Royal Icing

Royal Icing
Originally known as ‘egg white’ icing, this confection’s name was changed to royal icing after Queen Victoria’s large, elaborate wedding cake was decorated with it in 1840. Traditionally made with beaten egg whites, powdered sugar and lemon juice, royal icing can be whipped up in no time with an electric mixer. This recipe is extremely versatile. Feel free to substitute meringue powder for the egg whites and lime juice, vanilla or almond extract for the lemon juice. It can create a smooth, glassy surface or can be used to create stiff, sharp peaks. In addition, it can be transformed into any shade or color by simply adding powdered food coloring. But what truly sets royal icing apart from other frostings is that it hardens as it dries - making it the perfect decorating medium for cookies, gingerbread houses, cakes and even biscuits!

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites (or 4 tbsps meringue powder mixed with 4 tbsps of water)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (plus additional powdered sugar to thicken icing)
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 tsps pure vanilla extract)

Directions

  1. Beat the egg whites (or meringue) until stiff peaks form. Be sure that the beaten eggs do not become too dry.
  2. Add the sifted sugar and lemon juice. Beat on high for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula periodically.
  3. If the icing is too thick, add 1 tsp of water at a time until desired consistency is obtained. If the icing is too thin, slowly add more powdered sugar until desired consistency is obtained.
  4. Color royal icing with powdered food coloring. Store in an airtight container prior to decorating cookies to prevent royal icing from drying out.
Note: Raw eggs should not be consumed by pregnant women, babies, young children, or anyone whose health is compromised.

Paula

Crumble Crate is the culmination of years of experimenting with cooking and baking in my home kitchen. Since I was a small child, I found a simple pleasure in creating fresh delicious treats and sharing them with my family and friends. As life became more complicated, the basic task of baking in my kitchen became an even more critical and comforting sanctuary.

I want to share this joy of baking with you so that you too can experience the bliss you feel when you create and share fresh baked goodies with your loved ones. My goal is for us to explore baking together and take the stress out of the process so that you can decompress and learn to find refuge in your kitchen. I can’t wait to begin this baking journey with each of you!