Whip Up Dreamy Royal Icing Recipe: Frost Like a Pro Today

Sweet celebrations demand a royal icing recipe that transforms ordinary desserts into edible art.

Delicate and glossy, this classic topping adds elegance to cookies, cakes, and cupcakes.

Professional bakers and home decorators alike treasure its smooth, pristine finish.

Mixing powdered sugar with egg whites creates a magical consistency that hardens beautifully.

Crafting perfect royal icing requires precision and a gentle touch.

You can master this technique with just a few simple ingredients and some creative patience.

Grab your piping bag and get ready to turn every sweet treat into a masterpiece that will impress everyone at the table.

Why Delia Smith Royal Icing Is So Handy

• Craft Delicate Decorations: Royal icing transforms ordinary desserts into stunning masterpieces with its smooth, glossy finish perfect for intricate cake and cookie designs.
• Master Simple Technique: Beginners can easily learn this recipe with basic kitchen tools, requiring only egg whites, sugar, and a few simple steps to create professional-looking decorations.
• Versatile Baking Companion: Ideal for holiday cookies, wedding cakes, and special occasion treats, this royal icing provides a crisp, clean canvas for creative decorating that impresses guests and family alike.
• Quick Preparation Magic: Minimal ingredients and straightforward mixing process mean you can create beautiful icing in just minutes, making it a go-to recipe for last-minute dessert embellishments.

What You Need For Delia Smith Royal Icing

• Egg Whites: Fresh whites provide the base structure and volume for the royal icing.
• Icing Sugar: A powdery sugar that creates smooth, glossy consistency and sweetness.

• Glycerine: A liquid that helps keep the icing soft and prevents rapid hardening.

• Palette Knife: A tool used for spreading and creating decorative texture on the icing surface.

How To Make Delia Smith Royal Icing

Step 1: Prepare Mixing Bowl

Grab a spotless, spacious mixing bowl. Make sure it’s completely clean and dry to ensure perfect icing texture.

Step 2: Whip Egg Whites

Carefully pour fresh egg whites into the bowl. Start mixing at a low speed to create a smooth, consistent base for your royal icing.

Step 3: Gradually Incorporate Sugar

Softly sift the powdered sugar into the egg whites. Add the sugar slowly, stirring gently after each addition. This technique helps prevent lumps and creates a silky-smooth consistency.

• Powdered sugar
• Egg whites

Step 4: Whip to Perfection

Grab an electric mixer and beat the mixture on high speed. Continue whipping for about 10 minutes until the icing develops beautiful, stiff peaks that hold their shape perfectly.

Step 5: Add Finishing Touch

Gently fold in glycerine to give your royal icing a beautiful shine and smooth texture. This secret ingredient helps prevent the icing from becoming too hard.

Step 6: Apply to Dessert

Use a palette knife to spread the icing evenly over your cake or cookies. For a wintery, magical look, create soft spikes or swirls in the surface.

Step 7: Let Icing Set

Leave the decorated dessert uncovered in a cool, dry place overnight. This allows the royal icing to harden completely and develop a beautiful, glossy finish.

Helpful Tricks For Delia Smith Royal Icing

• Sanitize Utensils: Ensure all bowls and whisks are thoroughly cleaned to prevent contamination and achieve a pristine white icing.
• Control Consistency: Adjust sugar amounts carefully to get the perfect spreading texture that's not too runny or too thick.
• Master Beating Technique: Use an electric whisk at medium speed to create smooth, stable peaks without overworking the mixture.
• Handle Glycerine Gently: Fold in glycerine carefully to maintain the icing's structure and add a subtle shine and softness.
• Storage Smart: Cover icing loosely with parchment paper when storing to prevent drying out while allowing proper setting.

Different Ways To Use Delia Smith Royal Icing

• Vegan Royal Icing: Replace egg whites with aquafaba (chickpea liquid) for a plant-based alternative that whips up similarly.
• Low-Sugar Royal Icing: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of traditional icing sugar to reduce sugar content.
• Flavored Royal Icing: Add vanilla extract, almond essence, or citrus zest for a unique taste profile that complements your baked goods.
• Allergen-Friendly Version: Swap standard ingredients with gluten-free powdered sugar and use corn-free alternatives for those with specific dietary restrictions.

