Ok I made red royal icing using food coloring i replaced some water with the amount of food coloring but it's just not hardening. I am wondering if I should add more confectioners sugar or mirangue? anybody have any suggestions? I am making an elmo for my nieces 2nd birthday for sunday it needs to have time to dry. Normally my royal icing comes out perfect but I have never colored it I usually only use it as a glue. Please help
Thank you

Did you make a royal icing transfer? How large is the Elmo and how long have you let it dry? Larger pieces take longer. I usually wait 24 hours, and if it's really large, at least 48 hours. Also, make sure it is not in an airtight container. It needs air circulation or it will never dry.

letsgetcaking I made a 3d elmo out of RKT. The royal icing is just soft doesn't seem to want to harden I left some on a plate to test it for about 4 hrs and it's still the same consistency is was when I put it on the plate.

Did you mix it in a grease-free bowl with grease-free utensils?

yes everything was grease free. I am wondering if it could be the weather i live in southern vermont and this summer we are having really hot temps today is 82 and very humid would this effect it?
Could i add a couple of egg white to use as a thickening agent?

The weather can affect it! I teach classes and it gets so humid in the classroom the girls could not work with it. I had to bring in a huge fan for the class room to be able to help with the humidity. You can add a little bit of corn starch to it or just some more powder sugar, since it has the cornstarch in it

Good luck!

Thank you bran1981 that helps alot. I will try the cornstarch I am out of confectioners sugar. hope it works out soon or it won't be ready for sunday...Again thannk you very much

If you are putting wet royal icing onto RKT that had butter/marg in the mix,. it will collapse.

You need to cover the RKT with fondant before you add any royal icing to the surface.

Hot weather normally helps royal icing to dry faster.

So, have you made any new attempts? Is your royal icing drying?

I have just left it alone and it dried just took alot longer than it normally does. Thank you for all the suggestions this is why i love this site<3

I'm next door to you in NH and boy is it humid out this week. I would have put the royal plaque into my oven over night with just the internal oven light on. This small amount of heat seems to work miricles.