Need a quick glaze to decorate sugar cookies? This powdered sugar icing for cookies is made with basic ingredients you likely already have on hand. Forget the meringue powder or corn syrup, this icing can be made with powdered sugar, milk, vanilla & almond extract, and a dash of salt. Great for icing my favorite cut out sugar cookies.
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Ever since posting my easy sugar cookie icing recipe, I've gotten a few questions on whether or not the corn syrup can be removed from the recipe if you don't have it on hand. The answer to that question is that you can, it will just be a different consistency and won't have as much shine to it.
So instead of revamping that recipe, I decided to create this powdered sugar icing instead! It's a perfect homemade cookie icing for quickly decorating sugar cookies for birthdays, Christmas, or any occasion when you just need a simple glaze.
Looking for a fluffier cookie icing? Check out my sugar cookie buttercream frosting recipe.
Ingredients for Powdered Sugar Icing for Cookies
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Clear Vanilla Extract
- Clear Almond Extract (omit if you don't like the flavor)
- Salt
- Food Coloring (optional)
- Sugar Cookies (these cut out sugar cookies are my favorite)
How to Make Powdered Sugar Icing for Cookies
Step 1: Add powdered sugar into medium-sized bowl and add milk, vanilla, almond extract, and salt.
Step 2: Use a rubber spatula to mix until smooth. The consistency should be thick enough that it won't run off cookies, but thin enough that the icing "melts" back in on itself when you drizzle a spoonful over the bowl.
Tip: If your icing looks too dry, add 1 teaspoon of milk until it looks like the consistency in the video above. If it is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until it looks like the consistency in the video.
Step 3: Once you reach the correct consistency, add food coloring. I recommend squeezing a dot of food coloring on a paper plate, dipping the tip of a toothpick through it, then swiping it through the icing. This will allow you to control the amount of color you add.
Tip: To achieve this peach color, I did 2 swipes of red with 1 swipe of yellow. If making Christmas cookies, check out my formulas for How To Make Dark Green Icing (5 Shades!).
Step 4: Once colored, spoon the icing into a tipless piping bag (or plastic bag with the corner snipped off). To ice the cookies, pipe an outline around the edge of the cookie then working your way from the outside in, fill in the center.
Step 5: Immediately after piping on the icing, use a toothpick to spread out the icing and fill in any holes. Top with sprinkles, if desired.
Tip: For more decorating ideas, check out my 7 Easy Sugar Cookie Decorating Techniques guide!
Step 6: Allow icing to dry on the cooling rack for 2-3 hours until the icing starts to firm up. Note that this powdered sugar icing will not completely harden, meaning that you don't want to stack these cookies after they are iced. If you want an icing that completely hardens, you will instead want to make a traditional royal icing for sugar cookies or a thinner sugar cookie glaze.
More icing & frosting recipes:
- Christmas Cookie Frosting
- Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies
- How to Make Icing with Icing Sugar and Water
- Cream Cheese Frosting for Cookies
- 7 Easy Sugar Cookie Decorating Techniques
If you make this powdered sugar glaze for cookies, be sure to leave me a comment below and tag me on Instagram @designeatrepeat - I LOVE seeing what you made!
Powdered Sugar Icing for Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk any kind
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Food coloring optional
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar (1 ¾ cups), milk (3 tablespoons), vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), almond extract (½ teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon).
- Use a rubber spatula to stir mixture until smooth.
- The consistency should be thick enough that it won't run off cookies, but thin enough that the icing "melts" back in on itself when you drizzle a spoonful over the bowl.Tip: If your icing looks too dry, add 1 teaspoon of milk until it looks like the consistency in the video. If it is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until it looks like the consistency in the video.
- Once you reach the correct consistency, add food coloring. I recommend squeezing a dot of food coloring on a paper plate, dipping the tip of a toothpick through it, then swiping it through the icing. This will allow you to control the amount of color you add.
- Once colored, spoon the icing into a piping bag (or plastic bag with the corner snipped off). To ice the cookies, pipe an outline around the edge of the cookie then working your way from the outside in, fill in the center.
- Immediately after piping on the icing, use a toothpick to spread out the icing and fill in any holes. Top with sprinkles, if desired.
- Allow icing to dry on the cooling rack for 2-3 hours until the icing starts to firm up. Note that this powdered sugar icing will not completely harden, meaning that you don't want to stack these cookies after they are iced. If you want an icing that completely hardens, you will instead want to make a traditional royal icing for sugar cookies.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this icing need to be refrigerated?