What Goes Well With Delia Smith Royal Icing

• Pair with Delicate Dessert Wines: Complement the royal icing's sweetness with a light moscato or sweet riesling that enhances the sugary texture.
• Serve Alongside Buttery Shortbread: Create a delightful flavor contrast by pairing the royal icing-topped cake with crisp, rich shortbread cookies that balance the icing's smoothness.
• Match with Espresso or Strong Coffee: Cut through the sweetness of the royal icing with a bold espresso shot, allowing the coffee's bitter notes to provide a perfect counterpoint to the sugary glaze.
• Garnish with Fresh Berries: Add a burst of freshness by placing delicate raspberries or strawberries around the royal icing cake, introducing a tart element that brightens the overall dessert experience.

How To Store Delia Smith Royal Icing Correctly

• Store royal icing in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid, keeping it fresh for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent crusting.
• Transfer icing to a freezer-safe container, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before use.
• If using within 24 hours, keep royal icing covered at room temperature in a cool, dry place. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources.
• Before reusing, let icing come to room temperature and gently rewhip with an electric mixer to restore its original smooth consistency.

Answers To FAQs On Delia Smith Royal Icing

• What are the key ingredients in royal icing?

The main ingredients are egg whites and sifted icing sugar, with glycerine added for smoothness and shine.

• How do I know when the royal icing is ready?

The icing is ready when it forms stiff peaks and can hold its shape after beating for about 10 minutes with an electric whisk.

• Can I adjust the consistency of royal icing?

Yes, by adding more icing sugar to thicken or a few drops of water to thin it out, you can customize the texture for different decorating needs.

• Is royal icing safe to eat since it contains raw egg whites?

There’s a potential risk with raw eggs. For food safety, use pasteurized egg whites or powdered egg white meringue powder as an alternative.

Royal Icing Recipe

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4.9 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: Overnight (approximately 8 hours)
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sweet magic happens when royal icing meets baking creativity, blending powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water into a silky smooth masterpiece perfect for decorating cookies. Delicate yet precise, this classic confectioner’s technique will elevate your desserts with professional-grade elegance you can master at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 large egg whites (room temperature)
• 600 grams (21.16 ounces) icing sugar, sifted

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 teaspoon glycerine
• 1 squeeze lemon juice (optional)

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Instructions

1. Whisk egg whites in a pristine, spacious mixing vessel until they become frothy and slightly aerated.
2. Sift confectioners’ sugar incrementally into the egg whites, incorporating each addition with gentle, methodical stirring to prevent lumps.
3. Continue mixing until the consistency transforms into a smooth, glossy substance that elegantly drips from the whisk but maintains structural integrity.
4. Employ an electric mixer at medium-high speed for approximately 7-10 minutes, creating a voluminous, brilliant white mixture with defined, sturdy peaks.
5. Introduce glycerine and delicately fold into the icing using a silicone spatula, ensuring uniform distribution without deflating the meringue-like texture.
6. Transfer the pristine icing onto your confectionery creation using a flexible palette knife, employing smooth, sweeping motions for an even application.
7. For a whimsical, winter-inspired aesthetic, create textured peaks and valleys across the surface using the knife’s tip.
8. Allow the decorated dessert to rest uncovered in a cool, dry environment for 8-12 hours, permitting the icing to solidify and develop a delicate, matte finish.

Notes

• Pasteurize egg whites by using powdered egg whites or heating them to 160°F to eliminate salmonella risk.
• Adjust consistency by adding more powdered sugar for thicker icing or a few drops of water for thinner spreading.
• For vegan options, replace egg whites with aquafaba (chickpea liquid) which creates similar glossy, stiff peaks.
• Store royal icing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, stirring before each use to maintain smooth texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 123
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 55 mg
• Fat: 0.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg