Easy Sugar Cookie Icing

Easy Sugar Cookie Icing is just what you need to make iced and decorated sugar cookies. This recipe is makes the best tasting icing. It’s easy to work with and hardens in a few hours. 

We always bake batches and batches of Christmas cookies to share with our family and neighbors. We are using grandma’s cut out sugar cookies and a super easy homemade sugar cookie icing with simple ingredients.

Most sugar cookie icing or traditional royal icing is flavored with almond extract or clear vanilla extract. We use orange extract and it’s the perfect flavor combination with old fashioned sugar cookies. It’s a subtle flavor that doesn’t overpower your favorite sugar cookie recipe.

Ingredients for Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe

• Powdered Sugar(Icing sugar or confectioner’s sugar)
• Light Corn Syrup
• Whole Milk
• Orange Extract
• Gel Food Coloring (optional)

Step By Step Directions for Easy Cookie Icing

1. In a mixer bowl, add the powdered sugar, corn syrup, milk and orange extract. 

2. Mix on low with the paddle attachment, until combined, raise to medium speed until mixture is smooth, about 1 – 2 minutes. If icing is too thick to spread or pipe, add 1/2 teaspoon of milk at a time to make it a little thinner until desired consistency is reached.
3. If the icing is too runny, add a little powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
4. Divide white icing into separate bowls and mix with gel food coloring if desired. For flood icing, mix in a teaspoon of water at a time until the right consistency is reached. 

5. Spread onto cookies with an offset spatula. Top with sprinkles if desired . Or fill a piping bag with each color and pipe icing onto cookies. A squeeze bottle also works great for decorating cookies with royal icing. 

6. Place cookies on a wire racks or cookie sheets in a single layer and set aside until icing is set. The icing will set up pretty quick but depending on the humidity, it may take several hours or overnight to completely harden. 

Notes for Royal Icing

• Meringue Powder: If you don’t want to use corn syrup, substitute 2 tablespoons of meringue powder. 
• How to Store Leftover Icing: Store leftover icing in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Bring to room temperature before using. If mixture is too thick to spread, add a teaspoon or two of milk until desired consistency is reached.
• How to Store Iced Cookies: Store iced cookies in a single layer in an airtight container. Add a layer of parchment paper in between layers. 

The fun part of the holiday season is spending time with loved ones. Having a cookie decorating party is a great way to make lasting holiday memories.

Over the weekend my sister in law and our niece came over to decorate Christmas sugar cookies. It was so much fun and everyone loved the decorated cookies. 

I love watching my sister in law decorate the sugar cookies with intricate designs but I have to say watching the kids decorate cookies is even more fun.

More Holiday Treats To Try

• Gingerbread Cookies are always a hit for Christmas cookie trays and they are so fun to decorate. This icing works great for cut out gingerbread cookies.
• We use my husband’s grandmother’s cut out sugar cookie recipe and she always made them with boiled frosting. It’s light and fluffy and forms a thin crust as it hardens. It’s a bit more intensive to make but well worth the effort. 
• Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies are a fun and super easy treat to make for Christmas. Chocolate cookie sandwiches with homemade chocolate frosting decorated with pretzels, m&m candies and candy eye sprinkles. 
• If you aren’t into cut-out sugar cookies, my grandma makes the best sugar cookies that are sometimes called Amish Sugar Cookies. They are buttery and delicious and the recipe makes a huge batch.

Take the time this holiday season to bake cookies and easy sugar cookie icing and have a decorating party with mugs of hot chocolate for a fun time with family and friends. The kids are sure to love decorating cookies for Santa!

This Easy Sugar Cookie Icing is perfect for cut out cookies and is made in about 5 minutes with just a few ingredients. The icing hardens quickly and can be mixed with food coloring for decorating.

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