Sugar cookies are one of the most classic holiday desserts, right up there with fudge, gingerbread men, peppermint bark, ...

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.

Our cookie icing recipe is easy to make, calls for just five ingredients, and sets quickly. It's the perfect icing for sugar ...

Because some icings (such as Italian buttercream or royal icing) may include raw eggs ... pasteurised egg whites can be substiuted into the recipe.

With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture ... racks to cool completely before decorating. For the royal icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle ...