royal icing recipe + decorating guide

Smooth, pipeable icing that dries with a perfect finish every time.

Royal icing can feel intimidating at first — too runny, too stiff, weird craters, colors bleeding… I’ve been there. But once I figured out a reliable base recipe and learned how to tweak the consistency, everything changed.

This is the exact royal icing I use for every cookie set I decorate. It’s smooth, stable, dries beautifully, and holds up to both fine detail and glossy flooding. Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a recipe thats super reliable, this one won’t disappoint.

I’ll walk you through the process, from mixing to storing, with all my best tips along the way.

Ingredients

4 cups (454g) powdered sugar, sifted