Make the most delicious sugar cooking icing with only two ingredients! This super simple recipe is made without corn syrup. You can make it as thick (think multi-colored decorating) or thin (think glaze) as you like!
If you like this recipe for your cookies, you’ll also love this lemon cream cheese frosting or chocolate icing recipe for your cakes.
Table of Contents
The Easiest Icing Ever!
Many holidays call for sugar cookies in a variety of shapes and sizes. When you get that itch to roll out the dough, first start with this sugar cookie recipe. (It’s the best.) Once you have your cookies cooled, all you need is two – yes, two – ingredients to make delicious icing for your cookies.
You start with the simple ingredients of powdered sugar and milk. And, of course, make sure you have your sugar cookies baked and cooled.
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How to Make Sugar Cookie Icing without Corn Syrup
- Mix: Combine the powdered sugar and milk by mixing with a fork until smooth. The powdered sugar will dissolve as you stir.
- Color: Add your favorite food coloring (optional) to create unique colors for your cookies.
- Pipe: Using an icing bag or even a sandwich bag, pipe the icing onto your cooled cookies. Use a knife to spread.
Icing Tips and Tricks
Make your icing thicker. If you want your icing to be thicker, add more powdered sugar and stir.
Make your icing more thin (like a glaze). Add more milk. Just a little bit goes a long way!
Make your icing right before you use it. This icing does start to dry out and harden, which is what makes it so great for cookies! That being said, if you make it too far ahead of time, it will start to harden and make it much harder to add to the cookies.
How to pipe without a piping bag. I use sandwich bags! Fill a sandwich bag with icing after adding the food coloring. Seal the sandwich bag. Snip the corner and pipe onto cookies.
Icing FAQs
Yes! If you use the exact recipe, the milk will evaporate and harden. It’s not super hard but creates a thick outer crust to allow you to stack your dried cookies.
Once the icing has hardened, I store them in a large rectangular food storage container with a layer of wax paper between each layer of cookies.
Yes, you can. However, the darker colors added to the icing will discolor after freezing. That’s why I recommend freezing your cookies without icing. Then add icing to the cookies once defrosted and ready to serve.
No. The cookies with icing are fine at room temperature stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yes. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and add more to taste.
I use 2% of whole milk with success. I would avoid using skim.
Watch How Easy It Is To Make This Icing
Easy Sugar Cookie Icing (2 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons milk
Instructions
- Mix: Combine the powdered sugar and milk in a bowl by mixing with a fork until smooth. The powdered sugar will dissolve as you stir.
- Color: Add your favorite food coloring (optional) to create unique colors for your cookies.
- Pipe: Using an icing bag or even a sandwich bag, pipe the icing onto your cooled cookies. Use a knife to spread.
Notes
Nutrition
More Cookies Recipes to Try
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
- The Microwave Easy Way to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Grandma’s Brickle Cookies
- The Best Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
This post was updated with more details and pictures. The recipe remains the same.
Comments & Reviews
Diana says
I made your recipe and it did need almond extract…..I didn’t like the translucent color as it doesn’t really cover a cookie color like gingerbread. Can I add anything to make it look dense? also, mine had a bunch of bubbles, I dipped the cookie as I have more then 100 to do….yes I am insane! LOL
Patricia Pendergrass says
I can hardly wait to get started on these recipes! I’m sure my ten year old grandson will enjoy helping!
Loulolliyum says
Can you use regular sugar for this or do you HAVE to have powdered sugar?
Lisa says
It has to be powdered sugar so that it can dissolve with the milk to form the icing
Carolyn says
Can you use skim milk to make an icing for sugar cookies that will get hard?
Lynette says
Hi. I’ve never tried the recipe with skim milk so let me know how it turns out!
Kathy says
I use skim milk all the time. It works fine.
Carolyn says
Can you use skim milk to make an icing for sugar cookies thar will get hard?
gigi says
This was perfect! Just what I was looking for! I actually swapped out the milk with water, but it came out gorgeous! Thank you!
Lynette says
Hi Gigi, glad you enjoy it! It really is the EASIEST. And so good!
Ali says
Texture and appearance are good and it is super easy to whip up but the taste is so bad!
Edith says
Try adding peppermint, almond or another flavor extract! This is the beat and easiest way to make a glazed icing!
London says
Omg this site got me so hooked in now I’m so hungry
Katie says
Would this icing work for cake balls?
Lynette says
Hi Katie, I’ve not used it on cake balls and it’s can be more of a glaze type icing that hardens – so it could work but I haven’t tried it to let you know. If you do try it, I’d love to know how it goes!
Keribench says
What kind of milk do you use ??