How to Cut Out Royal Frosting for Butter Cookies

Royal frosting is often died with food coloring.

Royal frosting was created in England where it was just for royal occasions, such as weddings, coronations and baptisms. Today, it is used to ice cut-out cookies and other hard pastries, such as gingerbread houses. It is very thick and hardens easily, making it ideal for deserts served outdoors during the summer months when heat and humidity are high. To decorate butter cookies with royal frosting, carefully cut the royal frosting to fit the cookie. Does this Spark an idea?

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Milk or water
Rolling pin
Pastry spatula
Cookie cutter

Instructions

- 1
  
  Add a splash of water or milk (depending on the particular recipe used) to the frosting mix to soften it, if the frosting hardened during storage in the refrigerator. Otherwise, use directly after mixing ingredients. Pour the frosting from the bowl onto a clean, flat surface. Flatten with a rolling pin.
- 2
  
  Allow the frosting to sit for 10 to 15 minutes to begin to harden again. Test the consistency with your finger to see if it is ready to cut. The frosting should be solid, but not completely hardened.
- 3
  
  Cut the frosting with the cookie cutter used to shape cookies, for a pristine cut. Use any shape, such as a star, Christmas tree, heart or circle. Place the frosting on top of the cookie. Since the cookie dough expands during baking, the frosting will fit nicely on the cookie, leaving a little border for piping or edging.
- 4
  
  Cut the frosting with a pastry spatula or other decorating tool, if you do not have a cookie cutter to use. Cut the frosting with a knife or tool that is flat, rather than edged. An edged knife will create ridges along the edges of the frosting.
- 5
  
  In lieu of cutting, simply pour frosting onto the cookie and let it harden. First, create a border around the cookie with frosting from a tube applicator. Allow the border to harden and then pour frosting inside. To ice cookies this way, use frosting immediately after it is mixed while the frosting is still soft. Add milk or water to achieve a pourable consistency.