Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens

Highlighted under: Seasonal & Festive

Transform your holiday baking with this easy Sugar Cookie Icing that hardens perfectly! Ideal for decorating festive sugar cookies, this smooth and vibrant icing dries quickly, allowing you to create beautiful designs that will impress your friends and family. Whether you're making intricate patterns or simple festive touches, this icing ensures your cookies look as good as they taste. Perfect for Christmas, parties, or any joyful occasion!

Jenna Rowland

Created by

Jenna Rowland

Last updated on 2025-12-02T10:09:03.065Z

This icing is not only visually appealing but also adds the perfect sweet touch to your holiday cookies. Whip up a batch and let your creativity flow!

Perfect for Any Occasion

This Sugar Cookie Icing is incredibly versatile, making it suitable for a variety of occasions beyond just holidays. Whether you're hosting a birthday party, celebrating a baby shower, or simply enjoying a cozy family gathering, this icing adds a special touch to your baked goods. Its vibrant colors and smooth finish elevate your cookies, turning them into delightful treats that everyone will love.

Not only does this icing look great, but it also enhances the flavor of your cookies without overpowering them. It's a simple yet effective way to show off your baking skills and impress your guests. Additionally, since you can customize the colors, you can match them to any theme, making your treats even more festive and enjoyable.

Easy to Work With

One of the standout features of this icing recipe is how easy it is to work with. The smooth consistency allows for effortless piping and spreading, giving you the freedom to create intricate designs or simple patterns as you wish. Whether you're a novice baker or an experienced decorator, this icing will make your cookie decorating experience enjoyable and stress-free.

Unlike other icing recipes that can be temperamental, this Sugar Cookie Icing remains stable and easy to manage. It holds its shape well during the decorating process and dries to a shiny finish that looks professionally done. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can transform plain cookies into stunning masterpieces, all with minimal effort.

Tips for the Best Results

To achieve the best results with your Sugar Cookie Icing, consider a few helpful tips. First, make sure to sift your powdered sugar before mixing, as this will ensure a smoother consistency and help prevent lumps. Additionally, pay attention to the humidity levels in your kitchen, as they can affect the drying time of the icing. On particularly humid days, you may need to increase your drying time slightly for a firm set.

Another useful tip is to experiment with various piping nozzles to create different effects. Fine tips are excellent for detailing, while larger tips can be used for filling in larger areas. Don't hesitate to practice on parchment paper before decorating your cookies to refine your technique and get a feel for the icing's behavior. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating stunning decorated cookies.

Ingredients

Gather the following ingredients to prepare your icing:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tbsp light corn syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (optional)

Make sure to have everything ready before you start mixing!

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create your icing:

Mix the Ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

Add Color

If desired, divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each, mixing until the desired color is achieved.

Decorate Your Cookies

Using a piping bag or a simple ziplock bag with the corner snipped off, apply the icing to your sugar cookies.

Let It Harden

Allow the icing to dry completely, which should take about 1-2 hours, depending on the humidity.

Enjoy your beautifully decorated cookies!

Storage Guidelines

If you find yourself with leftover icing, storing it correctly is key to preserving its quality. Place any unused icing in an airtight container and store it at room temperature for up to a week. If you need to keep it longer, refrigeration is an option, but it's important to bring it back to room temperature and give it a good stir before using again.

Keep in mind that the colors may dull a bit when stored, so if you're planning to use it for a specific project, you may want to refresh the colors with a few drops of food coloring before decorating. When used within a week, the icing maintains its workability and taste, making it a practical choice for your baking needs.

Decorating Inspiration

Looking for inspiration for your cookie designs? The options are limitless! Consider using seasonal themes for holidays, such as snowflakes and ornaments for Christmas or pastel colors and flowers for spring. You can even create fun shapes and characters, turning your cookies into playful art pieces that children and adults alike will adore.

For a more sophisticated approach, try using a monochromatic color palette with simple piping techniques. Elegant swirls, dots, and lines can create a refined look, perfect for bridal showers or upscale gatherings. Remember, the key is to have fun with it! The more you experiment with different techniques and designs, the more confident you’ll become in your decorating skills.

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Questions About Recipes

→ How long does the icing take to dry?

The icing usually dries within 1-2 hours, but humidity can affect drying time.

→ Can I store the icing?

Yes, you can store the icing in an airtight container for up to a week.

Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens

Transform your holiday baking with this easy Sugar Cookie Icing that hardens perfectly! Ideal for decorating festive sugar cookies, this smooth and vibrant icing dries quickly, allowing you to create beautiful designs that will impress your friends and family. Whether you're making intricate patterns or simple festive touches, this icing ensures your cookies look as good as they taste. Perfect for Christmas, parties, or any joyful occasion!

Prep Time10.0
Overall Time10.0

Created by: Jenna Rowland

Recipe Type: Seasonal & Festive

Skill Level: Easy

Final Quantity: About 2 cups

What You'll Need

Ingredients

  1. 2 cups powdered sugar
  2. 2 tbsp milk
  3. 1 tbsp light corn syrup
  4. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  5. Food coloring (optional)

How-To Steps

Step 01

In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

Step 02

If desired, divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each, mixing until the desired color is achieved.

Step 03

Using a piping bag or a simple ziplock bag with the corner snipped off, apply the icing to your sugar cookies.

Step 04

Allow the icing to dry completely, which should take about 1-2 hours, depending on the humidity.

Nutritional Breakdown (Per Serving)

  • Calories: 120