Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens Recipe
This Sugar Cookie Icing recipe creates a smooth, glossy icing that hardens beautifully, making it perfect for decorating sugar cookies. With a simple blend of powdered sugar, corn syrup, and flavorings, this icing provides a sweet, sturdy finish that holds vibrant gel food colors well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 12-24 hours (including setting time)
- Yield: Enough icing to decorate approximately 24 medium-sized sugar cookies
- Category: Dessert Topping
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Basic Icing Ingredients
- 2¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla flavoring
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- Gel food color (optional, as desired)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, light corn syrup, clear vanilla flavoring, almond extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix thoroughly until the icing is smooth and free of lumps.
- Divide and Color: Evenly divide the icing into 4 small bowls. Add 3 to 5 drops of gel food color to each bowl to achieve your desired colors, and stir well to incorporate the coloring evenly.
- Prepare for Decorating: Transfer each colored icing into individual quart-size Ziploc bags or piping bags. Seal tightly and snip a corner to prepare for decorating.
- Apply and Set: Decorate your sugar cookies with the prepared icings. Allow the iced cookies to sit undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours to let the icing fully set and harden into a glossy finish.
Notes
- Adjust milk quantity to achieve desired icing consistency; more milk for thinner icing, less for thicker.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering icing consistency.
- Ensure cookies are completely cooled before icing to prevent melting.
- Store leftover icing in airtight containers to prevent drying out.
- Allow sufficient drying time for icing to harden completely before stacking or packaging cookies.
Keywords: sugar cookie icing, hardening icing, royal icing alternative, cookie decorating, no bake icing
