This is the best sugar cookie icing that is easy to make with 4 ingredients in 5 minutes. It’s sweet, creamy, simple to use and quickly hardens when decorating sugar cookies.
Easy Sugar Cookie Icing
This easy sugar cookie icing recipe is my favorite for decorating sugar cookies. I love to use Christmas-shaped cookie cutters, festive sprinkles and different colors of homemade cookie icing. So fun for both beginner bakers, kids and novice bakers, too!
It’s simple, hardens quickly, has a glossy look and tastes delicious. It’s basically an easier version of royal icing without the added egg whites or meringue powder and it’s less fluffy then my sugar cookie frosting.
Plus, it works for all types of cookies too, such as butter cookies and shortbread cookies, too.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. Wiith 4 ingredients in 5 minutes, it’s the best quick drying icing for sugar cookies. Similar to powdered sugar icing but corn syrup adds shine.
- Icing that hardens. Unlike classic buttercream frosting, this icing is glossy and hardens quickly but is not crunchy, so Christmas sugar cookies are stackable.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Powdered sugar: This is how the icing gets it’s sweet flavor. I don’t usually sift my powdered sugar, but you can if yours is super lumpy.
- Light corn syrup: This gives it a nice gloss and keeps the icing from losing it’s shine after it dries.
- Milk: You don’t need a lot…just enough for it to thin out the consistency a little.
- Vanilla extract: I love adding in vanilla for a boost of extra flavor. You could always switch up the flavoring and use almond or lemon extract.
- Food coloring (optional): Use liquid, powder or gel food coloring. Gel food coloring will give you the most vibrant results.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Icing
Before getting started, bake my Valentine’s Day sugar cookie recipe or your favorite recipe then let them cool completely before adding the icing.
- Add. Add ingredients to a small bowl.
- Combine. Using a spoon, whisk or fork, stir together the ingredients until smooth and glossy.
- Color. If desired, tint with gel food coloring of choice.
- Frost. Spread on cookies using a knife, spoon or frosting bag or bottle.
Icing Sugar Cookies
You can dip the cookies into the icing or use a frosting bag or bottle. You could also use a knife or spoon. Here are a few popular methods:
- Fully iced cookies: Fill one bag that has a smaller hole for outlining the cookie and the other piping bag with a large hole for ‘flooding’ (filling in) the cookie. Outline first then fill the cookie with icing!
- Outlined cookies: Only use the piping bag with the smaller hole to outline the cookies. This looks great with ornaments, Christmas tree shaped cookies and gingerbread man cookies.
- Piping cookies: For fancy, intricate designs use only the smaller piping tip to do unique designs.
Icing Tips
- Consistency. For the outer edge, the icing consistency should be thicker, like toothpaste. Then when filling the center, add 1/2 teaspoon more milk at a time to reach the right consistency, similar to honey. I like a thinner consistency for these iced oatmeal cookies, too.
- Extra decorations. If adding sprinkles, make sure to add them immediately after you frost your cookies. The icing dries quickly!
- Holiday parties. It’s the perfect homemade sugar cookie icing for decorating at a holiday cookie exchange and holds sprinkles and sanding sugar very nicely.
- Keep them shiny. It helps to dry the cookies in front of a heater fan to keep the icing shiny.
- Make ahead instructions. Easily make this icing ahead of time to frost your cookies later. Prepare, then store in the fridge an airtight container. Let it come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes), add more milk or corn syrup to thin if needed.
Storing and Freezing Cookies with Icing
- Store: The best thing about using cookie icing that dries quickly is that you can easily stack and store your cookies. Once it dries completely (usually takes around 30 to 60 minutes), add a piece of parchment in between each cookie and then store in a covered container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: The cookies will also stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in freezer safe bag and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter for a few hours.
Need more ideas for a Christmas dessert board! Make a batch of sugar cookie bars topped with a festive eggnog frosting or try these sugar cookie truffles!
More Icing Recipes
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Sugar Cookie Icing
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 Tablespoons milk (more as needed)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (can also use almond extract)
Optional: food coloring
Instructions
- Combine. Whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/2 Tablespoons corn syrup, 2 Tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a bowl. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy. It should be thick if you are using it as a piping. Add a 1/2 teaspoon more milk at a time to make a thinner filling consistency. Tint the icing with food color, if desired.
- Ice cookies. Spread onto the cookies using a knife, spoon or frosting bag or bottle.
- Decorate. Decorate cookies as desired. Allow icing to harden before storing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
The main ingredients are powdered sugar, milk and corn syrup. You can also add vanilla or other flavorings.
Frosting such as a classic buttercream is typically made with the addition of butter to make it thick and creamy with a richer taste.
This cookie icing does not contain butter and has a drippier consistency from the corn syrup and milk, which makes it ideal for decorating sugar cookies.
Royal icing is a popular choice, but I love this cookie icing because you don’t need meringue powder. It’s much easier to use. If I want a soft frosting and don’t need to stack the cookies, I’ll go for a cream cheese frosting.
It usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour for this sugar cookie icing to set completely.
You can speed up the process by placing the cookies in front of a heater fan to dry. This will help keep the icing extra shiny too.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Christmas, Desserts, Frosting, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, No-Bake, Nut-Free, Toppings, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Good
Can you make the icing ahead of time to Frost later?
Yes, that should be fine. I would just make sure to store in the fridge in an airtight container with no air leaking in. I would recommend filling the container completely, sealing with plastic wrap and then the lid.
Hello, can a milk alternative be used in this? Like soy milk or almond milk?
I’m sorry, I haven’t tried substituting the milk so I’m not sure how well that will work.
I have loved making this icing several times for sugar cookies. I am wondering if anyone has tried making the icing a day or so early . I am wondering if it will still work or if it will be to setup to use a day later.
It should be fine in the fridge. I would just let it come to room temperature before using! :)
Hello! Have you ever experienced color distortion after frosting dries and sets for a day or so?
I haven’t noticed any color distortion!
Once dried, can you use food coloring pens on them?
I’ve never tried those before, but I think that should work! :)
Great recipe! I used honey instead of light corn syrup. Turned our perfectly for my Halloween pumpkin cookies.
How far ahead can th se be made, also can I freeze them once they are set?
Hi! The powdered sugar icing sets up really nicely once dried and you can easily stack or freeze them.
Really good and tastes like the kit used in professional bakeries.
Hi. Can this icing be stored in an airtight container for a few days? If so, how long?
Yes it can be, you’ll just need to let it sit out at room temperature for a little while and then give it a good stir. You also may need to add a little more milk and corn syrup if it has thickened too much.
I love this recipe. It is easy to make and there us a gloss on the frosting. I did tinker with the consistency a bit to get it the way I needed. Overall, I love that glossy finish.
very great designs and thanks a million.
Can you please suggest, which food color (brand name) you are using? Also, is it safe for consumption?
Just what I’ve been looking for!
Love the simplicity of this, and all the fun decorating ideas! I’ve been reluctant to do sugar cookies the past couple of years, because of the pain of decorating, but this frosting definitely makes things easier – win! Plus my son is getting old enough to help, or at least “help.” :)
Thank you! Hope you enjoy making these with your son. Sugar cookies are my favorite during the holidays! :)
Woah does this look amazing! I was looking for something other than store-bought and I’m excited to try this recipe.
Hope you enjoy! :)
You know what – I was just looking for a good sugar icing recipe. Your recipe looks so doable and fab. I will be trying this soon.
Have fun decorating sugar cookies! :)
These are so cute and look like so much fun to make! Totally making these over the holidays :)
Have fun making these sugar cookies! :)
These are adorable! My kids are going to have a ball with these!