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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Royal Icing Without Meringue Powder

    Published: November 22, 2022 / Updated: October 24, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Royal Icing Without Meringue Powder

    9 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This classic recipe for royal icing without meringue powder is easy to make in about 10 minutes, with only 3 ingredients. This icing is perfect to decorate cookies, cakes, and other desserts.

    plate full of snowflake sugar cookies decorated with royal icing and decorator sugar.

    If you're looking for a fast and easy royal icing recipe, this one is a classic!

    Royal icing without meringue powder is what I use often to decorate cookies. I especially love to use them for Snowflake Cookies and Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Icing around the holidays.

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • More dessert recipes
    • Royal Icing

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    gingerbread cookie decorated as a christmas tree.

    This no-fail icing recipe is a winner for so many reasons! Here are a few reasons you'll love it.

    • You only need three (3) ingredients to make this icing!
    • It's so fast to make. The recipe states about 10 minutes, but once you get the hang of it, you can probably make it in about 5 minutes.
    • This is a very versatile icing recipe. You can thin it out, thicken it, and color it using food coloring to decorate Christmas cookies and other holiday cookies.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    bowls of ingredients to make royal icing.

    Powdered sugar - you will need a lot of powdered sugar -- also known as confectioner's sugar and icing sugar -- for this recipe!

    Eggs - Separate the egg whites into a bowl and make sure there aren't any bits of yolk in the bowl. Even a little bit can mess up the results of the icing. Let the egg whites sit for a bit at room temperature before whipping up.

    Vanilla - Use pure vanilla extract – not imitation vanilla extract – when possible, to ensure the best flavor.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    stand mixer beating egg whites for royal icing.
    egg whites beaten to a frothy state in the stand mixer's stainless steel bowl.
    1. In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium until they turn frothy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
    stand mixer with royal icing ingredients in the bowl mixing.
    hand holding a bowl of vanilla extract adding to stand mixer to make royal icing.

    2. Lower the mixer speed to low and gradually add in the powdered sugar a little at a time.

    3. Add in the vanilla.

    royal icing done mixing in a stand mixer.
    royal icing piping onto a snowflake sugar cookie on a wire rack.

    4. Royal icing will be smooth when done. If you want thicker icing, add more powdered sugar. If you want thinner royal icing (usually used to "flood" the outlined icing), add a little water.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    royal icing in a piping bag with bag stand and stainless steel bowl.
    How do you use royal icing?

    Prepare a pastry bag fitted with a Wilton piping tip #2 for thin piping and Wilton piping tip #4 for wider outlines and flooding the icing. Place the bag into a glass to catch any loose icing as you add it to the bag. Fold over the wide part of the bag and use a silicone spatula to pour the icing into the bag. BAKING HACK: I like to use meal prep bag holders (see photo above) to hold the bag open. Once you have reached the fill line, roll the top bag up, gently push the icing toward the bottom, trying to get out any air bubbles, twist the top and begin to gently pipe onto the cooled cookies.

    What can I use if I don't have piping tips or bags?

    You can cut a small hole in a ziplock resealable bag and use that. It won't be as steady to use but it will work! If you don't have piping tips, you can also buy tipless piping bags online.

    What's the best way to store royal icing?

    Store royal icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

    What is the best food coloring to use with royal icing?

    I prefer to use gel food coloring, because I find I have greater control over color. And, gel food coloring doesn't add liquid to the icing, which can thin the icing out.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    plates filled with snowflake cookies decorated with royal icing.

    I use this royal icing on pretty much all decorated cookies that I make. It's great for my annual Gingerbread Cookies with Icing as well as these sugar Snowflake Cookies.

    You can also use this royal icing to pipe decorations onto Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes, this Green Velvet Cake, or this Gingerbread Cake Roll with Cream Cheese.

    More dessert recipes

    • chocolate chip pistachio cookies on a plate.
      Chocolate Chip Pistachio Cookies
    • almond Christmas cookies with red and green sprinkles stacked on a plate.
      Almond Christmas Cookies with Sprinkles
    • 35+ Christmas Cookies That Freeze Well
    • pistachio cranberry shortbread cookies piled onto a plate.
      Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    gingerbread cookie decorated as a christmas tree.

    Royal Icing

    5 from 2 votes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 0 minutes mins
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This royal icing recipe is a classic that can be used to decorate cutout cookies and other desserts!
    Servings: 36
    Calories: 51kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Ingredients

    • 3 egg whites
    • 1 pound powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • optional: food coloring

    Instructions

    • In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium until they turn frothy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
    • Lower the mixer speed to low and gradually add in the powdered sugar a little at a time.
    • Add in the vanilla.
    • OPTIONAL: If using food coloring: separate the icing into separate bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl, stirring until the color is even and adding more food coloring until you reach your desired color level.

    Notes

    Storage: you can store this royal icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.004g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 0.3mg | Iron: 0.01mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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