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Upgrade your sugar cookies with this easy sugar cookie icing recipe for a glossy and beautiful finish. So much easier than royal icing, this frosting dries hard for stacking and makes decorating a cinch.

sugar cookies with various colored icing and sprinkles on top

While royal icing decorated cookies are beautiful, making the icing isn’t easy. Plus you need special ingredients to make it – but not this sugar cookie frosting! It’s simple to make, easy to double the batch, and dries hard for stacking!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Such a simple royal icing recipe that has only 3 ingredients! I will share my best tips to help you get the most professional cookie icing possible. 

ingredients in sugar cookie icing

Ingredients Needed

  • Powdered Sugar Make sure there aren’t tons of lumps
  • Milk – regular milk or 2%, I don’t suggest nonfat.
  • Corn syrup- light corn syrup is what helps the icing harden.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

  • Add few cups powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl. Add milk and corn syrup. Whisk until combined, adding more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the right consistency.
  • Divide the cookie icing into bowls and tint with food coloring. I used gel but you can also use liquid food coloring. 
  • Place in piping bags fitted with #2 or #4 tips or use squeeze bottles.
  • Decorate sugar cookies as desired. 
  • Let sit at room temperature for several hours for the cookie frosting to set before stacking.
white, red, pink, and purple bags of frosting

Expert Tip

  • For an enhanced flavor, add vanilla extract to your cookie frosting mix. Or use any extract for new flavors!
  • The right consistency should be thin enough that it drizzles, but thick enough that it takes a few seconds to disappear back into the mixture.
  • For best results, use gel food coloring and don’t add too much. The more you add (especially if using water-based food coloring) the more your icing will thin.
  • If the icing is too thick for piping, add a bit more milk.
  • Store icing covered so it doesn’t dry out.
sugar cookies with various colored icing and sprinkles on top

FAQs

Is cookie icing the same as royal icing

That depends on the recipe. Sugar Cookie Icing like this one is not royal icing. Royal icing has meringue powder or egg whites, whereas cookie icing uses corn syrup to help it dry.

My sugar cookie icing is too thin what do I do?

If the icing is too thin for piping, add more powdered sugar.

How long does sugar cookie icing take to dry?

Takes several hours for the cookie icing to harden. You can leave then to dry overnight.

Can I stack the cookies after the icing is dry?

Yes the cookies are stackable once the icing sets.

Can I freeze sugar cookies frosted with icing? 

You can freeze the iced sugar cookies in an airtight container for up to one month. 

sugar cookies with various colored icing and sprinkles on top
5 from 2 votes
This icing is so fun and leave so much room to be super creative! Only four ingredients that everyone will love!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 16 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups (226g) powdered sugar
  • 2-4 Tablespoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons corn syrup
  • Food coloring if desired

Instructions

  • Add powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons milk and corn syrup.
  • Whisk until combined, adding more milk 1 TEASPOON at a time until you reach the right consistency.
  • It should be thin enough that it drizzles but thick enough that it takes a few seconds to disappear back into the mixture.
  • Divide icing into bowls and tint with food coloring. Place in piping bags fitted with #2 or #4 tips or use squeeze bottles.
  • Decorate cookies as desired. Let sit at room temperature for several hours for the frosting to set before stacking.

Recipe Notes

  • For an enhanced flavor, add vanilla extract to your cookie frosting mix. Or use any extract for new flavors!
  • The right consistency should be thin enough that it drizzles, but thick enough that it takes a few seconds to disappear back into the mixture.
  • For best results, use gel food coloring and don’t add too much. The more you add (especially if using water-based food coloring) the more your icing will thin.
  • If the icing is too thick for piping, add a bit more milk.
  • Store icing covered so it doesn’t dry out.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.2mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 3mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.02mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Last Updated on May 6, 2023

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