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    Home / Recipes

    Royal Icing Recipe from Cookie Master Kelli Eldred

    Posted On Oct 18, 2019 · Updated On Dec 19, 2022

    Royal Icing Recipe from Cookie Master Kelli Eldred

    Frost and decorate your sugar cookies with this fool-proof Royal Icing!

    Baked GoodsDessertsKid Zone

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    Take your cookie decorating to the next level with this amazing royal icing recipe! 

    royal icing recipe

    Who doesn't love making cookies? Especially sugar cookies. There's just something so wholesome about spending the day baking, rolling, and decorating cookies. I recently spent the day with my friend, Kelli Eldred. The girl's got some serious cookie decorating skills and she stopped by to share some of her cookie decorating tips and tricks with me.

    According to Kelli, one of the most important tricks is to have a great royal icing recipe. You can use a thicker icing to outline the cookie, and a thinner icing to "flood" (or fill in) the cookie. This recipe yields a very thick icing. Just use a little water to thin it to your desired consistency. This particular royal icing recipe is Kelli's favorite and I think there's a good chance that you'll love it, too.

    royal icing recipe

    Is this Royal Icing Recipe good for gingerbread houses?

    Yes! This recipe is perfect for building a gingerbread house. Use a little less water for a thicker icing for house construction.

    Here's our favorite gluten-free gingerbread recipe.

    Get the awesome how-to on this fruit-filled gingerbread house here.

    how to make cookies that look like pumpkins

    How to Use and Make "Flooding Consistency" Royal Icing:

    Cookie decorators will often use two consistencies of Royal Icing. The standard or thicker icing is used to outline cookies or construct gingerbread houses. "Flooding" icing is used to fill sections or shapes on a cookie, so it's looser and easier to use to fill in sections.

    To make "Flooding Consistency" icing, slowly add water until the icing will move slightly and easily spread with a scribe tool or toothpick.

    Can you make corn-free Royal Icing?

    Yes, Royal Icing without corn is possible. To make it, use golden syrup (available online and at specialty stores) and organic powdered sugar that is stabilized with tapioca starch instead of cornstarch. Also, start with ⅓ cup of water instead of ½ cup.

    Let's use your Royal Icing!

    There's one thing we still haven't mentioned - the cookies. You can either go with a traditional gluten-free sugar cookie recipe or with gingerbread cookies. Both roll and cut out beautifully and will provide the perfect base for your creations.

    I can't wait to see your creations! Tag me @gfreefoodie to share your masterpieces! Follow Kelli on Instagram to see more of her cookies @kookiesbykellieldred

    Kelli's favorite meringue powder is this one, and she always uses gel food coloring so it doesn't thin the icing.

    Royal Icing Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies

    Royal Icing Recipe

    Kelli Eldred
    This Royal Icing will take your sugar cookies (and more) to the next level. Courtesy of cookie-master Kelli Eldred.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 batch
    Calories 163 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup meringue powder
    • ½ cup warm water
    • 2 teaspoon gluten free vanilla
    • 2 lb powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Combine meringue powder, warm water and vanilla into a mixing bowl.
    • Using your mixer's paddle attachment, slowly add powdered sugar.
    • Add corn syrup, then continue to mix for three minutes on high. Your icing will start to turn white and have a fluffy look. DO NOT overmix.
    • This will produce a very stiff icing. To thin, slowly add small amount of water until your icing reaches the desired consistency.

    Notes

    - for "Flooding Consistency" icing, slowly add water until the icing will move slightly and easily spread with a scribe tool or toothpick.
     
     - if you'd prefer a corn-free option, you can use golden syrup (available online and at specialty stores) and organic powdered sugar that is stabilized with tapioca starch instead of cornstarch. If you make this change, start with ⅓ cup of water instead of ½ cup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSodium: 44mgPotassium: 37mgSugar: 38gCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cookies, frosting, royal icing

    Cookies by Kelli Eldred, Photos by James Collier

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    K.C. is a farm-grown foodie, born and raised in the fertile fields of California’s San Joaquin Valley. After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease following years of unexplained illness, she has infused her gluten-free life with flavor, fork in hand. Learn more about K.C.

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