Royal icing is perfect choice for decorating butter cookies and gingerbread houses for the holidays. It spreads easily, hardens quickly and is a snap to make.

2 large egg whites
1 lb. powdered sugar, 2 1/3 cups
2 tsp. water
2 or 3 drops of glycerin, if shininess is desired
your choice of icing colors concentrated paste, if color is desired

Combine eggs, powdered sugar, water and glycerin in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at low setting for 10 minutes, or until soft peaks form. Add more water if icing is too thick. Beat for 2-3 minutes more if icing is too thin. Divide icing into separate bowls and tint with icing colors concentrated paste, if desired.

Tips

You can find icing colors concentrated paste at gourmet kitchen shops or hobby stores (like Garden Ridge Pottery) or you can purchase it directly from Wilton

You can find glycerin in most grocery stores or pharmacies or purchase it directly from Wilton

Pregnant women, the elderly or anyone with compromised immune systems should use meringue powder in place of fresh egg whites.

You can use food color to tint icing, but the colors will be considerable less intense.