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Learn how to make sugar cookie icing that hardens into a glossy, shiny glaze. This easy sugar cookie icing recipe only uses four simple ingredients (with no meringue powder!) and takes five minutes to make!

Why this Sugar Cookie Icing recipe?

Christmas would not be complete without my mom’s tried-and-true rolled sugar cookies making an appearance. This cookie icing was an integral part of our holidays, and deemed the best over the years.

While Mom rolled, cut, and baked the cookies, we were tasked with covering the kitchen with frosting and sprinkles. Sometimes some of it even landed on the cookies.

Christmas sugar cookies were often gifted to teachers and neighbors, and since this recipe hardens into a beautiful glassy surface it’s durable enough to be wrapped and transported.

It’s like a sugar force field for cookies.

(Now that I’m pondering it…that’s most likely why Mom sent us with homemade peanut brittle and caramel corn for teacher’s gifts. They’re also delicious and durable!)

I now enjoy this same tradition with my own kids, but instead use this recipe for gluten-free sugar cookies that tastes just like the old-fashioned ones Mom made!

Best Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens

The trick for how to make hard icing glaze is in the ingredients. A mixture of powdered sugar, milk, and light corn syrup blends together to make smooth, perfect sugar cookie icing.

The small amount of corn syrup achieves a shiny, glossy surface, and thickens the frosting to make for easier decorating. When it dries with the milk and powdered sugar, you are left with hard sugar cookie icing.

Unlike fluffy buttercream frosting, there is no butter or fat in the recipe, this icing will harden similar to royal frosting. But unlike royal icing, which uses egg whites or meringue powder, the ingredients are simple.

ingredients needed

Once you have our sugar cookie recipe made and cooled, begin the recipe. You will want to use it immediately because the glaze will thicken upon standing.

Powdered Sugar – Sift the confectioners’ sugar before adding liquid ingredients to make the icing smooth and lump-free.
Milk is used to thin the sugar cooking icing to a spreadable consistency. Any milk, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, or even water may be used.
Light Corn syrup makes the icing shiny and increases the viscosity. This helps the frosting to stay put on the cookies without dripping off. However, see below for how to make icing without corn syrup.
Extract – I use almond extract because I love the flavor, but vanilla, coconut, or lemon extract may be substituted. For pure white frosting, use clear vanilla extract.

How to make sugar cookie icing recipe

a spoon lifting out sugar cooking icing from a glass bowl

Sift powdered sugar into a bowl.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, corn syrup, and almond extract.
Stir ingredients vigorously until no lumps remain and icing is smooth and glossy. If making different colors of icing, divide into separate bowls and add food coloring.
To frost cookies, pipe an outline around the edge of the cookie. Flood in the outline with icing.
Set iced sugar cookies on baking sheets until icing dries. Then they may be stacked and stored.

How Long Does it Take For the Icing To Harden?

It will take 12-24 hours for the icing to harden, depending on the thickness of the frosting. For best results, set decorated cookies on a baking sheet in a single layer and leave overnight.

Before stacking, wrapping, or storing the cookies make sure the icing is hard throughout. The top layer will feel hard to the touch first before it dries throughout.

Icing Without Corn Syrup

This recipe may be adjusted if you are looking for a powdered sugar cookie icing without corn syrup. Simply omit the corn syrup from the recipe and add 1-2 teaspoons additional milk to achieve the right consistency.

Corn syrup is used in sugar cooking icing to achieve that glossy finish. It also prevents the frosting from being runny, which makes for more controlled decorating.

Flavoring Sugar Cookie Icing

Icing is typically flavored with almond or vanilla extracts. Almond extract gives a hint of a sweet nutty flavor, while vanilla extract gives a creamy tinge.

If you prefer a sugar cookie icing without almond extract, substitute any preferred flavor, such as vanilla, coconut, or lemon. You may also leave out the extract and rely on the natural sweetness from powdered sugar.

a child's hand picking up a decorated sugar cookie

Best Food Coloring to use

Gel food coloring is highly pigmented so you can achieve very bright colors. This works best with powdered sugar icing since it is bright white. Otherwise, a lot of food coloring would have to be added to offset the white.

