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Sugar Cookie Icing

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Sugar cookie icing is the key to turning simple cookies into festive, colorful, and delicious works of art. With a smooth, glossy finish that hardens beautifully, it’s perfect for decorating sugar cookies for holidays, birthdays, or whenever you want to get creative.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 2–4 tbsp milk or water
  • 1–2 tbsp light corn syrup
  • ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Sift the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl to remove lumps.
  2. Stir in milk (or water) gradually, starting with 2 tablespoons, until a smooth, thick consistency is reached.
  3. Add corn syrup and extract; mix until the icing is glossy and spreadable.
  4. If coloring, divide into bowls and stir in food coloring.
  5. For outlining, keep the icing thick. To flood (fill), thin with a little more milk.
  6. Decorate cookies using a piping bag, squeeze bottle, or spoon.
  7. Allow icing to dry completely—typically 6 to 8 hours or overnight—before stacking or storing.

Notes

  • You can substitute cream for milk for a richer flavor, but the icing may take longer to harden.
  • Adjust thickness by adding more powdered sugar (for stiff) or more milk (for thinner flood).
  • Use natural coloring from fruit powders or plant-based dyes if preferred.
  • Store leftover icing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week; stir and thin with milk before reuse.
  • Always allow cookies to cool fully before applying icing to prevent melting or running.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookedbymaya.com/sugar-cookie-icing/