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The Best Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens Perfectly and Dries Glossy

Close-up of sugar cookies topped with vibrant, rainbow-striped sugar cookie icing and sprinkles on a white plate.
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You need a reliable icing for decorating cutout cookies. This easy, 4-ingredient recipe creates a smooth, glossy sugar cookie icing that sets firm every time, perfect for intricate designs and gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 6 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and 6 tablespoons of water to the dry ingredients.
  3. Mix on low speed with an electric mixer until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  4. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 3 to 5 minutes until the icing is smooth, thick, and glossy.
  5. Check the consistency. For outlining and piping, the icing should hold a soft peak. If it is too thick, add water, one teaspoon at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  6. For flooding consistency, add more water, one teaspoon at a time, until the icing flows smoothly off a spoon and the trail disappears back into the mixture within 8 to 10 seconds.
  7. Divide the icing into separate bowls for coloring, if desired. Add gel food coloring sparingly and mix until the color is uniform.
  8. Apply the icing to your cooled sugar cookies using a piping bag or a small offset spatula.
  9. Allow the cookies to sit uncovered at room temperature until the icing is completely dry and hard to the touch. This usually takes 4 to 8 hours, depending on humidity.

Notes

  • For the firmest, most durable finish, use this icing for outlining and flooding.
  • If the icing seems too runny after adding water, mix in a small amount of extra sifted powdered sugar to thicken it.
  • Store unused icing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Do not refrigerate, as this can cause the icing to weep.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mistyplate.com/sugar-cookie-icing-recipe-hardens-glossy/