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Glossy Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens Perfectly

Close-up of several sugar cookies topped with brightly colored sugar cookie icing that hardens in shades of orange, pink, blue, and purple.
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You need a reliable recipe for sugar cookie icing that hardens completely, dries smooth, and gives your decorated cookies a professional, durable finish perfect for stacking and gifting.

Ingredients

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  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons milk or water
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the sifted powdered sugar and light corn syrup.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of the milk or water.
  3. Whisk the mixture until it is smooth. If the icing is too thick to pour or spread easily, add the remaining tablespoon of liquid, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach a consistency that coats the back of a spoon. This is the ‘outline consistency.’
  4. If you plan to flood the cookies, thin the icing slightly more by adding a few drops of liquid until it flows smoothly off the whisk. This is the ‘flood consistency.’
  5. Divide the icing into separate bowls if you want multiple colors. Stir in gel food coloring until the color is uniform.
  6. Use the icing to outline your cut-out sugar cookies. Let the outline set for 5 to 10 minutes until it forms a slight crust.
  7. Fill in the outlined areas with the thinner flood consistency icing. Gently tap the cookie on the counter to release air bubbles.
  8. Allow the cookies to dry uncovered at room temperature for several hours, or preferably overnight, until the icing is completely hard and no longer tacky.

Notes

  • For the brightest white icing, use clear vanilla extract instead of standard vanilla extract.
  • If you want a very hard, glossy finish suitable for stacking, ensure you use the corn syrup; it helps the icing set firm and shiny.
  • If the icing becomes too thick while you are decorating, stir in a few drops of water to restore the correct consistency.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenican.com/sugar-cookie-icing-that-hardens/