Because of the high sugar content, the iced cookies are safe to leave at room temperature for 2-3 days (any longer than that, you should refrigerate or freeze them since they contain milk).
Can I freeze powdered sugar icing?
Freezing iced cookies is safe to do, although the icing may become watery or sticky after removing them from the freezer and thawing (because of this, I recommend just waiting to make the icing until you're ready to frost the cookies OR freeze the icing in a bag, thaw, and re-stir when ready to use). To thaw frozen cookies that have been iced, place them in the refrigerator to thaw or on the counter for up to a few hours. Traditional royal icing freezes better than this simple cookie glaze.
If you have leftover icing, you can freeze it in a plastic ziploc bag. To thaw, place the plastic bag in the refrigerator until it is thawed. You will likely need to re-stir the icing before piping. An easy make-ahead tip for the holidays is to make all the icing ahead of time, freeze it in individual bags, thaw it, then re-stir when ready to use. You can also learn how to freeze sugar cookie dough so that it can also be made ahead of time.
Will this icing dry hard?
This powdered sugar icing will not completely harden, meaning that you don't want to stack these cookies after they are iced. If you want an icing that completely hardens, you will instead want to make a traditional royal icing for sugar cookies or my thinner (dippable) cookie glaze with powdered sugar.
Can I use this icing for intricate details?
This icing is best used as a solid glaze and is not great for intricate details (as the icing is thin and will spread). If you want to pipe on details, you would want to use a traditional royal icing for sugar cookies.
Michele
It's gross. Everyone hated it. Had to throw the whole dessert away. Maybe leave out the almond extract next time.
Melissa
I am sorry to hear this recipe didn't work out for you!
Christy
Too much almond extract for my taste. Also nearly impossible to put in a pastry bag to pipe on. I just dipped the cookies, and then used a silicon basting brush to even it up. Not my favorite recipe, but easy to make!
Elizabeth c
I followed the recipe exactly and am so pleased with how this turned out. The flavor and consistency is exactly what I want and the fact that it is so easy is a huge bonus. This is now my favorite royal icing recipe and will be passed onto my family and friends.
Melissa
I am so happy to hear you enjoy this recipe so much, Elizabeth! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Kim Davis
Thank you! I Luv this icing recipe for my sugar cookies. It dried nicely and added a nice subtle sweetness my cookies. Hubby really liked it, too!
Melissa
So glad to hear you guys enjoyed this recipe, Kim! Thank you so much for leaving a review, I really appreciate it!
Kristen
Super good cookies thank you
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Kristen!
Mema
Best and easiest recipe ever! Thank you.
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Yana Rumhumha
Tysm ❤️ the recipe worked out so well!
Sarah
Turned out great! Easy to make and use :)
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Sarah!
Martha McMasters
Perfect icing!!
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Martha!
Wendi Schwartz
This is the best cookie frosting I have made! My mother-law has the same recipe but doesn’t use vanilla in hers.
Melissa
So glad you love the recipe, Wendi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!
Corina
I really liked it. I doubled the recipe but still only used 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract.
Melissa
Glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Corina! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Amy Evrard
Easy and yummy. And I LOVE how Melissa repeats the amounts in the steps of the recipe, so I don't have to scroll up and down. Thanks for thinking about how to make this as easy as possible!!
Melissa
So happy you loved the recipe, Amy! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Julie Zugec
This is my go-to icing recipe for sugar cookies each holiday season!
Melissa
So happy you enjoyed this recipe, Julie! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Daniel A Robb
Very easy, worked as desired - thank you!!
Melissa
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Daniel! I really appreciate it!
Kia
This is always my go to icing recipe and people ask for the recipe (for the whole sugar cookie) every single time. I don’t like royal icing but I love decorating cookies so this is truly an amazing find! It’s SO good.
Melissa
So happy to hear everyone enjoys this recipe! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Kia!
Hope
Loved this recipe. It’s been one friends have asked me for after I’ve shared cookies with them.
Melissa
So glad you love this recipe, Hope! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
A.Marie
Great recipe. Thanks.
Misty post
5star icing for my baseball cookies I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to bake in the near future
Misty
5star icing for my baseball cookies I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to bake in the near future
Melissa
So glad you loved this recipe, Misty! Thank you for leaving a review!