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    Home » Desserts » Cookies, Pies & Tarts » Vegan Royal Icing

    Vegan Royal Icing

    Dec 21, 2020 · Updated: Dec 17, 2022 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe

    My vegan royal icing is a 2-ingredient healthy icing perfect for sugar cookies and cakes, dries hard and shiny, has no eggs, can easily be colored, and works great as a gingerbread house glue.

    vegan royal icing

    My vegan royal icing is only 2 ingredients and perfect for icing cookies as well as cakes. It can be easily colored with commercial food colorings or fruits, and it is a strong frosting binder for custom gingerbread house building or even just mini-graham-cracker type gingerbread house projects.

    Try it on my healthy easy gingerbread cookie recipe here. Even if you aren't vegan, you'll love the flavor of this icing - organic powdered sugar is so much tastier.

    Table of Contents
    • Ingredients in Vegan Royal Icing
    • How to Make Royal Icing
    • Substitutions
    • How to Store
    • Tips To Improve The Icing
    • Recipe Tips
    • FAQS
    • Other Frosting Recipes
    • Vegan Royal Icing

    vegan royal icing

    Ingredients in Vegan Royal Icing

    Powdered Sugar. I suggest using organic powdered sugar, even if the recipe doesn't have to be vegan. Organic powdered sugar tastes better, has retained more minute levels of nutrition, but most importantly doesn't have the added cornstarch that conventional powdered sugar has. It is  added to the mainstream brands as an anticaking substance, contains GMOs, and brings with it a chalky flavor and dusty texture. There are many organic powdered sugar brands on the market, but here is one of my favorites, Wholesome.

    Aquafaba. The brine from a can of unsalted chickpeas. I recommend using a brand with only chickpeas, such as  Whole Foods 365 brand or Eden. Stay away from Goya and other brands with sugar or color retention additives.

    How to Make Royal Icing

    To make it, follow these steps:

    1. Sift your organic powdered sugar into a bowl.

    2. Spoon room temperature liquid aquafaba into the sugar and mix with a hand-mixer, or full mixer if you have one. Add 3 tablespoon of aquafaba at first and see if that creates the texture you want for pipable frosting.

    If you are covering sugar cookies with a layer of white frosting, you'll actually want two batches: One batch that is thicker so add 3 tablespoon of aquafaba, and another batch that is thinner so add 4 tablespoon of aquafaba.

    Add the thicker batch to a piping bag and use to pipe a design or outline around your cookie. Keep the thinner batch in a bowl and spoon or "flood" the inside of the cookie design within the border you just created. I will create a video tutorial soon!

    Substitutions

    Powdered sugar - You need powdered sugar but you can use either organic or non-organic. I have to tell you you'll want to use organic powdered sugar, even if you are not vegan, because it tastes sooo much better than the non organic version.

    Aquafaba - I realize not everyone has a can of chickpeas in their cabinet so I'll give you an alternative ingredient: corn syrup.

    vegan royal icing

    How to Store

    Royal icing sugar does not need to be refrigerated immediately. It keeps at room temperature in a piping bag with a writing tip in a sealed container for up to 4 days.

    After that, refrigerate it for a week, or freeze for 3 months.

    You'll need to bring the bag back to room temperature and massage for a while to restore consistency.

    Tips To Improve The Icing

    1. Add baker's glycerin - To increase shine and help keep the icing from yellowing over a few days once on cookies.

    2. Add lemon juice to off-set the sweetness of the sugar.

    3. Add vanilla to add more flavor to the icing although that can move the color to a tan.

    Recipe Tips

    1. This recipe makes about 1 cup of icing, enough to decorate a dozen cookies.

    2. Using aquafaba. You'll get about ½ cup of liquid from a can, so refrigerate the leftovers - this will last about 1 week in a jar. Or freeze for several months. This recipe - which makes about 1 cup of icing - only needs 4 tablespoon of aquafaba.

    3. Using corn syrup. If you'd prefer to use corn syrup, just reduce the amount. Use only 3 tablespoon of corn syrup, while aquafaba calls for 4 tbsp.

