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READY IN 20 mins

Healthier Sugar Cookie Icing

Read Reviews (7)

"This icing dries hard and shiny and the colors stay bright. Choose as many different food colorings as you desire." — MakeItHealthy

Ingredients Edit and Save

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Sugar and Sweeteners

Original recipe makes 1 dozen cookie's worth Change Servings

1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons low-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 dash assorted natural food coloring (optional)

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Directions

Combine white sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, simmering until dissolved and a sugar syrup is created, about 5 minutes.
Stir together confectioner's sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Beat in almond extract and 2 teaspoons of sugar syrup until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more sugar syrup.
Optional: Divide icing into separate bowls and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies or paint them with a brush.

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PREP 15 mins
COOK 5 mins
READY IN 20 mins

Footnotes

Editor's Note:
This recipe is a healthier version of Sugar Cookie Icing.

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This icing recipe worked SO well - dried hard and kept it's colours. I used a piping bag and various tips and they all held their shape. It did take more than 2 tsp of milk to make it smooth, more like 2-3 tbsp. I left out the almond flavoring and used vanilla instead. We frosted 'Soft Christmas Cookies' (from this website) and I was really pleased with the results. I am going to try it next time with orange or mint extract for a change.

—Denise J.

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Nov 01, 2012

I followed the directions exactly and the milk and powdered sugar didn't come out smooth and adding the sugar syrup only made hard clumps. I added all the syrup 2 tsp. at a time and then more milk to get a bit of a glaze with hard sugar balls in it. If it wasn't so late & I didn't have work in the morning I would have tossed the stuff out made a glaze without graduated sugar.

—Christianmusician8

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9 Ratings

Dec 16, 2012

This icing works very well. It stays nice and fluid while working, and dries firmly with a nice sheen. Love the almond flavor!

—Bibi

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Mar 15, 2013

This was quick and easy to make & creates a nice, glossy, hard coating. However, the recipe, as is, makes enough for TWO dozen 2" x 3" cookies. I'm not sure why the recipe was written to make so much simple syrup when you only need 2 tsps of it, so I halved that part of the recipe....1/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1 Tbsp of water & used what was left (yes, there was still extra!) for a glass of iced tea.

—ThisMamaCanCook

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Feb 16, 2013

This worked well and decorated easily. However, I think that having so much leftover syrup is a waste.

—WeirdAuntMartha

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Dec 12, 2012

A couple of tips - SIFT your powdered sugar. I didn't use my electric whisk (but if doubling do so) I sifted the sugar and used a small hand whisk. If the icing seems to thick, thin with more sugar syrup - a little at a time. Whisking well after each addition. These dried glossy and it was really easy to work with.

—Baking Nana

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Nov 13, 2012

The recipe doubled nicely and didn't loose or fade the colours once dry.

—Mrs. Floopy

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Nutrition

Calories
71 kcal
4%

Carbohydrates
18.3 g
6%

Cholesterol
0 mg
0%

Fat
0 g
< 1%

Fiber
0 g
0%

Protein
0 g
0%

Sodium
< 1 mg
< 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Healthier Sugar Cookie Icing

Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 71
Calories from Fat: < 1

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g < 1 %
** Saturated Fat 0g < 1 %
Cholesterol 0mg 0 %
Sodium < 1mg < 1 %
** Potassium < 1mg < 1 %
Total Carbohydrates 18.3g 6 %
Dietary Fiber 0g 0 %
Protein 0g 0 %
Sugars 18.1g
** Vitamin A 0 %
** Vitamin C 0 %
** Calcium < 1 %
** Iron < 1 %
** Thiamin 0 %
** Niacin 0 %
** Vitamin B6 0 %
** Magnesium < 1 %
** Folate 0 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.