I'd never used royal icing before, but after seeing some incredible cookies decorated with it, I decided it was time to try it out! It worked perfectly since I recently bought a shaped cookie pan, so the cookies were in the shape of snowflakes.
It took some experimenting with the consistency of the icing to get it to work correctly, as well as some practice to make decent looking cookies, but this is a glimpse at my first attempt!
For the cookies, you will need:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
For the icing, you will need:
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
2. Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. Combine flour and baking powder.
4. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture.
5. Press cookie dough into your cookie pan (you can also use these cookies in a cookie press as they hold their shape well, or just form them into balls and bake like regular cookies).
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-11 minutes.
7. Place on wire racks to cool.
8. While cookies are cooling, make the royal icing.
9. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the egg whites and vanilla until combined.
10. Add the powdered sugar until combined and smooth. (The icing should be thick enough to make outlines without running. My first attempt was too thick to use in my piping bag. I added a tiny amount of water and it was perfect.)
11. Add food coloring, if desired.
12. Spoon icing into piping bag and decorate cookies as desired! Have fun with it!!!
