The Ultimate Christmas Cookie Icing Recipe That Hardens (No-Egg, Foolproof!)

The Ultimate Christmas Cookie Icing Recipe That Hardens (No-Egg, Foolproof!)

Discover the best Christmas Cookie Icing Recipe that hardens to a beautiful, glossy finish every time! This foolproof, no-egg icing is perfect for all your holiday Desserts Cookies, from intricate outlining to smooth flooding. Made with simple pantry staples, it's the secret to bakery-quality sugar cookies that are easy enough for anyone to make.

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Course: Dessert, Holiday

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas Cookie Icing Recipe, cookie icing that hardens, Desserts Cookies, easy cookie icing, no egg cookie icing, sugar cookie icing

Prep Time: 10

Drying Time: 6

Total Time: 10

Servings: cookies

Calories: 43kcal

Ingredients

▢ 2 cup powdered sugar sifted to prevent lumps
▢ 1.5 tbsp corn syrup creates a glossy, hard finish
▢ 0.5 tsp vanilla extract use clear vanilla for bright white icing
▢ 1.5 tbsp milk or water cold
▢ gel food coloring optional, for creating colored icing

Instructions

Sift the powdered sugar into a medium to large mixing bowl to ensure it's free of lumps. Add the corn syrup, vanilla extract, and cold milk or water, then whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and glossy.
Adjust the icing's consistency based on your decorating needs. To create a thinner icing for flooding, add more milk drop by drop. For a thicker icing perfect for outlining, mix in more sifted powdered sugar a little at a time until you reach a pipeable texture.
Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring as desired. Transfer the colored icing to piping bags or squeeze bottles to decorate your cookies. Let the cookies set completely at room temperature for 6-24 hours before stacking or storing in an airtight container.

Equipment

Mixing bowl
Whisk
Piping bags or squeeze bottles

Notes

For the smoothest icing, use powdered sugar made with tapioca starch instead of cornstarch to avoid a chalky taste. Always add liquid in very small increments, as a few drops can change the consistency from thick to thin. Stick to gel food coloring to maintain the icing's texture. To prevent a crust from forming while you work, cover the bowls of icing with a damp towel. Allow decorated cookies to dry completely for 6-24 hours before stacking to ensure the designs are smudge-proof.

Nutrition