How to Make Royal Icing - the Ultimate Guide

• Lynsey Macdonald

Even people who aren't part of the baking world have likely heard of Royal Icing! But knowing exactly what it is and how to make it is another matter entirely. So, to help you learn how to make royal icing, we've put together the ultimate guide!

From icing beautiful cookies to decorating multi-tier wedding cakes, with this guide you'll be whipping up the perfect royal icing for your bakes in no time.

Contents

What is Royal Icing?
How to make Royal Icing
How long does Royal Icing take to dry?
Can I make Royal Icing without eggs?
How to use Silver Spoon Royal Icing Sugar
Royal Icing FAQs

What is Royal Icing?

Royal Icing is a hard finish icing with a shiny surface, which works beautifully for a number of cake decorating projects! You can use it to outline and flood cookies, create decorations for your larger cakes, pipe beautiful borders or even cover cakes (though be prepared, it isn't a soft covering like buttercream!).

One of the great things about this icing is how easy it is to make! The two base ingredients in royal icing are egg whites and icing sugar. You can add extras like lemon juice or glycerine depending on the recipe, but at its core, royal icing doesn’t require a long list of complicated ingredients or a difficult process.

Ingredients

600g of Icing Sugar
3 egg whites or dried Egg White Powder
1 tsp of lemon juice (optional)
Water (for flood icing)

Jump to an egg free royal icing recipe here!

How to make Royal Icing:

  1. Start by whisking your egg whites for about a minute (or until they become nicely whipped!).
  2. Then gradually add in your icing sugar (and optional lemon juice) a little at a time, beating on a low speed until combined.
  3. Once your ingredients have all combined, put your mixer on a higher speed and beat for about 5 minutes.

How to flood cookies:

One of the most popular ways of using royal icing is for flooding cookies. In order to achieve this and flood the cookie without the icing running off the sides, the consistency needs to be just right.

Take your mixture as prepared above and add in a teaspoon of water. Mix together and then lift a spoonful out and hold it over the bowl. When you have reached the right consistency it should drip off the spoon and mix back into the icing not immediately but within just a few seconds. Continue adding very small amounts of water until you are happy that it's doing this!

Getting your royal icing consistency right might involve a bit of trial and error, but the results are so worth it!

For piping with royal icing you'll need piping bags and piping tips! For flooding, you'll need a piping bag with a tiny snip off the end.

What consistency of Royal Icing do I need for outlining?

To outline your cookies with royal icing before flooding them with it, you want a fairly thick consistency. It should pipe with minimal spreading, forming a solid line, but be flexible enough to move easily around your cookie shape.

To simplify, it should be just a little thicker than your flooding icing. Both should take a few seconds to drizzle off a spoon rather than running off the moment you lift it up.

Shop your cookie cutters here!

How long does Royal Icing take to dry?

Royal icing takes about 8–12 hours to dry completely, depending on thickness and humidity. A thin layer may crust in just 1 hour, but for fully set icing it’s best to leave it overnight.

Tip: You can speed up drying by placing iced cookies in front of a fan or in a cool oven with just the light on.

Can I make royal icing without eggs?

You can make royal icing without using eggs. It is very common, in fact, to make royal icing using meringue powder instead of egg whites. Many people prefer this method.

If, however, you're looking to make a vegan royal icing, you can replace the egg whites with aquafaba! Aquafaba is the brine found in a tin of chickpeas. Simply pour the water out of the can into a bowl and use this as your egg replacement. It's amazing what similar properties they have!

You'll need approximately 2 tablespoons of aquafaba to replace 1 egg white.

How to use Silver Spoon Icing Sugar

Silver Spoon Royal Icing Sugar is really handy as it already has dried egg whites added in! This reduces a step in the process for you.

Pour 35ml of water into a deep bowl and carefully add the royal icing sugar. Mix slowly and then gradually increase to a higher speed, adding the remaining water until you reach your desired consistency.

FAQs

How should I store royal icing once made?

Store your royal icing in an airtight container, whether you are keeping it on the counter, in the fridge or in the freezer.

How long does royal icing last once dry?

If you've made your royal icing with raw egg whites, it should last for up to a week when properly refrigerated.

If, however, you've made your royal icing with meringue powder, it will last for longer! In an airtight container, it will last at room temperature for a few days. If refrigerated, again in an airtight tub, it will last up to two weeks, and you can even freeze in this container it for up to two months!

While freshly made royal icing is preferable, if you know you have a busy cake decorating season approaching, having a little back up in the freezer is always handy.

Does royal icing taste different from buttercream?

Yes, royal icing and buttercream taste noticeably different. Royal Icing has a hard texture and most of the flavour comes from the icing sugar. Buttercream, on the other hand, is much softer and has a richer, creamier flavour.

Can royal icing be coloured or flavoured?

Absolutely! Work with a gel colouring to colour your royal icing, for the best results. Liquid colouring is not advisable as it is watery and may alter the texture of your icing.

You can also add in flavourings to your royal icing, but be careful with the amount of liquid you add in. Again, this can impact on the consistency of your icing! But flavour extracts and emulsions are a great choice to add a dash of flavour. Do remember, however, that if these flavourings are not clear they will change the colour of your icing, if you were aiming to keep it white!

If you've used our guide to help you create beautiful royal icing, we can't wait to see your creations! You can find us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, so be sure to tag us in your photos and videos.

Looking for more cake decorating tips and advice?

How to make Buttercream - Our Complete Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Food Colourings for Cake Decorating

What’s the Difference Between Sugarpaste, Modelling Paste & Flower Paste?

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