Royal Icing. Divide the frosting into separate bowls and tint with food. In large bowl of stand mixer combine the egg whites and vanilla and beat until frothy. Add confectioners' sugar gradually and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny.

To tint the frosting, divide into small bowls. Royal icing, on the other hand, has an egg white base, so it's thinner while you're working with it and hardens very quickly. It has a smooth candy-like finish which makes it perfect for delicate cookie work. You can have Royal Icing using 4 ingredients and 3 steps. Here is how you cook it.

Ingredients of Royal Icing

You need 3 of egg whites.
Prepare 1.5 lb of icing sugar, sifted.
It's 2-3 of teaspons lemon juice, strained.
You need 1-1.5 teaspoons of glycerine (optional).

There are many ways to prepare royal icing and my favorite method is with meringue powder. Meringue powder takes the place of raw egg whites, which is found in traditional royal icing recipes. Both create a very sturdy and stable icing that hardens quickly on top of cookies. Icing comes in many different forms, and royal icing is just one specific type of icing.

Royal Icing instructions

In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy, then gradually beat in half the icing sugar..
Add the lemon juice and glycerine and gradually beat in the remaining icing sugar, beating thoroughly after each addition to ensure a white icing, until the icing stands in soft peaks. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or transfer to an airtight container and leave for 1-2 hours to allow any air bubbles to come to the surface..
You can flat-ice your cake or be creative using a palette knife. Or a combination of both! If using with marzipan underneath the icing, use leftover bits of marzipan to decorate the cake..

What sets royal icing apart from other frostings and glazes is that it hardens when cooled, making it a great choice for decorated cookies and gingerbread houses. You can use royal icing to make a beautiful gingerbread house, too. Easy Royal Icing This classic decorating icing sets up and dries quickly. It's especially nice to use when cookies will be stacked on a plate. For accompanying recipes and decorating tips, visit Spring Has Sprung.