Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe

Introduction

This easy sugar cookie icing recipe is perfect for adding a sweet, smooth finish to your baked treats. With simple ingredients and flexible consistency, it’s ideal for piping, spreading, or dipping your cookies. Customize the flavor and color to make every batch uniquely yours.

The image shows a close-up of several Christmas tree shaped sugar cookies on a white plate with gold decorations. One cookie in the foreground has green icing covering most of the top in a drippy pattern, with small round sprinkles in red, white, and dark green scattered on top. The cookie base is light tan and smooth, and other cookies with white icing and colored sprinkles are visible in the blurry background. The plate rests on a surface with a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut extract
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, corn syrup or honey, and your chosen extract. Stir well until smooth. Add more milk, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency: thicker for piping or spreading, thinner for dipping.
  2. Step 2: Apply the icing to cooled baked cookies by piping, spreading, or dipping. If you want to add sprinkles, do so before the icing dries to ensure they stick properly.

Tips & Variations

  • Use different extracts like peppermint or almond to vary the flavor.
  • Add food coloring to match holiday themes or parties.
  • For a shinier finish, use light corn syrup instead of honey.

Storage

Store leftover icing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Stir well before using again. If the icing hardens, thin it with a little milk to restore the right consistency.

How to Serve

A close-up image of Christmas-themed sugar cookies on a white marbled surface, each cookie has a thick layer of smooth frosting in bright colors; one shaped like a Christmas tree is covered with white frosting and sprinkled with small red, green, and white round sprinkles, another tree-shaped cookie has green frosting with similar sprinkles, a star-shaped cookie is decorated with shiny red sugar crystals, a candy cane cookie has white frosting with tiny red and green sprinkles, and a red triangle-shaped cookie is topped with red frosting and round green, red, and white sprinkles. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this icing ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the icing a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature and stir well before use.

What consistency is best for decorating cookies?

For piping or spreading, aim for a thicker icing that holds its shape. For dipping cookies, thin it slightly to coat smoothly without clumping.

Print

Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe

This Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe creates a smooth, sweet glaze perfect for decorating sugar cookies. With simple ingredients like powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup or honey, this versatile icing can be piped, spread, or used as a dip for cookies. Customize it with your favorite extract and food coloring for festive or elegant treats.

  • Author: mia
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: Enough icing for decorating 2 dozen standard sugar cookies
  • Category: Dessert Icing
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 24 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut extract
  • Food coloring (as desired)

Instructions

  1. Mix Ingredients: Combine 2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup or honey, and 1 teaspoon of your chosen extract (vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut) in a mixing bowl. Stir well until smooth.
  2. Adjust Consistency: Gradually add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until the icing reaches the desired consistency. For piping and spreading on cookies, aim for a thicker texture. For dipping cookies, the icing should be thinner.
  3. Decorate Cookies: Use the icing to pipe, spread, or dip onto baked sugar cookies. If adding sprinkles, apply them immediately before the icing sets to ensure they stick properly.

Notes

  • Light corn syrup or honey helps give the icing a glossy finish and keeps it from drying out too quickly.
  • You can substitute extracts based on flavor preference to customize the icing.
  • Adjust milk quantity carefully to get the right icing thickness for different decorating techniques.
  • For vibrant colors, use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the icing.
  • Store leftover icing in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.

Keywords: sugar cookie icing, easy cookie glaze, simple icing recipe, no bake icing, cookie decoration

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