Royal icing is a widely used icing in the world of baking. It is known for its firm consistency and glossy finish, making it perfect for decorating biscuits. In this article we take a closer look at what royal icing is, how to make it and how to store it properly. Read on to learn all about it!
What Is Royal Icing?
Royal icing is an icing made from icing sugar and egg whites. It is a white, smooth icing and one of its key characteristics is that it hardens when it dries. This makes it perfect for creating detailed biscuit decorations. In addition, you can use royal icing to make decorative shapes. To do this, pour the icing into a mould and allow it to harden. Once set, you can remove the decorations from the mould and use them to decorate cakes.
How Can You Make Royal Icing?
Some people wonder how to make royal icing themselves. In fact, it is very easy to do. There are two different methods, which we explain below.
How to Make Royal Icing with a Royal Icing Mix
You can easily make royal icing using a mix. The advantage of a Royal Icing mix is that you only need to add a little water to create a smooth icing. The exact quantities are stated on the packaging, so it is very easy to get it right. You simply need to mix the ingredients together for about 8 minutes.
How to Make Royal Icing Without a Mix
Do you not have a mix available or do you simply prefer not to use one? Then you can also make the icing from scratch. To make royal icing you need three ingredients: water, icing sugar and egg white powder. Generally, you will need much more icing sugar (300 grams) than egg white powder (7.5 grams) and water (4.5 millilitres). Mix these ingredients together for about 8 minutes. After that, the icing is ready to use.
What Is Royal Icing Used For?
Royal icing can be used for many different purposes. As mentioned earlier, it is commonly used for decorating biscuits and making decorative elements. It can also be used as an edible glue. For example, gingerbread houses are often assembled using royal icing. You can also use it to attach edible decorations to a cake. In addition, it works well as an icing for pastries, such as on tompouces.
Can You Colour Royal Icing with Food Colouring?
Royal icing can easily be coloured. If you would like to give the icing a nice colour, simply add food colouring to the icing. Gel food colouring is usually the best option. With gel colouring, a single drop is often enough to colour the icing. This means you can create almost any colour you like and customise your decorations exactly as you want. If you would like a more intense colour, simply add a few extra drops. The more gel colouring you use, the deeper the colour will become.
How Long Does Royal Icing Need to Dry?
Are you decorating biscuits with royal icing? Then you might wonder how long it takes for them to dry. It is best to let the first layer dry for about 8 hours to ensure that it has fully hardened. For some people this may take a bit too long, especially if they want to finish their royal icing biscuits more quickly. In that case, you can let the biscuits dry in the oven. Set the oven to 50°C, place the biscuits inside and allow them to harden. You will notice that this speeds up the process considerably.
How Can You Store Royal Icing?
If you have some icing left over, there is no need to throw it away. You can store it for a while without any problems. You can keep the icing in a piping bag or in a container. Make sure the piping bag or container is sealed properly so that the icing does not dry out. Store it in a cool place outside the refrigerator. If stored correctly, the icing can last for up to two weeks.
Shop Royal Icing at Baktotaal
Are you planning to decorate biscuits with royal icing or create fun edible decorations? Then you will need a Royal Icing mix and possibly some additional tools. You can find all these products at Baktotaal.nl. If you place your order on a working day before 10:00 PM, you will often receive it the next day. That is of course very convenient.
