Of all the types of cookie icing, our thinned royal icing recipe is perfect for covering and decorating cut-out sugar cookies. Also known as flow-in icing or flood icing, this recipe dries icing to a smooth finish. Unlike softer cookie icings, thinned royal icing is durable once it sets, making it ideal for flooding and decorating sugar cookies. This recipe makes for the perfect Christmas cookie icing and is easy enough for bakers of all ages.
Beat all ingredients together until the icing becomes thick, shiny and smooth. 5-8 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 8-10 minutes at high speed with a handheld mixer.
For Cookie Outlining Consistency.
Use medium consistency icing to make outlines. Add 1/8 tsp water for every 1/2 cup of stiff icing base. Use a flat utensil such as a small silicone spatula, angled spatula or straight spatula to mix. Stir slowly using a figure 8 motion until reaching soft or medium peaks. Avoid beating or mixing vigorously. Ice the outline of each cookie using a piping bag. This consistency is also great for detailed cookie decorating.
Consistency for Cookie Flooding.
Use thin consistency icing for covering a cookie. Add 1/2 teaspoon of water for every 1/2 cup of base icing. Use the same mixing instructions for a medium consistency. Flood the inside of each cookie using a piping bag.
Flooding Consistency Test
To check for correct thin consistency, take some icing on a spatula and drop it back down into the bowl. If it sinks after a full count of 10, then the thin consistency icing is correct. If not, add a couple drops of water at a time to your icing until reaching the proper consistency.
To Color (Optional)
Add food coloring using a toothpick. It’s best to color your icing before diluting it to flooding consistency, as liquid coloring may contribute to watering down the consistency.
To Flavor (Optional)
Add additional flavor with liquid flavorings like vanilla extract or almond extract with 1/4 teaspoon at a time. Taste as you go until you reach the desired flavor. Like coloring, add these flavors before thinning the icing.
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