    Ways to Use Vegan Royal Icing

    1. Decorate sugar cookies

    2. Decorate cakes, pies or tarts.

    3. Coat cookies with layers of smooth icing, let harden and then paint. To paint ON this icing, let it harden at least a few hours, or even overnight at room temperature. Create a coloring paint by mixing food coloring and water or Vodka. Use food paint brushes to brush painted designs on cookies or use stencils.

    4. Use the frosting as a glue to bind walls of a gingerbread house or even just graham crackers.

    5. Use the frosting as a glue to stick candy or other decorations to baked goods.

    How to Color Vegan Royal Icing

    1. For white icing, make this recipe as is and you will have white royal icing.

    2. For colored icing, set some white icing in a bowl and add a tiny drop of food coloring, and stir. You won't need much extract to create a color, and remember the frosting color will be darker once dry. All types of food coloring work well in this  icing recipe.

    How to Use This Frosting to Decorate Cookies

    1. To decorate using lines, make a thicker batch using only 3 tablespoon of aquafaba, and load a piping bag. Either insert a tip or snip the end so you can let the frosting out in some way. Then fill the bag with icing. To do this easily, put the piping bag into a tall glass, fold the bag open over the sides, and fill the bag.

    2. To fill in your lined design or outline, make a thinner batch using the full 4 tablespoon of aquafaba, and don't fill a piping bag, instead spoon the frosting into the design. If you need your frosting to be thinner to do this, simply add another ½ tablespoon or more of aquafaba.

    FAQS

    What Is The Difference Between Royal Icing And Regular Icing and Vegan Royal Icing?

    Regular icing such as buttercream is soft and creamy and remains somewhat soft after applying to cakes or cookies.

    Royal icing is different because it dries hard and has a crisp shell.

    Vegan royal icing also dries hard and has a crisp shell and in addition does not use eggs or any animal products.

    What can I use instead of eggs in royal icing?

    This recipe uses the brine from canned chickpeas instead of egg whites. The brine is called aquafaba and is an excellent plant-based binder and stablizing agent for baked goods.

    Is icing OK for vegans?

    Most commercial icings and recipes are not ok for vegans as they can contain milk and eggs. Use a vegan royal icing recipe such as this one.

    Can Vegan's Use Meringue Powder?

    No because meringue powder contains dried egg whites.

    Other Frosting Recipes

    Healthy Fudge Frosting
    Vegan White Frosting
    Sweet Potato Chocolate Frosting
    Cookie Dough Frosting

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    vegan royal icing

    Vegan Royal Icing

    Created by Dee Dine
    My vegan royal icing is a 2-ingredient healthy icing that dries hard and shiny, has no eggs, is perfect for cakes and cookies, can easily be colored, and works great as a gingerbread house glue.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 2 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 4 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, International
    Servings 8
    Calories 175 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Vegan Royal Icing (white)

    • 4 tablespoon aquafaba OR 3 tablespoon corn syrup (aquafaba is the liquid from a chickpea can)
    • 3 cups organic powdered sugar vegan means no bone char
    • 1 teaspoon baker's glycerine (optional to retain shine and white color)

    To Color Icing

    • gel paste food coloring

    Cookie Paint Recipe (to paint hardened icing)

    • ½ teaspoon gel paste food coloring
    • 1 teaspoon water or Vodka
    • food grade paint brushes
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Make Vegan Royal Icing

    • Open a room-temperature can of chickpeas, drain off the aquafaba liquid and keep that for the recipe. Measure out 4 tablespoon and set aside. Put the rest in the refrigerator for your next recipe. Also keep the chickpeas for a different use.
    • Do you want to add lemon juice to reduce the sweet flavor? Replace 1 teaspoon of the aquafaba.
    • Add powdered sugar to a mixing bowl.
      3 cups organic powdered sugar
    • Add in the aquafaba, glycerin and lemon juice if using, and stir with a hand-mixer until all are dissolved and the frosting is creamy and stiff.
      4 tablespoon aquafaba OR 3 tablespoon corn syrup, 1 teaspoon baker's glycerine

    Make Icing to Outline Cookies, Gingerbread Men or Write

    • Use only 3 tablespoon of aquafaba to make a thicker frosting.
      Fill a baker's frosting bag either fitted with a writing tip or snip off the tiny tip. Use this bag to pipe buttons and lines on gingerbread cookies and other baked goods.

