test Before Use: Always do a small test on parchment paper to check flow and consistency.
Ingredients
Four simple ingredients for this easy royal icing recipe. The simpler, the better as I always say! Make sure you save the recipe card for later. I know I tend to forget!
- Confectioner’s sugar
- Warm water
- Light corn syrup
- Clear vanilla or almond extract
How to Make Royal Icing without Meringue Powder
Don’t worry, this is a really simple recipe. Once you’ve made your first, initial batch, you’ll basically be an expert, haha! Yay for a simple icing recipe!
- Place the confectioner’s sugar in a medium mixing bowl.
- Combine the warm water, corn syrup, and extract in a separate, smaller bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Whisk that mixture into the confectioner’s sugar until completely combined and the mixture is smooth and glossy. It should be slow to drip off the whisk and it should not hold shape once drizzled back into the bowl.
- Transfer to an icing bag or bottle fitted with a small, round tip to pipe the border/edges of the icing
- Once the border is made, you can transfer the remaining icing back to the bowl and thin it out with a little bit of water. Then pour back into the icing bottle to flood the inside of the icing border to fill in the cookie decorations.
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need
Last week I got myself a nice new set of piping bags. My old ones had worn out and I was using ziploc bags. Ha! At least it’s nice to know I can do it in a pinch.
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Whisk or Hand Mixer
- Piping Bag or Plastic Bag
- Piping Tips
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
What to Serve With Royal Icing without Meringue Powder
I’m sure you’ve got all kinds of ideas for what you’re going to use this icing with. Be sure to let me know if this isn’t the best icing you’ve ever made, haha!
- Ideal for decorating gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and holiday-themed biscuits.
- Use as a glue for constructing gingerbread houses.
- Drizzle over cakes, cupcakes, or sweet bread for a decorative finish.
Why You Should Make Royal Icing without Meringue Powder
It’s really nice to make a big batch of this at the start of the holidays. That way, whatever Christmas cookie or other baked good you make, you’re ready to rock!
- Egg-Free: Suitable for those avoiding raw eggs in their diet.
- Versatile: Perfect for both detailed piping and cookie flood icing.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and steps make it accessible for all baking levels.
- Customizable: Easily tinted and flavored to suit your baking project.
Variations and Add-Ins for Royal Icing without Meringue Powder
If you have any other great ideas for this icing, and I know some of you do, let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you!
- Lemon Zest: For a citrusy twist, add lemon zest to the icing.
- Peppermint Extract: A great addition for holiday-themed treats.
- Cocoa Powder: Mix in some for a chocolatey version.
- Coffee Extract: For a hint of coffee flavor in your icing.
If you love this easy icing recipe, you’re going to love these cookie recipes to use it on too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Icing and Frosting Recipes
Fresh Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
CONNECT WITH YUMMI HAUS!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Royal Icing Without Meringue Powder
Ingredients
- 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 4 tbsp warm water
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup
- ¼ tsp clear vanilla extract or almond
Instructions
- Place the confectioner’s sugar in a medium mixing bowl.
- Combine the warm water, corn syrup, and extract in a separate, smaller bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Whisk that mixture into the confectioner’s sugar until completely combined and the mixture is smooth and glossy. It should be slow to drip off the whisk and it should not hold shape once drizzled back into the bowl.
- Transfer to an icing bag or bottle fitted with a small, round tip to pipe the border/edges of the icing
- Once the border is made, you can transfer the remaining icing back to the bowl and thin it out with a little bit of water. Then pour back into the icing bottle to flood the inside of the icing border to fill in the cookie decorations.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Reader Interactions
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Share Your Thoughts