Easy Royal Icing

By zircon50

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon light corn syrup2
• 2 - 2.5 Tablespoons (30-38ml) room temperature water
• pinch salt

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons of water in a medium bowl. It should be quite thick. If it is much too thick, add 1/2 Tablespoon more water. If it is much too thin, add 2 more Tablespoons of confectioners' sugar. If you drizzle a little of the icing with the whisk, the ribbon of icing will hold for a few seconds before melting back into the icing. That is when you know it's the right consistency and is ready to use. If desired, add liquid or gel food coloring. You can pour some icing into different bowls if using multiple colors. If not decorating right away, cover the icing tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Decorate the cooled cookies however you'd like. Squeeze bottles make decorating so easy. You may enjoy right away or you can wait 24 hours for the icing to set and harden-- no need to cover the cookies as the icing sets.

Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. I find they stay soft for about 5 days at room temperatur