Royal Icing

These are 2 recipes for royal icing, which dries as hard as a rock, so it's great for writing letters on cakes and gluing together gingerbread houses, not for frosting the whole cake.

Using Meringue Powder:
2 T. meringe powder
3 T. warm water
2 2/3 C. powdered sugar

Combine first two ingredients in large bowl of electric mixer at medium until foamy, then set to low and add powdered sugar.  Set to high and beat until thick, smooth, and glossy, 2-5 minutes.


Using Egg Whites:
2 large egg whites
1/8 t. cream of tartar
2 2/3 C. powdered sugar

Combine first two ingredients in large bowl of electric mixer at medium until very soft peaks, then set to low and add powdered sugar.  Set to high and beat until thick, smooth, and glossy, 2-5 minutes.