Nicole Hopper is a recipe tester and developer based in Birmingham, Alabama. If you ever wondered what the secret is to perfectly frosted cut-out sugar cookies, we’ll fill you in: royal icing. This ...

Royal icing is the king of cake and cookie decorating because it is so easy and versatile. Start with some powdered or confectioners’ sugar, add water and whatever flavorings you like and stir until ...

I used to think my kitchen was cursed. Every time I made royal icing, something went wrong – cracked cookies, bleeding colors, or icing that never quite set right. After ruining countless batches (and ...