right now i use Toba's Glace icing for my cookies because i like the taste, and the icing doesn't dry hard and chip when you bite it. but the problem that i am encountering is the icing is so thin, i can't do any piping or decorating with it.

I"ve heard good things about Antonia74's RI, but as a royal icing, it's going to be HARD when the cookie dry's, right?? I don't like that. Can i not get what i want? A good cookie icing that will dry good, but won't be hard as a rock when you bite it??

Jennifer

I have only used the Antonia74 recipe and people LOVE it! Since you only outline in full strength and flood with thinned icing, it is more like a glaze - just slightly harder. It doesn't form a hard "shell" like when you make flowers out of full strength, stiff royal icing.

Of course, it's best that you try it and form your own opinion. But I think you'll be presently surprised.

BTW - I add a little almond flavoring to mine.

if it won't dry hard like the wilton royal icing flowers, i'll give it a shot!!

Thanks

I too add almond flavoring & if you thin it down a little it's not hard. I love Antonia's ri & I make a 1/2 batch usually

I was using antonia74's icing, but mine always was pretty hard when it dried. I got this recipe off here, but didn't write on my index card who's it was, so to whoever's recipe this is, thank you! it dries fairly quick and i've not had any problems with it bleeding colors. I just finished working on 12 dozen cookies tonight using this icing and i was able to put my 2nd layer of "piping" on after about an hour (i still let the flooding dry 24 hours before i start piping). It's very soft when you bite into it. I prefer this taste over antonia's. but of course that's all person al preference of taste. antonia's recipe was the first one I picked to use because it seemed to be what everyone was using. i've been using this one for a few months now.

1 lb 10x sugar
3 tbs meringue powder
4 tbs water
2 tbs clear vanilla
mix on low 7-10 minutes.

**I always make a double batch and ususally add about an extra 3 tbs (per double batch) of water to get it the piping consistancy i like and add extra water to my flooding RI until I get the "stream disappears quick" consistancy.

Ditto what Honeydukes said! I use this icing, and almost always add more powdered sugar. Lots more for outlining consistency! I also add some brite white food color when I mix up the icing, as this seems to help prevent the icing from spotting when it dries. I don't know why it makes a difference, but it does. It also helps give the icing a richer look when you add your color.

Just an FYI on Antonia74's RI when people say they might not be as thrilled with the taste. The meringue powder she uses has vanilla in it already. To get her equivalent, add van. extract or go almond, if you like that.

I always use Antonia74"s RI and it always goes over extremely well. If you make it right it doesn't get rock hard. A friend of mine gave me this recipe as well, its the one she uses all the time, but I haven't tried it yet.


1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
assorted food coloring


In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

I use a RI icing recipe similar to antonia74's and add a couple of drops of glycerine for a slight sheen. One time, I accidentally added too much, and the icing stayed softer than usual. You might experiment with glycerine to see if that would do the trick.

So I have never tried Antonia's RIbut have heard good things about it. This is the recipe I use. I like it because it is great for detail, dries to stack but is still soft to the bite. This site also has a lot of great info and some cool products.

http://www.karenscookies.net/shop/recipes/info_11.html#recipe09

How far in advance can you make RI? Where do you store it?

Can anyone also answer the same questions for me on the RBC too?

I'm making cookies for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and it will be my first time using both RI and RBC. (I'm a bit nervous)

Thanks so much.

Antonia's RI can be made well in advance. I think she said it'll sit at room temp for 1 mo. I've frozen it w/ success too & let it thaw at room temp---doesn't take long at all.

As for RBC I'll make it, cut out my shapes, freeze them to harden them & then layer them between wax paper in an airtight container & put back in the freezer. That way I'm not making cookie dough, RBC, RI cutting out, & decorating all in one day. If I'm going to be in a pinch for time I'll bake my cookies, freeze in an airtight container & reheat in a preheated oven for about 3 min. Also, color your RI the night before---air bubbles will rise to the top & the color will darken a bit. Then all you'll have to do the next day is decorate, which will take enough time. Good luck Mickeebabe!

Thank you.

I use a glace recipe as well, honestly I prefer it to RI. Just add more powdered sugar to get it to the consistency that you want. No need to really go completely different, just work with it until it does what you want it to.