Learn how buttercream icing recipe for cake decorating make royal icing using meringue powder. This easy royal icing recipe makes 3 cups of icing and can be customized with color and flavors.
Royal icing is a favorite for decorators, as it dries hard and doesn’t smudge like buttercream icing. Made using meringue powder rather than raw egg whites, this royal icing recipe works up quickly and easily and is a cinch to customize with color or flavor. Let icing sit for 15 to 30 minutes to let air bubbles rise naturally. You can also tap the bowl on the table several times to force the air bubbles up. Gently stir the top surface to release the air. Add flavorings and color, as desired.
Made mostly of dried egg whites, meringue powder is a baking substitute that you can use instead of raw fresh egg whites. It’s used mostly in making meringue, frosting and royal icing. Meringue powder is sometimes confused with powdered egg whites, but these two ingredients have one major difference. Powdered egg whites are just that: dried egg whites. Meringue powder includes sugar and other stabilizers to help shape your icing or frosting, such as corn starch or cream of tartar. Some may also have a slight vanilla flavoring.
While traditional royal icing recipes use raw egg whites, our recipe uses meringue powder for safety and convenience. Meringue powder is also easier to measure consistently so your icing is perfect every time! Flavoring for Royal Icing On its own, royal icing has a sweet, vanilla flavor. This comes from the confectioners’ sugar and the meringue powder. If you want to brighten up the flavor a bit, you can add your favorite non-oil based flavoring, such as almond or orange extract.