Sugar Cookie Icing (Printable Version)

Glossy, smooth-drying icing perfect for decorating cookies. Ready in 10 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Icing Base

01 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
02 - 2-3 tablespoons milk (dairy or non-dairy)
03 - 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
04 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Color and Decoration

05 - Food coloring (gel or liquid, as desired)
06 - Sprinkles or colored sugars (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.
02 - If the icing is too thick, add additional milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a thick but pourable consistency.
03 - Divide the icing into separate bowls if using multiple colors. Stir in food coloring, a few drops at a time, until the desired color is achieved.
04 - Use immediately to decorate cooled sugar cookies. Dip cookies, spread with a knife, or pipe designs using a piping bag or squeeze bottle.
05 - Allow decorated cookies to dry at room temperature for at least 4 hours or until the icing is completely set.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • You probably have everything in your pantry right now, and it comes together in literally ten minutes flat
  • The consistency is forgiving enough for kids but professional enough for gifting
  • It dries firm rather than staying tacky, so your beautifully decorated cookies won't stick together in storage
02 -
  • Humidity is your enemy here—super humid days will keep the icing from setting properly, so wait for a dry day if you can
  • The icing consistency changes as it sits, so keep a tiny bit of milk handy to thin it back down if needed
  • Warm cookies will melt your icing right off, so patience isn't optional here—they must be completely cool
03 -
  • Warm your milk slightly before adding it to the powdered sugar—it incorporates much faster and smoother
  • Use an offset spatula instead of a regular knife for spreading—you'll get professional-looking edges with zero effort
  • If piping detailed designs, spoon a small amount of icing into a separate bowl and thicken it with extra powdered sugar until it holds stiff peaks

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