Date: 4 Jun 2012 Comments: 25 so far

Get the full recipe at MyRecipes.com. tinyurl.com Learn how to make royal icing for decorating cookies and cakes. Use this stiff, white icing for gray siding, white trim, and holiday decoration. To make her icing just right, Elizabeth adds water by the tablespoon rather than by the cup. Tint icing with gel food colors applied with toothpicks–a little goes a long way. Before making this recipe, read Royal Icing Tips, below. Prep: 15 minutes. Yield: Makes about 6 cups (1 1/2 quarts) Ingredients * 2 (16-ounce) boxes powdered sugar * 6 tablespoons meringue powder* * 11 tablespoons warm water Preparation Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at low speed until combined. Beat on high 8 to 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form. *Meringue powder is available at specialty food shops, cake decorator supply houses, crafts stores, and some supermarkets. Royal icing tips: Store icing in a glass or metal container; it will break down in plastic. Reserve a set of pastry bags, couplers, and tips exclusively for royal icing. (Your old cake-decorating bags may not be grease-free.) Disposable pastry bags or parchment triangles rolled into cones will work. Store filled pastry bag tip-down in mug with damp paper towels in bottom. Seal top with twist-tie or rubber band, and drape with plastic wrap. Keep bowl of icing covered with damp paper towels and plastic wrap at all times. Uncovered, it will harden like concrete. More decorating ideas: Chimneys: Chocolate …