Royal Icing

I wanted to name this post "Royal Icing....Made Easy",

but as you will see in my photos...

it's not always as easy as it looks working with royal icing.

I have mastered the "free form" and techniques like feathering

the icing.  However as you will see, there is still so much I need to work on.

First, the recipe.....

The basic recipe is as follows.

I increase the recipe as needed....

usually 4 times for a double batch of shortbread cookies.

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon meringue powder

1/4 tsp vanilla

pinch of cream of tartar

2 tablespoons warm water

gel icing colors...tiny amount

I mix the above with a whisk.

You will need two consistencies of batter.

The first like toothpaste...to outline your design.

The second much runnier to float a large area of icing

within the outlined area. 

You can adjust the thickness to obtain what you need by

either adding a tiny bit of water to thin,

or adding a bit of powdered sugar to thicken it.

I use plastic decorating bottles with various tips

to outline and float color, 

but you can use a pastry bag with tips, instead.

Today's project was buttons...

but as you can see I had a bit of difficulty with them.... 

I finished with what I am better at....

a little more free-form design....

Here are my favorite inspirational websites for cookie

decorating ideas....

http://sweetopia.net/

http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/

http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/

Even if you don't plan on baking any cookies,

check out these ladies' designs...

they are truly cookie artists.