Sturdy Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses
- Yield:Makes 2 cups
- Active time:5 minutes
- Total time:5 minutes
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
There are a lot of different types of royal icing out there, but if you're building and decorating a gingerbread house, you'll want one that's relatively low in moisture. That ensures it will dry out fast, which will keep your designs from smudging and your walls from budging (if you'll pardon the rhyme).
Why It Works
Sweet cement. Read the Whole Story- Powdered sugar dissolves more readily in raw applications like icing.
- Egg whites hydrate the sugar, while also providing protein to strengthen the icing.
- Beating aerates the icing, helping it set more quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce egg white (2 tablespoons; 28g) from 1 large egg
- 12 ounces powdered sugar (3 cups; 340g), divided
Directions
-
1.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine egg white with half the powdered sugar. Mix at low speed until sugar disappears into a paste, then gradually sprinkle in the rest. Increase speed to medium and beat until smooth and light, about 2 minutes. If too stiff, thin icing with a few drops of water. Use immediately; keep covered tightly in plastic to prevent icing from drying in bowl. Royal icing can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature up to 12 hours.
-
2.
For Coloring: To dye royal icing with gel paste (see note above), divide into as many bowls as you wish to have colors. Cover each tightly with plastic. Working with 1 bowl at a time, add 1 drop gel paste to a batch of icing, then stir until fully incorporated before adjusting color with more gel. Cover bowls tightly when not in use.