Easy cookie icing only has 2 ingredients and takes minutes to make. This homemade icing can be used to decorate any cookie recipe, and is perfect for beginners or baking with kids! Use this cookie icing recipe to decorate my easy sugar cookies!
Hi hi! Just popping in to share this super simple 2 ingredient sugar cookie icing with you! I've made a whole lot of sugar cookies in my time, and while royal icing is super pretty and great for piping intricate details, it can be a little more fiddly to make, and to be honest, it's not my favourite thing to eat.
Enter this super easy, almost instant sugar cooking icing. Made with just two ingredients, and relying on a basic ratio, it's perfect for decorating your cookies if you are looking for a simple cookie icing recipe. It works great on sugar cookies but also makes an amazing gingerbread cookie icing.
While it's not as pretty as royal icing, it can still be used to pipe basic details on cookies, and it's great for providing a base for loads of sprinkles. This cookie icing dries hard, and is perfect for if you're decorating cookies with kids or you just want something nice and easy, and super delicious. So, make yourself a batch of sugar cookie dough, or a batch of gingerbread cookies, and get decorating!
Why I Choose this recipe over royal icing
Here's why I love this super easy sugar cookie icing:
- It couldn't be easier. This two ingredient icing is just a stir together situation, meaning that it comes together in minutes.
- You can adjust the consistency. Add more or less milk to your liking if you would like this cookie icing to be thinner or thicker depending on your project.
- Tastes delicious. This cookie icing has that super nostalgic, crunchy sweet icing flavour. Both my husband and I immediately said it reminded us of childhood.
- Easy to pipe. While it's not as neat as something like a royal icing, this simple sugar cookie icing can be piped to make basic designs on a cookie. If you wanted more 3D designs you would make a sugar cookie frosting which is more of a buttercream style.
- No raw egg whites. Sometimes royal icing has an egg white base, which can be avoided with meringue powder, but I wanted to provide a safe, easy sugar cookie icing recipe you don't have to worry about raw eggs with.
The ideal icing ratio for an easy to work with cookie icing: 100g powdered sugar : 15g whole milk.
Easy Cookie Icing Ideas
I used this easy sugar cookie icing to decorate a batch of sugar cookies in a couple of different ways. The great part about making sugar cookies is that you can really make them your own here - do whatever takes your fancy, but if you need some ideas:
- Full sprinkle coverage. To make these, I piped a line of cookie icing around the edge of the cookie, then filled it in. I found having two piping bags set up helped for this - one with a smaller hole snipped in it to do the outline, then one with a larger hole in it to do the 'flooding' (the filling in). Once you have covered your cookie in icing, give it a shake to level it off, then dip the whole surface onto a plate covered with sprinkles of your choice. Leave to dry completely.
- The 'wreath'. This is a super easy way to decorate cookies - pipe an outline of cookie icing around the edge of your cookie, then either dip it into sprinkles, or sprinkle with whatever you like. I did some with gold sprinkles for a cute festive look. This also works great with things like christmas tree shaped cookies - just pipe a border and cover with sprinkles.
- Piping. If you want to get a little fancy, this sugar cookie icing can be used to pipe super basic details - I went for some christmas bauble inspired piping, but you can do whatever takes your fancy!
Top Piping Tip: I find that the best way to stop icing from oozing out the piping bag is to place a clip on the end. This stops the cookie icing from sneaking out while you are piping and is especially helpful if you have small hands helping you.
❤️ Made this recipe and love it? ❤️
I would LOVE for you to leave me a review and star rating below to let me know how you liked it! Also, please make sure to tag me on Instagram!
Answers to your baking questions
Over the years, many of you have asked me questions about:
- baking in grams
- adjusting oven temperatures
- what kind of salt to use
- and many more!
I've curated and answered them all for your easy reference in this frequently asked questions post!
2 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Icing
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings 1x
- Category: icing
- Method: frosting
- Cuisine: american
Description
Easy cookie icing only has 2 ingredients and takes minutes to make. This homemade icing can be used to decorate any cookie recipe, and is perfect for beginners or baking with kids!
Ingredients
- 300g powdered sugar, sifted
- 45g whole milk, cold from the fridge is fine.
Instructions
- Place the powdered sugar in a medium bowl.
