Name: Royal Icing
Ingredients: 4 cups confectioners’ sugar; 3 tablespoons meringue powder; ½ teaspoon almond (vanilla, or orange extract or orange zest (optional)); ½ - ¾ cup warm water; Food coloring or gel paste (optional); Coarse sugar crystals in assorted colors (optional)

Royal Icing

Traditional royal icing contains egg whites, so many recipes rely on meringue powder instead. Since the flavor isn’t quite the same, add some extract or orange zest.

Royal Icing

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Servings

Ingredients

4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
½ teaspoon almond vanilla, or orange extract or orange zest (optional)
½ – ¾ cup warm water
Food coloring or gel paste optional
Coarse sugar crystals in assorted colors optional

Instructions

KIDS WITH ADULT: In the large bowl of an electric stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), combine confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder until combined. Add extract, if using, and water. Beat on medium to high until very glossy and stiff peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. To determine if it’s the correct consistency, ice one cookie. Add more water or sugar, if necessary.
KIDS 6 AND UP: If you want to use different colored icings for decorating, divide the icing into separate bowls and add assorted food colorings or gel pastes. For immediate use, transfer icing to a pastry bag or heavy duty storage bag, and pipe as desired. If using a plastic storage bag to pipe frosting, simply fill the bag with icing and snip one corner. Store icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.