Gingerbread Men, NOT! Part II - Royal Icing

There are some fantastic cookie decorators on the web.   I am NOT one of them, but I am learning.  All of the best decorators use Royal Icing.   I have only made Royal Icing once before today.  Making the icing is the easy part, piping is tricky.... VERY tricky.  


Making Royal Icing takes only a few ingredients and a sturdy electric mixer.  Here's how to do it:

2 cups (226 grams) icing sugar
1 Tablespoon meringue powder or 1 packet dried egg white
3 1/2 Tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


In a large mixing bowl, beat together the powdered egg white and water until the mixture is slightly foamy.   Add the vanilla and sift in the icing sugar.  Beat for 7 to 10 minutes until the icing is very thick.  Now you are ready to fill your pipping bag and begin decorating cookies.


You must keep this icing in an airtight container, it will dry and become hard very quickly. That is what you want it to do on your cookies, not in the bowl. I used the icing as it is, but you can add paste food colouring to make more colourful cookies.   


OK, my boys aren't perfect but making them was so much fun!  Give it a go and bake yourself a few new friends!

Comments

  1. Not perfect?? They look perfectly perfect to me! They are ADORABLE! I'm not a Gingerbread person, either, so have saved this recipe to try. Someday. You are inspiring, Debs!

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    1. You are always so kind, Denise! This dough is very easy to work with so making the cookies is easy. As for getting to grips with that icing, well that's another matter. I am going to keep trying!

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  2. They are lovely, it's not easy stuff to work with.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement,Janice! You are right, Royal Icing is a bit tricky but I am not giving up...YET! : )

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  3. You've done an awesome job - love their little collars and ties. I have no patience for decorating at all so admire those who do.

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    1. You are too kind! The strange thing is I realized one of those gingerbread men looks a bit like my husband! : )

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  4. Blimey...they look pretty perfect to me...and very daper may I add! These are so cute and their expressions are great! :-)

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    1. Thanks Laura! One of them looks a little worried. I think he knows he is about to be devoured. : )

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