Sugar Cookie Icing

This sugar cookie icing only 4 ingredients and comes together in just 5 minutes! Great for beginners and tastes amazing. You’ll have perfectly decorated sugar cookies in no time!

This sugar cookie icing is my go-to icing recipe when decorating cookies. If I want to switch it up a bit, I’ll make classic buttercream frosting, powdered sugar icing or royal icing. All are so yummy and look amazing!

Favorite way to decorate cookies

One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is decorate Christmas cookies. I love to use fun Christmas-shaped cookie cutters, festive sprinkles and different types of cookie icing. This sugar cookie icing is probably my favorite for decorating sugar cookies. It’s easy, hardens quickly, has a glossy look and tastes delicious. Plus it works for all types of cookies too, such as butter cookies, shortbread cookies and even ginger molasses cookies.

Sometimes frosting your own cookies with homemade cookie icing can be intimidating, but trust me, this icing recipe couldn’t be any easier! I’ve even included some quick tips below that will set you up for success when frosting your cookies. This icing for sugar cookies is perfect to make for a holiday cookie exchange and will leave your friends and family raving over how cute your cookies turned out! So fun and festive!

Ingredients

This icing recipe requires only 4 simple ingredients. These ingredients are staples for me around the holidays, so I already had everything I needed to get started. My kind of recipe! :)

• Powdered sugar
• Light corn syrup
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

How to make icing

Scroll down for the printable sugar cookie icing recipe.

1. Whisk together ingredients in a bowl until smooth and glossy.
2. If desired, tint cookie icing with food coloring of choice.
3. Spread icing on cookies using a knife, spoon or frosting bag or bottle.

TIP: If you are piping around the edges of your cookies, the icing should be thick. Then when filling the center, add 1/2 teaspoon more milk at a time to reach desired filling consistency.

Quick tips for sugar cookie icing

• This icing recipe dries hard and shiny, similar to royal icing. However it tastes better and is a lot easier to make!
• For the outer edge, the consistency should be thicker, like toothpaste. For the center, the cookie icing should be the consistency of honey.
• You can dip the cookies into the icing or use a frosting bag or bottle. You could also use a knife or spoon. Whichever method you prefer.
• The powdered sugar icing sets up really nicely once dried and you can easily stack or freeze them.
• If adding sprinkles, make sure to add them immediately after you frost your cookies. The sugar cookie icing dries quickly!

Icing Recipe

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sugar cookie icing

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 43

Author: Jamielyn Nye

Sugar Cookie Icing - This delicious icing recipe takes only 4 ingredients and comes together in just 5 minutes! Great for beginners and tastes amazing. You'll have perfectly decorated sugar cookies in no time! 

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Ingredients

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 Tablespoons milk , more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract , can also use almond extract

Optional: food coloring

Instructions

• Whisk together the powdered sugar, corn syrup, milk and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk until icing is smooth and glossy. It should be thick, if you are using it as a piping. Add a 1/2 teaspoon more milk at a time to make the filling. 
• Tint the icing with food color, if desired. 
• Spread the icing onto the cookies using a knife, spoon or frosting bag or bottle. 

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 10g | Calcium: 1mg

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Happy decorating!