Liquid food dye works best for pastel colors because you don’t need to add as much to the frosting. It is also readily available at any grocery store.

best Tips and tricks

Start with adding the minimal amount of milk. Add more if the icing is too thick to spread.
If frosting is too thin add more powdered sugar. To thicken icing add additional milk.
How do you know if you have the perfect consistency for spreading? Raise a spoonful from the bowl and it should slowly fall and gently mound.
Looking for icing without almond extract? Use this recipe and substitute vanilla, lemon, maple, coconut, or orange extract. Also, the extract may be left out entirely.
Sifting the powder sugar is essential for eliminating lumps and making icing smooth.
In place of the milk, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, or water may be used.

Can You Freeze Iced Sugar Cookies?

Yes, sugar cookies with icing may be frozen either unfrosted or with frosting.

If the cookies are frosted, make sure the icing has set before stacking. This takes 12-24 hours for frosting to fully set. Stack iced cookies in a large airtight container, wrap the container with plastic wrap, and freeze up to 2 months.

Once they are pulled from the freezer, allow cookies to thaw one hour at room temperature before serving.

Kitchen Essentials for decorating

Want to ice cookies like a pro? Proper equipment definitely makes the job easier! Here are my preferred tools for expertly icing sugar cookies.

However, if the kids are decorating Christmas cookies small cheese spreaders and toothpicks do the trick as well!

Reusable Piping Bags – Love these because they are affordable and you never have to clean a piping bag again!
Tips – My favorite tip to use is Wilton piping tip #4, but Wilton tip #2 and tip #1 are good for fine lines and decorating.
Couplers – These for quickly switching out tips on piping bags. Use one bag of frosting, but several different types of tips.
Squeeze Bottles – Some cookie decorators skip the bags and tips and use writing bottles instead.

expert tips for icing sugar cookies

images showing how to decorate sugar cookies with icing

Pipe an outline of icing around the edges. This makes a dam for clean icing edges.
Use the same tip to fill in the middle. A small knife or toothpick helps smooth over any gaps.
If using sprinkles decorate immediately. The top layer will harden quickly.
Set cookies on baking sheets to fully harden. This will take 12-24 hours, depending on the amount of frosting used.

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How to Make Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Servings: cookies

Author: Melissa Erdelac

Ingredients

Instructions

Sift powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Add 6 teaspoons milk, corn syrup, and extract. Stir vigorously until icing is smooth and no lumps remain.
If needed, add additional milk to thin icing. Test the desired consistency for spreading by lifting a spoonful from the bowl. It should drizzle back down slowly and mound gently. If making colored icing, divide into small bowls and stir in food colorings. (See recipe notes for tips on decorating.)
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Recipe Notes

How to Ice Sugar Cookies

Pipe an outline of icing around the edges. This makes a dam for clean icing edges.
Use the same tip to fill in the middle. A small knife or toothpick helps smooth over any gaps.
If using sprinkles, decorate immediately. The top layer will harden quickly.
Set cookies on baking sheets to fully harden. This will take 12-24 hours, depending on the amount of frosting used.

Tips for Making The Best Sugar Cookie Icing That Hardens

Start with adding the minimal amount of milk. Add more if the icing is too thick to spread.
If frosting is too thin add more powdered sugar. To thicken icing add additional milk.
How do you know if you have the perfect consistency for spreading? Raise a spoonful from the bowl and it should slowly fall and gently mound.
Looking for sugar cookie icing without almond extract? Use this recipe and substitute vanilla, lemon, maple, coconut, or orange extract. Also, the extract may be left out entirely.
Sifting the powder sugar is essential for eliminating lumps and making icing smooth.
In place of the milk, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, or water may be used.

Kitchen Essential for Icing Sugar Cookies