Sugar Cookie Icing

Perfect sugar cookie icing that hardens for decorating! Quick and easy recipe made with simple ingredients—ideal for holiday cookies or any occasion.

The BEST Easy Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe

Decorating sugar cookies with my family is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Every year, the whole family gathers to make the icing in all different colors and pick out patterns, sprinkles, and cookie designs. This sugar cookie icing recipe makes it so easy to make cookies that look rather professional and almost too good to eat.

One of my favorite parts about this easy sugar cookie icing recipe is that it has a firm set without any egg whites or meringue powder. It also has a great flavor, which is sometimes hard to get when dealing with sugar cookie frosting. The icing takes a few minutes to make and can even last in the refrigerator for 3 days. While this recipe is my go-to for Christmas cookie decorating, I love to pull it out when making decorated sugar cookies for birthdays and other holidays.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy – Everything for the icing can be made in one bowl.
• Customizable – The icing can be made thinner or thicker depending on the consistency you are looking for.
• Setting – The icing firms up quickly and has a smooth setting. It is also great for stacking colors.

Recipe Ingredients

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions:

• Powdered sugar – Sift the powdered sugar before mixing to ensure there are no lumps.
• Milk – Use more or less milk depending on the consistency of the icing you want.
• Light corn syrup – The corn syrup gives the icing a glossy finish.
• Vanilla extract – The vanilla gives a subtle flavor to balance out the icing.
• Food coloring – If you plan on using many colors, use gel food coloring. This will keep the consistency of the icing the same, unlike liquid food coloring.

Directions For How To Make Sugar Cookie Icing

Step 1. Gather your ingredients and a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Step 2. Combine the sifted powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in the bowl. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until smooth.

Step 3. Add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the right consistency of the icing is reached.

Step 4. For different colors of icing, divide the icing into different bowls and add food coloring to each bowl. Mix until the color is distributed throughout.

Step 5. Transfer the icing to a piping bag or squeeze bottles for decorations. You can also use a knife or spoon to spread the icing on the cookies.

Step 6. When done decorating, allow the cookies to set and leave them to dry for 2-3 hours.

Variations

• Add a flavor to the icing. Instead of vanilla extract, use a flavored extract like peppermint extract, almond extract, or lemon extract to give the sugar cookie icing a distinct flavor.
• Make the icing dairy-free. Swap out the milk with your favorite dairy-free alternative.
• Adjust the sweetness. If you find the icing is too sweet, add a pinch of salt to balance out the flavors.

Serving Suggestions

This sugar cookie icing is the perfect topping for a classic cutout sugar cookie recipe. The sweet icing is also excellent for other holiday cookies like gingerbread. The sugar cookie recipe and icing can also be repurposed for birthdays and holidays like Valentine’s Day or Halloween.

Storage + Reheating

• To Store: Store any extra icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The icing will stay for up to 3 days.
• To Freeze: The sugar cookie icing can be stored in the freezer for 3 months. Store extra icing in an airtight container or closed piping bag, making sure to remove all air bubbles.
• To Reheat: When ready to use sugar cookie icing, allow it to come to room temperature. Add more milk if the icing thickened up while sitting. For frozen icing, let it thaw overnight and add more milk if the icing needs to be loosened up.

Share With Us!

I hope you enjoy this delicious Sugar Cookie Icing! If you give it a try, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @allthingsmamma and use the hashtag #allthingsmamma.