    Make Icing to Fill in Designs or Outlines

    • Use 4 tablespoon of aquafaba to make a thinner frosting.
      Flood the outlined designs by spooning in the thinner frosting.

    How to Color the Icing

    • For white icing, make this recipe as is and you will have white royal icing.
      For colored icing, set some white icing in a bowl and add a tiny drop of food coloring, and stir. You won't need much extract to create a color, and remember the frosting color will be darker once dry. All types of food coloring work well in this  icing recipe.
      gel paste food coloring

    To Paint with Food Coloring

    • Mix ½ teaspoon gel food coloring with 1 teaspoon water or vodka (vodka is preferable because the alcohol evaporates and doesn't melt the hardened icing you are painting.
      ½ teaspoon gel paste food coloring, 1 teaspoon water or Vodka, food grade paint brushes

    Store the frosting

    • Put frosting in baker's piping bag or sealed container and keep for 4 days at room temperature. To keep longer, refrigerate for 1 week or freeze for three months. Once chilled, bring it to room temperature to use again. You may have to stir or knead the bag to make it creamy again.

    Notes

    1.Powdered sugar: I suggest using organic powdered sugar, even if the recipe doesn't have to be vegan. Organic powdered sugar tastes better, has retained more minute levels of nutrition, but most importantly doesn't have the added cornstarch that conventional powdered sugar has.
    2. Aquafaba:The brine from a can of unsalted chickpeas. I recommend using a brand with only chickpeas, such as  Whole Foods 365 brand or Eden. Stay away from Goya and other brands with sugar or color retention additives.
    3. Storage. Royal icing sugar does not need to be refrigerated immediately. It keeps at room temperature in a piping bag with a writing tip in a sealed container for up to 4 days. After that, refrigerate it for a week, or freeze for 3 months.
    4. Add baker's glycerin to increase shine and help keep the icing from yellowing over a few days once on cookies.
    5. Add lemon juice to off-set the sweetness of the sugar.
    6. Add vanilla to add more flavor to the icing although that can move the color to a tan.
    7. Use the icing to decorate sugar cookies, cakes, pies or tarts.
    To coat cookies with layers of smooth icing, let harden and then paint. To paint ON this icing, let it harden at least a few hours, or even overnight at room temperature. Create a coloring paint by mixing food coloring and water or Vodka. Use food paint brushes to brush painted designs on cookies or use stencils.
    Use the frosting as a glue to bind walls of a gingerbread house or even just graham crackers.
    Use the frosting as a glue to stick candy or other decorations to baked goods.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 1gSodium: 1mgSugar: 44gIron: 1mg
    Keyword cookie icing, royal icing, vegan cookie icing, vegan decorating icing, vegan royal icing
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Dee

    Chocolate and ginger enthusiast. Dog and bird lover. I'm probably chopping chocolate in my Washington DC kitchen right now. More about Dee and Green Smoothie Gourmet »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brittany Henegar

      August 21, 2021 at 3:43 pm

      Can I use both aquafaba and corn syrup in this vegan recipe? In my org RI I use quite a bit of corn syrup to make the bite softer. Would I need to reduce the aquafaba or corn syrup if i use both to avoid the icing becoming too thin?

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        August 23, 2021 at 11:15 am

        If you want to use both, I suggest you not go beyond 4 tbsp of liquid overall. Let us know how it works out! Dee

        Reply
      • Malinda

        November 15, 2022 at 12:58 pm

        Can I use this with a stencil?

        Reply
        • Dee Dine

          November 16, 2022 at 5:03 pm

          I suppose so although I have never tried it. Let me know how it goes.

    2. Marllene

      December 23, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      5 stars
      I was dubious that aquafaba would work as well as egg whites but my husband challenged me to try. Boy, it's shinier than the traditional royal recipe. Looks perfect on my Christmas bell cookies! I'll show you on IG! Marllene

      Reply
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