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    Home » Dessert

    3 Ingredient Icing for Sugar Cookies

    Modified: Nov 12, 2024· Published: Dec 31, 2023 by Alaine · Leave a Comment

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    A simple icing recipe to make for decorating your favorite cut out sugar cookies.

    various colors of frosted cookies

    When you are decorating sugar cookies there are a few options for what to ice them with. This is an easy recipe that can be whipped up in just minutes! It is easy to work with and just the right consistency to easily decorate cookies. 

    I like to use this recipe because it doesn’t take very much icing to decorate a cookie. When I’m making cookies, I want to taste the cookie and not just icing. With this simple recipe you get just that, a lightly sweet addition to your cookie. 

    Jump to:
    • Simple Ingredients
    • Recipe Tips
    • 📖 Recipe

    Simple Ingredients

    ingredient shot of vanilla extract, powdered sugar and whole milk
    • Powdered Sugar – I recommend sifting the sugar to avoid lumps in the frosting. 
    • Vanilla Extract – If you want a white icing, be sure to use a clear vanilla extract. 
    • Milk - Tested with 2% or Whole milk.
    • Food Dye – Optional. I like to use these natural food colors. For more vibrant colors, I recommend using gel food coloring.
    sheet pan with assorted christmas cookies frosted

    Perfect for decorating sugar cookies

    This icing makes the perfect addition to my Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies. It works well on Gingerbread Cookies too. 

    snowflake Cookies with watercolor blue icing glaze

    Recipe Tips

    This cookie icing hardens after it sets. It is my go-to icing recipe when I’m decorating cookies with my kids. 

    • Cookies should be cooled to room temperature before decorating. 
    • I typically whisk this together in a mixing bowl. No need to pull out your stand mixer for this one. 
    • ​For best results, I recommend making the icing right before you decorate the cookies. Discard unused frosting. 
    • This recipe is very forgiving. Added too much milk? Just add more powdered sugar. Frosting starting to harden too quickly? Just add a splash or milk. 
    bowl of icing with whisk

    📖 Recipe

    bucket of various frosted cut out cookies

    3 Ingredient Icing for Sugar Cookies

    Alaine @ My TX Kitchen
    A simple icing recipe to make for decorating your favorite cut out sugar cookies.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 8 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 c. powdered sugar sifted
    • ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract*
    • 1-2 Tbsp. milk
    • Food coloring optional

    Instructions
     

    • Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla and 1 Tbsp. milk. Add additional 1 Tbsp. of milk until desired consistency of icing is reached. Whisk until icing is smooth.
    • Add food coloring as desired.

    Notes

    *If white icing is desired, be sure to use a clear vanilla extract.
    Recipe makes enough to decorate 2 dozen cookies.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 8kcalCarbohydrates: 2g
    Keyword 3 ingredient sugar cookie icing, easy icing for sugar cookies
    Tried this recipe?Mention @mytxkitchen or tag #mytxkitchen!

    I hope you bake up some wonderful holiday memories this season!

    Alaine

    More recipes you may enjoy:

    • Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies
    • Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
    • Christmas White Trash
    • Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

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    Hey y'all, I'm Alaine! Wife, mom of three, and Registered Dietitian. Welcome to My Texas Kitchen where I share recipes and bits of life from Central Texas. Thanks for stopping by!

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