I've never used royal icing before apart from as something to stick decorations onto cakes at some decorating classes. I would like to use it to decorate the top of a cake but the picture I had in mind has lots of different colours my question being can I make a large amount of icing and colour it as and when or will it go hard if I leave it too long? If it starts to get a crust can I beat it back? If not can someone advise me on the best way to do this
Many thanks

Hi,
I normally use royal icing on christmas cakes, its not like buttercream, which can be re-softened, when it dries out it dries out, but I do know of a way to make it so it doesn't dry so hard.

If you add a little glycerine to the mixture it dries a lot softer. (easier to eat )

If you're not used to using royal icing you could do little test cakes or work in seperate batches for each colour?

hope this helps, good luck!

keep it in an air tight container ... sometimes i put it in ziplock bags or just leave it in the piping bag tightened up with rubber bands. it will only get hard if it comes into contact with air. if you're going to leave it in your mixer for a few minutes, cover the bowl with a damp towel.

Thank you both I might just do it a bit at a time and see how it goes

You might already have your answer but yes, all you need to do is keep your RI covered at all times..conact with air is what makes it harden. You can color your icing as you go, as needed. What you can do is keep the colored RI in your pipping bags tightly wrapped at the end and keep under a damp towel. This way it doesnt harden and clog your tips. Also make sure ALL your utinesals (including bags & tips) are rinsed in viniger..and oil residue will ruin the icing, HTH

*oops i ment any :/