{These are Uncle Mike's cookies, in case you missed 'em.}
But, hypothetically, your hubby wants to take the family out for lunch and pick up the piano you bought for $99 that is still sitting at Goodwill. And let's say, you get to Goodwill and the piano is too big to fit in the SUV, so you have to run to Home Depot and rent a truck. Hypothetically.
By the time you get back home and are ready to get piping (I kinda love that expression "get piping"), the icing you stashed in the fridge is a little less that stiff.
As a matter of fact, it looks like this....
What to do?
1st: First, stir in sifted powdered sugar. I always have a little powdered sugar shaker in my kitchen for dusting on pancakes, etc. Start there. Keep adding until it feels stiff again.
2nd: Try piping on a a plate or a paper towel. (I was using a #16 star tip here.) Does the pretty little "shell" pattern stay, or does it get runny?
3rd: If the icing still not stiff enough, pop in back in your mixer bowl, add some more powdered sugar and with the paddle attachment, beat it on medium until stiff peaks form again.
Voila!
Hi there! I just discovered your blog and I love it! I want to attempt to make some sugar cookies with royal icing. I've never made royal icing before and I had a quick question...I live in the Houston area and it's VERY humid in the summer. When you let the cookies dry overnight, do you cover them with anything? Thanks in advance for all your help. I'm thinking of making the cookies as a "Spring Break project" with my kids.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Great tip! I often end up re-mixing my royal from the fridge... And, doing some test piping on something other than a cookie is key. My canvas of choice is a plastic cutting board that I always have on my countertop. It is within grasp, and I can keep rinsing off the icing if I need to try again. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome tip!!
ReplyDeleteI have run into problems with regular frosting also and usually sift in more powdered sugar...SOO much easier than making a whole new batch!!
AWESOME info Bridget!!! I would have probably just thrown mine out... you saved the day!
ReplyDeleteHow do you spell "brilliant"?
ReplyDeleteB-R-I-D-G-E-T!
haha when good icing goes bad that is a great post title. Good tips, but I'm a bit lazy I just leave it blobby and pretend that's the way I intended it to be. Please don't judge me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great set of tips, Bridget!
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I wanna talk about the piano? We're in the market too...if you see any more. Goodwill?? We're like soul sisters :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I had to do the same thing with frosting for cupcakes yesterday, I was afraid they would slide right off the cupcakes if it wasn't stiffer to travel. Pretty border!
ReplyDelete...Voila! Now get pipin'! *giggle* ;o)
ReplyDelete...Thank you for the great tip!
...Btw, check out Craigslist for pianos too. Many times people there are giving them away for free! :o)
...Blessings... :o)
I remember that Uncle Mike post:) I think your kiddo resembles your uncle in his school photo. I LOVE your hair too! So cute!
ReplyDeleteA tried and true tip!
Or, do like I do, cover the sucker with sanding sugar! haa
ReplyDeleteQue bonitas ideas las vuestras. Un besito y gracias por compartirlas.
ReplyDeleteHuge lol. Love it!!! Now if you can just think a a cure for the lazy girl who insists using the funny icing anyway even though she KNOWS this is going to happen :-) Great tip!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! I have the exact same problem, now I know how to fix it! :)
ReplyDeleteI have never had that problem, but it is good to know I can save the icing if I ever do! Wonderful advice!
ReplyDeleteIcing. It is fickle.
ReplyDeleteYour tip is the perfect solution, Bridget! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love the Catholic (St. Anthony) cookies you made - and I'd love to hear you play the piano - hypothetically, of course!
I agree with Lu. Icing, it is fickle. I am still trying to master royal icing. Right now I use a powdered sugar glaze to decorate my cookies. But there's so much more you can do with royal. Thanks for the great tips!
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about baking, and truly I just don't know how to bake, but I like to have the pan cakes and the cakes made by my mother. I will surely share your tip with her, she would really love that. Nice sharing dear
ReplyDeleteI am so clueless about all things baking, so I am grateful that you are willing to share your experiences - duds included. Love that you have a solution so you don't have to dump it and start over!
ReplyDeleteAs far as your icing & piping goes, "stiff" or "not stiff" still looks pretty wonderful to me! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Bridget! I've been afraid to leave royal icing in the fridge for exactly this reason!
ReplyDeleteyou are soo good at that ;) Love those cookies of Uncle Mike :)
ReplyDeleteyou are so smart!!!
ReplyDeletecan't WAIT to see what color you paint the piano!!
Wow! A $99 piano?! Good for you!! And about the frosting...great tips, because I'm really good at coming up with things to wrong!
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the troubleshooting advice! But I just have to say that I am beyond envious of your piano! I have been looking for years for an upright to teach my girls how to play before the arthritis sets in (LOL), hoping not to bankrupt the family.
ReplyDeleteI am happy for you, though. Enjoy it!
Always good to know, because life has a way of getting in the way of even the best laid plans sometimes.
ReplyDeletegreat tip! That has happened to me many times! I'd better go get piping ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. That has happen to me and I've THROWN it away. So glad there is a fix for it.
ReplyDeleteYou are the cookie queen. The tips and tricks you give are so valuable! Your ideas are amazing, obviously, but your knowledge helps me sooo much. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart - such a great tip!
ReplyDeleteI call you SMARTER CHEF. Thanks for sharing it..
ReplyDeleteI have the problem all the time and until reading this post I was just re beating the heck out of my icing. Thank you for the simple trick! Now my cookies can have lovely detailed boarders! I am so excited!!!
ReplyDelete