Royal Icing
Royal icing, a versatile decoration essential in baking, is made from egg whites, confectioners' sugar, and optional flavoring like lemon or vanilla extract. This glossy and smooth icing is perfect for embellishing cookies, cakes, and pastries, allowing for intricate designs and vibrant colors. Its adaptability in color and texture makes it a baker's artistic tool, ideal for holiday-themed decorations or personalized messages on baked goods. Proper storage, covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying, ensures its usability. Royal icing doesn't just add visual appeal but transforms baked creations into edible artworks.
Servings: 2
Calories: 240kcal
Ingredients
- 2 large egg whites at room temperature
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar also known as icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract for flavor, optional
Instructions
- In a clean, grease-free mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until frothy.
- Gradually add the confectioners' sugar into the egg whites, mixing on low speed to incorporate the sugar. Continue adding the sugar until the mixture becomes glossy and forms stiff peaks. This might take about 5-7 minutes of mixing.
- If you want to add flavor, incorporate the lemon juice or vanilla extract and mix well.
- Once the icing reaches the desired consistency, it's ready to use. If it's too thick, add a few drops of water at a time and mix until you achieve the desired thickness. If it's too thin, add more confectioners' sugar gradually until it thickens.
Notes
Remember to cover the royal icing with plastic wrap directly on its surface when you're not using it, as it can dry out quickly when exposed to air.
This icing can be used to decorate cookies, cakes, and gingerbread houses. You can also divide it into smaller portions and add food coloring to create different colored icings for decorating.