My favorite part about cookie decorating is definitely the decorating part, not so much the baking and prepping all the colors of icing. Today we are going to discuss Royal Icing Consistency and what differentiates one consistency from the next. Ill also give examples on where I use the different consistencies and don’t forget that at the end of the blog post there will be a link to an instructional video.

Stiff Consistency Royal Icing

This consistency is usually the consistency that your icing will be in right when you make a fresh batch. That is if you use my recipe. When you use stiff consistency royal icing you typically don’t add any more water and usually you mean to use it as stiff as it already is.

Some uses for stiff consistency:

-making flowers

-adding on royal icing transfers (use it as a glue)

-adding on 3D decoration, or to create volume within a design of your cookie

-some of the time it is also used to write on cookie

-outlining a design or letters

Medium Consistency Royal Icing

This consistency is used for outlining and can also be used for flooding. One of the things that I get asked the most is what consistency do I use when I decorate cookies. The truth is that I really dislike mixing different consistencies so I use medium consistency to outline AND flood my cookies. This consistency might be too stiff for some, which is why people usually mix stiff consistency royal icing for outlining and soft consistency for flooding cookies. I learned to love cookie decorating because I found that with Medium consistency royal icing I can work a bit faster, but this is all personal preference.

Some uses for medium consistency:

-outlining

-flooding

-flooding the insides of royal icing transfers

– can be used as glue to add on some royal icing transfers or royal icing flowers

NOTE: for every 1/4 cup you may need approximately 30 drops of water to make medium consistency royal icing using stiff consistency royal icing as your base

Thin/Soft Consistency Royal Icing

I love this consistency when I feel like decorating cookie the fast way. Meaning that you can use this consistency to dip your cookies, and create amazing designs such as marbling effects. This consistency can also be used to flood cookies after they have been outlined using stiff or medium consistency royal icing.

Some uses for thing/soft consistency:

-dipping cookies

-dipping with marbling effects

-flooding cookies

NOTE: for every 1/4 cup you may need approximately between 45-50 drops of water to make thin consistency royal icing using stiff consistency royal icing as a base.

NOTES:

• store any unused royal icing in airtight containers, you can also store already bagged and colored royal icing in the bags inside an airtight container for later use.
• having an empty glass comes in handy when pouring royal icing into the decorating bag
• using couplers inside your bags allows you to use the same color royal icing while still being able to create different designs by changing the piping tips
• make sure to remove all air bubbles from icing before beginning the decorating process, any air bubbles left in the icing will pop and cause your icing to crack later when the icing dries.
• you can gently tap the mixing container of royal icing to remake bubbles or your can lightly fling the royal icing bag in the air to help remove any air bubbles.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONAL HERE