- Add the milk. Whisk well using a fork or a whisk until the cookie icing is a smooth consistency.
- Add more milk or more powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency.
- Use immediately - this is a crusting icing so you need to make sure that it is not exposed to air for too long so that it does not go crusty. I like to transfer mine to a piping bag to use straight away.
- Once the cookies are decorated, place onto a wire rack and leave to dry at room temperature for at least a few hours, until the icing is set. This icing sets hard enough that it can be used for piping.
Notes
Adding Flavouring to sugar cookie icing:
Extracts. You can add any extract to this sugar cookie icing that you like - you choose what to use! Just remember that it will affect the consistency of the icing if you use a liquid extract, so subtract that quantity from the overall amount of milk added to the icing to compensate. If you like almond extract, you could put it in here (I don't like it so I can't recommend how much to use sorry). Just be aware that if you use a flavoring that is not clear it may affect the overall color of your icing.
Lemon. This recipe would be lovely made with lemon juice instead of milk if you wanted a lemony flavor. It may be more of a cookie glaze in terms of how opaque it is, but you can also adjust by adding in more powdered sugar to change the consistency to what you need.
Storage
This icing is definitely best used immediately after making, but if you did need to store it, the best way would be in the piping bag - place a chip clip or something similar on both ends to stop any leaking and store at room temperature. You will have to either snip the end off and transfer the icing to a new bag or cut a new hole in the end to get rid of any crusty build up so that the icing flows easier.
Alternatively you could store your cookie icing in an airtight container or bowl with plastic wrap pressed against the surface to stop any crusting.
Can this cookie icing be colored?
Yes - you can tint this sugar cookie icing with whatever colour you want! I usually use gel food coloring but liquid will work too - just remember that if you do use liquid food coloring, that it will water down the cookie icing, so you may need to add in a little powdered sugar to get the right consistency.
Use a separate mixing bowl for your different colors of icing. If you are making multiple colors you may want to scale up the recipe slightly so that you have enough to fill each piping bag. I usually make the white icing in a larger quantity than the other colors as that is the one that gets the most use.
Comments
stacy says
love this! less fussy than royal icing and easy to use
Patricia Riddle says
Can you add Cocoa powder to make chocolate icing?
Erin Clarkson says
yes it should work fine you will just need more milk!
caribou says
Such a great icing!! It's not too sweet like royal icing can be and actually tastes really really good. Thank you!
Bonnie ford says
Can you use 1 percent milk not whole milk?
Erin Clarkson says
Yes but the icing may look a little more watery
Hannah says
Cannot believe how easy this was!
Catherine says
Made this to pipe on the Easy Gingerbread Cookies on this site. I had forgotten to add cardamom to the cookies, so added it to the icing in the form of Burlap and Barrel's cardamom extract, in addition to using lemon juice as the liquid in the icing. It was so good, my kid was licking it off the cookies. He has since been schooled, and now eats the whole cookie. This combination, atop a gingerbread cookie, is just perfect.
Erin Clarkson says
Hhahahah I love this - good to know you taught him the ways! I gotta try with cardamom in the icing!
Jessa says
Easiest icing recipe. Perfect for when the kids want to decorate cookies. I’ll use this recipe often.
Lauren D says
Great icing that was easy to make and delicious paired with the sugar cookies! The two ingredients made it easy to make more as I needed it and I love that it dries quickly. Will definitely use again!
Toni Ruawai says
This is such a great icing for decorating especially for children. It sets just like Royal icing but taste so much better.
Erin Clarkson says
Cute!!
T says
Can decorated cookies be stored at room temperature with this icing?
Erin Clarkson says
Yes once it is dry it is fine to keep at room temp 🙂
Hanna says
Hello, since this icing contains milk, how long can you safely store it at room tempetature? Do you have to refrigerate it after a few days? Thank you!
Erin Clarkson says
It stores once on the cookies fine at room temperature however if you have leftover I would discard as it gets crusty
Hanna says
That's great, I'm still new to this, thank you for your answer! ❤️
Courtney says
This is fast to make, easy to work with, and simply the best overall! I ran out of sprinkle eyes for a Halloween treat and decided to use this recipe to decorate with. It does dry quickly, but it made decorating the treats soo much easier and faster (not to mention cost effective). I had no problems when adding gel dye, and plan to use this for all my treat decorating needs!
