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–+ servings

Christmas Cookie Icing

This shiny, smooth Christmas Cookie Icing makes decorating sugar cookies easier than wrapping presents at the last minute (and way more fun). With simple pantry ingredients and endless color options, your cookies will look bakery-perfect—without the drama or royal icing stress.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 1 batch (enough to ice about 24 medium cookies)

EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk plus more as needed
  • Food coloring gel food coloring recommended

Instructions

  • Sift the Sugar: Place the powdered sugar in a fine-mesh sifter over a mixing bowl and sift it to remove any lumps. This ensures your icing stays silky smooth.
    1 cup powdered sugar
  • Mix the Base: Add the light corn syrup and your choice of vanilla or almond extract to the bowl. Whisk until well combined—the mixture will be thick and glossy.
    2 teaspoons light corn syrup, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
  • Adjust the Consistency: Whisk in the milk one teaspoon at a time until the icing reaches your desired consistency. For outlining cookies, make it thicker. For filling or “flooding” cookies, add a few extra drops of milk to thin it slightly.
    1 tablespoon whole milk
  • Add Color: Divide the icing into smaller bowls if you plan to use different colors. Add a few drops of gel food coloring to each and stir until evenly blended. Gel food coloring works best because it keeps the icing from getting too watery.
    Food coloring
  • Decorate Cookies: Make sure your cookies are completely cool before decorating (even better if they’ve been chilled). Use squeeze bottles or piping bags for precise designs, or spread with a spoon for a more casual, homemade look.
  • Let It Dry: Allow cookies to sit at room temperature until the icing fully hardens—this may take up to 24 hours for a firm, glossy finish. Once dry, store cookies in airtight containers or stack them carefully for gift giving or snacking.