The Best Homemade Cookie Icing Recipe

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What You’ll Love About This Recipe

This homemade cookie icing is quick, easy, and perfect for decorating your favorite treats. You’ll love how simple it is to customize with colors and flavors!

Smooth and creamy texture—spreads effortlessly for flawless designs every time.
Sets perfectly—dries firm but stays soft, so your cookies look and taste amazing.
Endless creativity—mix in food coloring or extracts to match any occasion.

Recipe

Creating the perfect icing to elevate your homemade cookies to the next level is easier than you think. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a smooth, glossy icing that hardens beautifully and adds a professional touch to your baked goods.

Ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

In a medium bowl, sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
Add the milk and vanilla extract to the powdered sugar.
Whisk the mixture until smooth and glossy. If the icing is too thick, add a few drops of milk. If it’s too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
If desired, mix in food coloring to achieve your preferred hue.
Use immediately to decorate cookies, cakes, or other desserts.

Notes

For a firmer icing, let it dry completely before stacking or packaging the cookies.
Store any leftover icing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours.

Equipment

Medium mixing bowl
Whisk
Measuring spoons and cups
Sifter (optional)

Time

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

Cuisine

American

Serving

Enough to ice 12-15 cookies, depending on size.

Nutrition

Cookie icing adds sweetness and decoration to your cookies. Here’s the nutritional information per serving based on the ingredients used.

Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sugar

—|—|—|—|—

120 | 0g | 30g | 0g | 30g

What To Serve With It

I love pairing my freshly iced cookies with a warm cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk—they’re classic combos that just hit the spot. For dessert, I think they go perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of fruit pie. What’s your favorite way to enjoy iced cookies?

Complementary Beverages

When you’ve got a plate of freshly iced cookies, you’ll want something tasty to wash them down—trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way after one too many dry bites! A cold glass of milk is a classic choice—it’s creamy and soothing, smoothing out the sweetness perfectly. If milk’s not your thing, try hot cocoa for a cozy twist or a cup of herbal tea like chamomile for a calming vibe. I’m also a fan of pairing cookies with coffee or chai latte; they balance the sugar beautifully. Whatever you pick, make sure it complements, not overshadows, your cookies’ flavor!

Perfect Pairing Desserts

Even though the cookies are already the star of the show, they’re even better with a little dessert company! I love pairing them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream—it’s classic and lets the icing shine. For something fancier, try a warm brownie or a slice of apple pie; the flavors blend perfectly. If you’re feeling adventurous, a cheesecake bite adds creamy richness. Sometimes, I’ll dip fresh fruit like strawberries or bananas into leftover icing for a quick treat. No matter what you choose, these pairings turn simple cookies into a dessert plate that feels complete.