Video:How to Make Royal Icing for a Gingerbread House
with Aubrey FranchellMaking royal icing for a gingerbread house is simple if you have the right ingredients and know what consistency you're after. Watch this video from About.com to see how-to make this type of icing.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Make Royal Icing for a Gingerbread House
Hi, I'm Aubrey for About.com. Today, I'm going to show you how to make royal icing for a gingerbread house, using a recipe from Easteuropeanfood.About.Com.
What Is Royal Icing?
Royal icing is commonly used to decorate gingerbread cookies and as the glue that binds together the pieces of a gingerbread house, because when it dries it is smooth, strong, and loses the sticky texture common among many types of frosting.
Ingredients for Royal Icing
Before you get started, you will need a few ingredients:
- 1 pound sifted confectioners' sugar or more as needed
- 1/2 cup pasteurized egg whites (3 large egg whites)
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions for Making Royal Icing
Add the sifted confectioner's sugar to a large mixing bowl. Add the cream of tartar. Now go ahead and pour in the egg whites. Use a spatula to combine the ingredients, scrape the side of the bowl. Next, use an electric mixer to beat the icing on high. This will take about 7 to 10 minutes. The icing will start to form little peaks when it is ready. Just be sure not to over-blend the mixture, because the icing will then crack when it dries. Cover the icing immediately with plastic wrap and keep it covered until you plan to use it, otherwise it will harden and be nearly impossible to pass through an icing tip. If you want to add a little color to the icing, add couple drops of food coloring or paste food color. Always start with a small amount, stir it into the icing, and gradually add more coloring.
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