I 'm sure several of you are asking the burning question, "What is royal icing?" Well, I'll tell you. Royal icing is made from powdered sugar, egg whites or meringue powder, water and extracts. It is the kind of icing that sets up hard and smooth. I have always used butter cream in the past. I thought it would be an adventure. Oh boy, what an adventure!
It all started because I taught a kid's cookie class at Williams's Sonoma. So I was in the mood for making sugar cookies. And, I found these adorable owl and squirrel cookie cutters. They were just screaming.... Must make cookies! Must make cookies!!
I managed to get some great advice from a fellow WS employee about using royal icing. So, I decided to use the pipe and flood method. Which is pretty much how it sounds. First you pipe icing around the edge of the cookie. Then you flood the middle with icing. Great in theory. But, the actual process is quite tricky. And you must certainly have a steady hand. I need more practice.
This making royal icing and using royal icing is complicated. There are all different ways to ice the cookie. You can pipe and flood. You can use a wet on dry method to layer icing (which is what I attempted with the eyes). You can use wet on wet method which is beyond me. right now. You can go mad trying to make absolutely perfect cookies.
What I've learned is you must be patient. And you must plan ahead. And I have learned that I need a whole lot more practice. I mean a lot. So, If you want a slightly off, funky colored sugar cookie, I'm your gal!
Believe me, I will try again. Because, I also purchased cat, pumpkin and bat cookie cutters. It's going to be a frustrating Halloween season. I can feel it!
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| Let's just be clear.... Those are squirrels...not dinosaurs. |
They look better than if I had tried! :) How do they taste?
ReplyDelete(oh and I thought they were dinosaurs….) lol
Thanks Heidi! I may be too much of a perfectionist for this type of icing. I think I just need more practice. They are very tasty though.
ReplyDelete