My Families Best Cookie Decorating Icing

It’s that time of year again, where many will be looking for the best icing for decorating cookies. I’m pleased to say that I have mastered this sugar cookie icing without milk recipe so that you can decorate easy sugar cookies with your kids.

This time of year so many families grab up some recipes and cookie decorating icing to get some Christmas treats created. These Christmas cookies can be enjoyed by Santa, the family or brought to feasts with the extended family. Please note that this icing is not the kind that you see on videos that will fill in and be shiny when hardened.

It’s a basic frosting to decorate sugar cookies with that the children will enjoy using. 

To make Sugar Cookie Icing with Cream Cheese you will need the following ingredients: cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk (optional), food coloring.  

A snowman sugar cookie decorated in white with sprinkles using our families favorite sugar cookie frosting. Pin

 

How Do You Make Homemade Frosting For Sugar Cookies


Making homemade frosting for sugar cookies is so easy!  This recipe only has 3 main ingredients plus your coloring. 

Butter and cream cheese in a bowl to make the best tasting cream cheese frosting.Pin

In a large mixing bowl, combine your cream cheese and softened butter and mix until creamy.

Slowly mix in your powdered sugar and vanilla extract until evenly mixed.

Blue gel icing being mixed into the best tasting cream cheese icing for cookies. Pin

Separate your frosting into smaller bowls and mix each bowl of frosting with a few drops of food coloring.

Scoop into a decorating bag bag or leave in the bowls to frost the cookies.

Bright green icing in a white bowl with 3 other gel colors behind it. Pin

Tips & Tricks to Making Cookie Decorating Icing


Below are my favorite tips to making cookie decorating icing.  

  • I mostly use almond for my icing flavors, however in this recipe you can use any extract flavor you like.  Strawberry today and coffee flavored tomorrow.
  • You can use cookie decorating icing to create adorable decor on a gingerbread house or cookies for the holiday season. 
  • Generally speaking, you can store this cookie decorating icing for about one week, after that you’ll soon see the ingredients separating which means it’s time to toss it out. 
  • You can store cookie decorating icing in an airtight bowl, you may want to blend or mix it up when you go to use it again if not using it fresh. 
  • You can use this cookie decorating icing as a way to write words on a cake. 
  • Be sure to use this cookie decorating icing as soon as possible to keep it from hardening before you’re able to decorate your sugar cookies. 
  • Did you know you can freeze cookie decorating icing?  It’s possible when frozen in airtight container.  I let it thaw in the fridge and re-whip before using.  
  • If your icing for decorating cookies is a bit to thick you can add a tablespoon of milk at a time to thin it down. 

Decorated sugar cookies including a snowman, tree and star with sprinkles. Pin

Common Questions About Sugar Cookie Decorating Icings


Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the variety of Cookie Decorating Icings:

How do you store Royal Icing overnight? 

Store any un-used cookie decorating icing in an airtight container overnight with a damp paper towel or plastic wrap placed directly over your cookie decorating icing. Be sure you give your cookie decorating icing plenty of time to get to room temperature before using the next day. 

How do you store decorated cookies?

There are many ways you can store decorated cookies, but the best way is to store them in their own cellphane bag or in a layered fashion with plastic wrap placed gently on top of the decorated cookies. You can store them at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

What kind of icing is the best to decorate sugar cookies with?

This depends on what look you’re wanting to achieve.  With the kids I prefer this icing recipe because it tastes wonderful and is easy to decorate with sprinkles as well.  Many professionals will use a royal icing, however I don’t find that to be the best when decorating cookies with the kids.  A thinned out royal icing or an icing made with corn syrup will give you that shiny glass like look that is popular in most videos.  

Recipes That Work Well With Our Best Tasting Sugar Cookie Icing


These other recipes work wonders with our families favorite tasting sugar cookie icing.  When it comes to using up extra sugar cookie icing one has to think outside of the box and the last 4 tips are my favorite!

Grandma's easy sugar cookies baked on a clear plate with a pink table runner under them.Pin

Helpful Tools To Make The Best Icing For Decorating Cookies

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The Best Tasting Cookie Decorating Icing


This simple to make cream cheese cookie decorating icing will allow you to enjoy decorating Christmas sugar cookies with the kids this holiday season. 

If you loved this cookie decorating icing let me know with a 5 star rating!

Decorated sugar cookies including a snowman, tree and star with sprinkles.

Cookie Decorating Frosting

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

This simple to make cream cheese cookie decorating icing will allow you to enjoy decorating Christmas sugar cookies with the kids this holiday season. 

Ingredients

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 5 oz butter, softened
  • 2 1/2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoons vanilla or almond extract
  • Gel food coloring

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine your cream cheese and softened butter and mix until creamy.
  2. Slowly mix in your powdered sugar and vanilla extract until evenly mixed.
  3. Separate your frosting into smaller bowls and mix each bowl of frosting with a few drops of food coloring.
  4. Scoop into a decorating bag bag or leave in the bowls to frost the cookies.
Check out these fun Christmas goodies to exchange for a huge list of fun Christmas treats! 

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