Easy Cookie Icing

Nothing says the holidays quite like frosted sugar cookies, and this easy cookie icing is the perfect recipe for the job! Sometimes frosting cookies can feel endless and tedious, but this quick and simple recipe is so much easier to work with than real royal icing. There is no need to tango with egg whites or lug out the electric mixer; this icing can be mixed up by hand! A great way to decorate multiple Christmas cookies at once is by getting some helping hands in the kitchen. So gather the kiddos and get to work! After all, no childhood memory could possibly compete with decorating sugar cookies.

What is the difference between cookie icing and royal icing?

Royal icing is made from beaten egg whites, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. It hardens to an almost candy-like texture and is really great for intricate piping. It is not, however, very good for beginners or young bakers as it takes a practiced hand and eye. While some recipes call for meringue powder, making frosting with egg whites also presents its own risks. Instead, use this low-maintenance and very tasty cookie icing. It uses basic glaze ingredients like water and powdered sugar, with corn syrup to make it shiny and beautiful. If you allow the iced cookies to sit overnight, they'll harden enough to stack up and take to any holiday party!

What is the difference between frosting and icing?

This icing is a thick or thin glaze, depending on how it is applied. It is also shelf stable, thanks to being made with dairy-free ingredients. Frosting or buttercream often has butter, whipping cream, or even cream cheese that makes it thick, fluffy, and spreadable. Frosting is at home in a sandwich cookie, on a cake, or smeared on a sugar cookie. It will not, however, harden or be as smooth as icing.