How to Make Decorated Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Updated: Jan. 29, 2021Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Making decorated sugar cookies with royal icing can be easy. Learn how using a few simple tools. The best part: They look totally professional.
Cutout cookies are always a special treat since they require a bit more care to create than a basic drop cookie (though we love these easy cookie recipes too). Cut in cute or classic shapes, these cookies are a delight, but the most eyecatching part has to be the icing. It’s also the most finicky to make. However, frosting cookies with a classic royal icing doesn’t need to be overly complex. We’ve got a few simple techniques that’ll have you making professional-looking cookies in no time. Make sure you know these helpful cookie decorating tips.
Easy Royal Icing Recipe for Cookies
Royal icing sounds fancy, but it’s actually really simple to make. Follow our easy royal icing guide where we break down the process step-by-step using our Test Kitchen’s go-to royal icing recipe.
Like most icings, you can alter the consistency with how much water or confectioners’ sugar you add. Depending on the decoration style you’re going for, you’ll want different consistencies.
- For a base coat or flooding, you’ll want your icing to be a bit thinner.
- For piped designs, use a bit less water (or a bit more sugar) for a thicker icing.
Whatever consistency you aim for, just be sure to avoid these common royal icing mistakes.
The Supplies You Need for Decorated Sugar Cookies
Before you start decorating, you’ll want to stock up on a few basic supplies.
- A shallow dish
- Food coloring. For royal icing, you’ll want to opt for gel dye as it creates great, saturated color without diluting your icing. Get a 12-pack here.
- Toothpicks
- Decorating squeeze bottles. They’re easier to manage than piping bags, especially for children.
Royal Icing Decoration Method 1: Dipping
The easiest way to decorate cookies with royal icing is to dip them. This method serves as a great base for all kinds of embellishments. And dipping cookies is just as easy as it sounds: Prep a thin royal icing, place it in a shallow bowl, then dip the top of your cutout cookies into the icing—done!
From here, you can set the cookies aside and let them dry completely or keep decorating while wet.
Royal Icing Decoration 2: Dipping and Swirling
Another super-easy way to decorate with royal icing is to try a wet-on-wet method—essentially piping more icing over icing with a wet finish. To do this, grab either a piping bag or decorating bottle filled with thinner, colored icing. You can pipe this frosting on in a twisty, turvy pattern. Then use a toothpick and swirl the colored and white icing together to create a marbled effect.
Use this same technique to create swirls and a herringbone pattern. For swirls, just pipe on dots and run the toothpick through them. You can make heart shapes this way or an interesting spiral design. For the herringbone, pipe straight lines of frosting and run the toothpick through the lines perpendicularly. The techniques are very similar to the way you might put a swirl in a cheesecake.
Royal Icing Decoration 3: Pipe Designs
If you’d like a more intricate design on your cookies, you can create those too with the same tools. Instead of piping cookies while the base layer is wet, you’ll let the base dry completely.
Using a slightly stiffer royal icing—just add in some extra confectioners’ sugar—you can pipe on whatever design you like with either a piping bag or the decorating squeeze bottles. Our Test Kitchen likes a simple tone on tone design. White on white is great for winter—but you can easily make flowers, dots or other patterns using the same tools. The sky’s the limit.
Editor’s note: Experiment with your design on a piece of parchment paper to get the icing flowing before you decorate the actual cookie. And remember, practice makes perfect!
The Finished Product
No matter which method you use to frost cookies, you’ll end up with a polished result. Royal icing dries smooth and level, making your cutout cookies look absolutely professional.
Chocolate-Glazed Doughnut Cookies
My little nieces love to help decorate these doughnut-shaped cookies. They top them with sprinkles, chopped pecans or crushed candy canes. —Jolie Stinson, Marion, Indiana Need some help with your cutouts? Check out our best cutout cookie tips.
Orange Sugar Cookies
I make these citrusy cookies for parties and special occasions, and we always get to eat the ones that don't come out perfectly. Eventually I had to start making extra "mistakes" to keep my family happy! —Myrrh Wertz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
White Velvet Cutouts
We make and decorate these cutouts for different holidays and give lots of them as gifts. Last year, we baked a batch a week before Christmas to be sure we'd have plenty to give and plenty for ourselves, too. These rich cookies melt in your mouth. —Kim Hinkle, Wauseon, Ohio
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, grandkids and for the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania
Peanut Butter Cinnamon Snap Cookies
These peanut butter cinnamon cookies are perfect for bake sales, potlucks or holiday gift baskets. Use fun cookie cutters for any occasion you are celebrating. The cookie glaze dries shiny, so they look professional. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
Grandma's Star Cookies
My husband's grandma would only make these butter cutouts with a star cookie cutter. I use various shapes for celebrations throughout the year. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
Graffiti Cutout Cookies
Talk about playing with your food! Edible color spray lets you create ombre and color blends unlike any other decorating technique. To make ombre lines like mine, hold a sheet of paper over desired sections as you spray to layer the color. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Wookie Cookies
Who wouldn’t want a Chewie cookie? These adorable cutouts will be a fan favorite at any kind of "Star Wars" party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Jumbo Chocolate Cutouts
The recipe for these light cookies has been passed down from generation to generation. Have a little extra fun with frosting if you like. They freeze well, too!—Helen Brown, East Dover, Vermont
Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies
I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
Great-Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies
Not only is this recipe a favorite of my husband's, it's extra special to me because it goes back to my great-grandmother. For holidays, we like to sprinkle on colored sugar for a festive touch. —Mary Ann Konechne, Kimball, South Dakota
Roll-Out Cookies
I collect cookie cutters (I have over 5,000!), so a good cutout recipe is a must. These cookies are crisp and buttery-tasting with just a hint of lemon, and the dough handles nicely. —Bonnie Price, Yelm, Washington (Here's how to roll out cookie dough like a pro!)
