royal icing
noun
chiefly British
: a type of icing composed of sugar, egg whites, and sometimes flavoring or coloring that dries to a hard glaze and is used for decorating baked goods
Royal icing, made primarily of sifted confectioners' sugar and egg whites or meringue powder … dries hard with a glossy sheen, making it ideal for decorating cutout cookies.—
Martha Stewart Living
Martha Stewart LivingTo make cookies look like buttons, use frosting of choice (such as royal icing or icing in a tube) to pipe four small dots onto the peanut butter cups.—Judy Hevrdejs
Judy HevrdejsExamples of royal icing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Guests will also be treated to Michelle Williams’s iconic saffron Vera Wang gown from the 2006 Oscars, which has been reimagined as a delicate biscuit adorned with lemon vanilla royal icing, evoking the gown’s flowing silhouette.
—Caroline Tell, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
When allowed to sit, the cooking icing develops a sugary crust and hardened finish similar to a royal icing, but much easier to make.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Once baked and frosted with royal icing, thread a festive ribbon through the hole and tie it to hang on your tree.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024
Cookie icing encompasses a range of icings used for decorating cookies, sometimes with different types of liquids in the mix, and often sets up a bit softer than royal icing.
Ingredients for Cookie Icing
Five staple ingredients come together for the perfect glossy topping.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Build a Gingerbread House Create a gingerbread house using cookies, royal icing, and an assortment of colorful candy.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2024
Getting the buttercream or royal icing to the right consistency for decorating is hard work, remembering your potions and quantities of confectioners sugar to egg white.
—Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Gentler and more forgiving than royal icing, the brittle gloss associated with conventional British cake stylings, fondant was commercialized in the early 1960s as a premade ready-to-roll frosting, sold alongside instant custard mixes and cake batter emulsifiers.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
What's Included: Gingerbread pieces, royal icing mix, pastry bag, and gold foil base
Best for Kids
The Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House Kit
View On Michaels
One of the best gingerbread houses for kids is The Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House Kit.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2023
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Caroline Tell, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
When allowed to sit, the cooking icing develops a sugary crust and hardened finish similar to a royal icing, but much easier to make.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Once baked and frosted with royal icing, thread a festive ribbon through the hole and tie it to hang on your tree.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024
Cookie icing encompasses a range of icings used for decorating cookies, sometimes with different types of liquids in the mix, and often sets up a bit softer than royal icing.
Ingredients for Cookie Icing
Five staple ingredients come together for the perfect glossy topping.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Build a Gingerbread House Create a gingerbread house using cookies, royal icing, and an assortment of colorful candy.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2024
Getting the buttercream or royal icing to the right consistency for decorating is hard work, remembering your potions and quantities of confectioners sugar to egg white.
—Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Gentler and more forgiving than royal icing, the brittle gloss associated with conventional British cake stylings, fondant was commercialized in the early 1960s as a premade ready-to-roll frosting, sold alongside instant custard mixes and cake batter emulsifiers.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
What's Included: Gingerbread pieces, royal icing mix, pastry bag, and gold foil base
Best for Kids
The Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House Kit
View On Michaels
One of the best gingerbread houses for kids is The Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House Kit.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Royal icing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royal%20icing. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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