Royal Icing...

Royal icing on sugar cookies is a delightful medium. It can be finicky but if you know a few tricks, it allows for layers and layers of color and texture and you will fall in love...if you are patient :) here is a basic recipe and a few tricks:

*1 lb. powdered sugar

*5 T meringue powder-this can be found at a cake supplier my favorite here in the DCMVA is Fran's Cake and Candy in Fairfax. Sometime you can find the Wilton brand at Michael's Crafts

*1/2 c. water

*gel food color, the watery stuff you get the grocery store works as well just adjust the water

mix the 2 powders together using the paddle attachment NOT the whisk for about a minute. You really want to break up any chunks that may have formed and the paddle allows you to do this. Slowly add the water and mix on a medium speed for another 2-3 minutes, long enough to fully hydrate all of the powder. Separate into different containers, one for each color. Put a wet towel over each bowl or seal them tightly with a damp paper towel under the lid. This initial thickness should be good for creating a "well" or tracing your shape. This is the same idea as the black lines of a character in a coloring book, it allows you to block in your design. Put the icing in a piping back fitting with the appropriate tip, for this step I usually use a round tip that is about the size of the lead in a standard pencil. As you pipe, don't pull the icing allow it to fall into place and remain tubular. Let the "well" dry. Now for the "flooding" part, you want the icing to be more liquid so it spreads evenly. Add a few more drops of water to the icing until the icing is as fluid as corn syrup. Spoon or pipe into the well and spread around filling in the gaps with the back of a spoon. From here the sky is the limit, you can let this step dry and then continue to add designs using the thicker icing or you can mix in colors and create patterned backgrounds. Make sure to allow them to fully dry and once dry store in an airtight container and the cookies will last about a week. Enjoy, and thanks to Amy H. for throwing the baby shower that inspired these guys!