White Chocolate-Cappuccino Cookies
These adorable cookies shaped like coffee cups don't last long with my friends and family. For an even richer flavor, I use a mocha latte coffee mix. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
Letter-Stamped Butter Cookies
Alphabet cookie stamps make creating these one-of-a-kind treats a snap. Surprise your guests with dessert before dinner! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Mom's Soft Sugar Cookies
This delicious sugar cookie recipe has been passed down in our family for 75 years. Try it and you'll see why it remains our very favorite cookie! —Arnita Schroeder, Hoagland, Indiana
Lemon Curd Cookies
I've made these cookies for years. I like to give them out to family and friends. —Carole Vogel, Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Almond Raspberry Stars
The first Christmas that I baked these, I ended up quickly making a second batch! The whole family enjoyed them. —Darlene Weaver, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Deluxe Sugar Cookies
Christmas cutouts signal the holiday season. For variety, sprinkle half of the cookies with colored sugar before baking and frost the remaining ones after they're cooled.—Dawn Fagerstrom, Warren, Minnesota
Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Monogrammed Cookies
Mint and lime zest bring fresh flavor to these crisp sugar cookies. For a fun shower dessert, we adorned the tops with the bride's monogram.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Lemon Cutouts
Full of lemony flavor, these cookies are great for any time of year and always popular with family and friends.—Patricia C. Quinn, Omaha, Nebraska
Zimtsterne
During December, homes and bakeries in Switzerland are filled with the aroma of classic cookies like these "Zimtsterne." —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Crisp Butter Cookies
You'll be out of the kitchen quick when you bake these cookies. The would be great to take to a holiday party.—Tammy Mackie, Seward, Nebraska
Snowy Mountain Cookies
I was so excited to bake these with my mom after coming home from studying abroad in Germany. They remind me of the Swabian Alps I could see from my room there. Be careful not to overheat your white chocolate; it’ll lose that attractive shine. —Stephanie Bouley, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
Sweetheart Coconut Cookies
Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones. My husband likes coconut, so I make these for his birthday. —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio
Frosted Maple Pyramids
The cute shape of these cookies makes them a splendid sight on a Christmas cookie tray. You could use star-shaped cookie cutters in place of the round ones. —Wanda Goodell, Kent, Washington
Chocolate Walnut Crescents
I use a round cookie cutter to form the crescent shapes for these nutty favorites. They're so pretty sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with chocolate. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey
Lemon Shortbreads
Every year my mom and I collect cookie recipes we want to try and then get together in early December for an afternoon of baking. These no-fail lemon cookies have become an annual tradition. They're a wonderful homemade holiday gift. —Kristen Stecklein, Glendale, Wisconsin
Chocolate Cutout Cookies
I love gingerbread cookies, but my grandchildren don't like the ginger flavor. Now I use chocolate and watch them smile as they take that first bite. —Nancy Murphy, Mount Dora, Florida
Cinnamon Stars
"These cookies are such a hit with my family. A few always seem to disappear before I can finish them!" —Flo Burtnett
Linzer Cookies
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
Pixie Dust Cookies
These crisp and buttery cookies are based on a favorite Scottish shortbread recipe. They're just the right amount of sweet—and fun to decorate! —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
Cutout Christmas Cookies
These old-fashioned Christmas cookies have been a holiday tradition in my family for many years. It was a joy to make these cookies for my children, and now my little granddaughter will soon be enjoying them, too. —Carolyn Moseley, Dayton, Ohio
Scalloped Mocha Cookies
I tore this recipe out of a magazine many years ago, and they are one of my most requested cookie. They contain the four Cs, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and crunch. Since they are sprinkled with coarse sugar, they add a little glitz to a cookie tray.—Loraine Meyer, Bend, Oregon
Lemon Butter Cookies
These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They're very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I've worked with. I know you'll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois
Grandma's Christmas Spice Cutouts
My great-grandmother made these, and the tradition was passed down in the family—without a written recipe! My mother would always start them the day after Thanksgiving, which was exciting for us kids, as we knew Christmas wasn’t far off. They are easy to decorate with family; my grandchildren always look forward to them.—Elaine Phelps, Cornell, Wisconsin
JoJo's Ginger Cookies
It's so much fun to decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy golden brown cookies stole the show.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
Raspberry Linzer Cookies
These wonderful cookies require a bit of extra effort to make and assemble, but the delight on the faces of family and friends when I serve them makes it all worthwhile. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware
Gingerbread Snowflakes
Cutting my favorite gingerbread cookie dough into snowflake shapes and decorating them with white icing was ideal for my theme get-together. I save these crunchy treats to enjoy on the way home from our Christmas tree outing. —Shelly Rynearson, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