Kiani says
It looks good but tastes bad 🤢
Christine says
Hi! Will this icing will work if I am planning to use luster dust to paint accents on after the icing dries.
Erin Clarkson says
I haven't tried it sorry!
Lexi says
That's because your sugar tastes bad. Taste your powdered sugar before using it. I often buy it about a week before I use it, otherwise, for some reason, it tastes like dry wall-- don't ask how I know what dry wall tastes like 🤣
Erica says
I am making a Santa cookie decorating kit... do you think I could mix the icing up and then seal in the piping bag to gift ready to go? Or would I be better just to include the icing sugar pre measured?
Erin Clarkson says
Probably pre measured!
Spencer says
Doesn't get any simpler!
Sue Johnston says
I don’t know how to measure grams !
Erin Clarkson says
It's not too hard - there are a lot of tutorials online 🙂
Cromulent Username says
This was so easy to make! It tasted good! And it provided a great base for sprinkles.
lauren says
does anyone know if this icing can replace royal icing when putting fondant ontop of the cookie when using a stamp/emboss?
Erin Clarkson says
I haven't tried it sorry!
Amity says
I love a full royal icing situation but I just did not have time this past year for holiday cookies! Made this to do a fast decoration - I swirled some gel color in to give a marble effect and then dunked every cookie. So much faster, and it looked and tasted great! Much more practical for a big batch of cookies. Will repeat for sure!
Nicki says
Kids enjoyed icing them. Great recipe
Sandra says
Hi there !
Can i use this icing for selling?
Will it be fine for a month ?
If not, what recipe shall i use please?
Erin Clarkson says
Hi, I'm not comfortable giving an answer to that sorry as I have not tried it.
Nic says
So easy and makes so many tasty cookies
Julie says
Hi,
Thank you for sharing such a simple and practical recipe. Could it be used to write on a frosted cake?
Erin Clarkson says
I'm not sure sorry!
Karen says
Hi will this work with plant based milk? My son has a dairy allergy and it's tough at Christmas! Thanks so much for your help 🙂
Erin Clarkson says
It should be just fine 🙂
Erin Clarkson says
I haven't tried sorry but I think it should be just fine 🙂
Katy says
Quick easy sugar cookie icing! Works amazing for being 2 ingredients.
Decided to make sugar cookies for Xmas with the nephews (5yrs and 2yrs) and making this icing was the easiest part of the whole ordeal 😂
Joelle says
Hi! My icing is not hardening- would I add more powdered sugar? Or milk? Ty!
Erin Clarkson says
Hi, it just needs time usually! add a little powdered sugar if you need to
Mare says
I’m looking for an icing like what is on these Bunnies and I think yours is it! Can you tell by looking?
Also, what is the conversion to cups and ounces please.
Thanks my family will be ever so grateful!
Erin Clarkson says
Hi, this looks like a royal icing but mine should work. You're welcome to google the conversions 🙂
Mare says
Can you use EVAPORATED milk instead of whole milk?
Thanks again!
Mare
Erin Clarkson says
I haven't tried sorry!
Evelyn says
Could I use 2% reduced fat milk?
Erin Clarkson says
Yep, the icing may be a little thinner and not dry as much of a solid colour but it will be fine 🙂
Laura Mullowney says
Making this icing tomorrow. Accustomed to powdered sugar , egg whites, and cream of tartar. (Icing recipe I used 10 yrs ago last I piped sugar cookies.). But will try this recipe.
If you can suggest recipe w/ cream of tartar , egg whites and cream of tartar-much appreciated.
I'm in the US and will have to adjust to measuring via grams (no scale now...). I can convert/figure it out.
Looking forward.
Tomorrow cookie cutter in shape of my dear Basset hound -Tallulah (see pic-Christmas 2024)...arrives. Looking forward to piping again!
I have a Parkingson's related neurological prognosis (good...) Calligraphy helps a lot. Piping always relaxes tense fingers. (I use ziplock bag and nip corner a bit w/ very sharp scissors). So~truly looking forward to trying your recipe. Thank you.
Will update/ send photo(s) tomorrow.
~Laura
Erin Clarkson says
Cute! Good luck!
Cindy says
My preschooler loved using this on some heart shaped cookies. We made it purple by smooshing some blueberries in with the milk first.