Royal Icing For Gingerbread House Recipes

Steps:

• Beat egg whites in a clean, large bowl with mixer at high speed until foamy (use only grade A clean, uncracked eggs). Gradually add sugar and lemon extract. Beat at high speed until thickened.

Steps:

• With an electric mixer on low speed, beat ingredients until fluffy, 7 to 8 minutes. Use immediately, or transfer to an airtight container (royal icing hardens quickly when exposed to air) and refrigerate up to 1 week. Stir well with a flexible spatula before using.
• Thin icing as needed by stirring in additional water, one teaspoon at a time. For piping designs, add just enough water that icing is no longer stiff; for floodwork, add water until icing is the consistency of honey.

Steps:

• Combine the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder in a large bowl. Add the vanilla, the peppermint extract if using and 5 tablespoons water and beat on medium-high speed with an electric mixer, scraping down the sides as necessary, until the icing forms thick and glossy peaks, about 2 minutes, adding up to 1 tablespoon more water if needed. Divide the icing between 2 piping bags, one fitted with a small plain tip and the other fitted with a large plain tip.

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk until stiff and glossy.
• To tint the frosting, divide into small bowls. Cover the ones you aren't using with plastic wrap; the frosting dries out very quickly. Use a rubber spatula to stir in desired food coloring. Though not necessary, it makes life easier if you make two versions of each color - one that is thick to pipe the outline on the cookie, and one that is thinned out slightly with a little water to flood the outline.
• Transfer frosting to piping bags fitted with very small round tips (sizes 1 to 2 work best). Pipe frosting onto cooled cookies and let set, at least 2 hours. Or use a pastry of paint brush to decorate cookies with the frosting.

Steps:

• Bring sugar, molasses, ginger and cinnamon to a boil in a large saucepan. Add baking soda (it will boil up). Place chopped butter in the bottom of a large mixing bowl and pour the molasses mixture on top. Mix to combine and stir in beaten egg. Gradually add flour. Knead until thoroughly combined, adding additional flour to obtain a stiff dough as needed. Divide in two. Form into rectangle-shaped mounds and cover with plastic wrap and chill.
• Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick rectangles according to the size you need for the templates. Cut out shapes and transfer to lined or prepared or non-stick baking sheets. Bake in a moderate oven 325°F for approximately 20 minutes or until the dough turns a uniform dark golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from sheet pan.
• Royal Icing: Place all ingredients in clean mixing bowl. Using whisk attachment combine ingredients on low speed. Increase speed to high and whip until mixture is stiff, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from mixer. (Hand held mixer will take few minute longer).
• Remove 3/4 of the mixture to another bowl and cover bowl with a damp towel until you are ready to use icing, or icing will dry and a crust will form. Replace mixer on machine, and on low speed, add additional powdered sugar for "cement" used to hold walls up.
• Note: If worried about raw egg whites, use meringue powder available at decorating supply and specialty food stores. Replace each egg white with 1 tablespoon meringue powder and 2 tablespoons warm water. Proceed with recipe.
• Icing tip: Caramelize about 1/2-1 cup of sugar use as "superglue" to construct the house. Dries fast and hard. Use the royal icing to cover up the seams and to stick on the candy.

Steps:

• Put sugar and meringue powder in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on low speed to combine. With the mixer running, add 3 tablespoons water. Raise speed to medium; mix, scraping down sides of bowl once, until icing is white and a ribbon forms when a spoon is lifted, about 4 minutes. (If necessary, thin icing with more water, a tablespoon at a time.)
• To use, transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #2). Twist top of bag; seal with a rubber band. To keep icing from drying out, put a damp paper towel in the bottom of a tall glass; stand bag inside, tip end down.

Steps:

• In a bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar and cream of tartar. Using electric mixer, beat in 2 beaten egg whites for about 5 minutes or until mixture is thick enough to hold its shape.

Steps:

• In a large clean bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add powdered sugar in small amounts, mixing well on high speed after each addition.
• Beat on high speed 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens.
• Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.
• You may need to stir icing to soften before use.

Steps:

• Place meringue powder and water in the bowl of a standing mixer and swirl them together. Using the whisk attachment, mix on high for 3 minutes until the mixture is frothy. Scrape down the sides.
• Add confectioners' sugar and mix for 2 minutes, being careful to start slowly and then gradually increase speed to high so the sugar doesn't fly all over the kitchen, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Add vanilla or other flavoring (and gel food coloring if desired), and mix on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Transfer to an airtight container until ready to use. The icing will keep, refrigerated, for about 2 weeks.