This is the best vegan royal icing without meringue powder. No eggs needed to make perfect royal icing every time that's easy to make and use!
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Bright white like freshly fallen snow, royal icing is an equally important harbinger of the holiday season. It’s the foundation that every beautiful cookie platter is built upon, the glue that holds together gingerbread houses, and the finishing touch on intricately decorated cakes.
Unlike fluffy buttercream frosting, royal icing can be piped or drizzled in fine lines and artistic patterns that dry to a hard, crunchy finish—perfect for decorating on a base of vegan sugar cookies or vegan spiced chai cookies! It’s easy to loosen the consistency to make it spreadable and cover large areas at once, making it an essential component that every baker can master.
This classic royal icing recipe without eggs can be used year-round for whatever your cookie decorating needs may be. Ready to make a batch of really smooth royal icing?
This vegan royal icing recipe is a game-changer for decorating cookies, cakes, and more. It’s made with simple ingredients, whips up quickly, and dries to a beautiful, glossy finish. Plus, it’s egg-free and just as easy to work with as the classic version! Here are more reasons why it’s truly the best:
Only Six Ingredients. There’s a good chance you already have these common pantry staples on hand!
Ready in Minutes. This recipe is so quick and easy that it practically makes itself. Your mixer does all the work so you can reap the rewards in no time.
Tastes Great. The flavor is subtle and goes well with everything. Using only vanilla and almond extract in the mix, it has an uncanny marshmallow taste that everyone will love.
Free of All Common Allergens. Everyone should be able to enjoy a beautiful treat. This recipe was made to be shared, since it’s naturally nut-free, seed-free, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan.
Light Corn Syrup. Distinctly different from high-fructose corn syrup, light corn syrup is processed in the same way as cornstarch. It’s a clear, flavorless liquid sweetener that’s very helpful in candy making to prevent crystallization.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Vegan royal icing uses simple ingredients like powdered sugar, aquafaba, and a touch of lemon juice to create a smooth, glossy finish. If you’re out of aquafaba, you can substitute with a vegan meringue powder or another egg replacer. These swaps ensure you get the same great texture and perfect results every time!
Aquafaba: This liquid from canned chickpeas acts as the egg substitute in royal icing. It helps create the stiff consistency and smooth texture needed for piping and decorating. If you don’t have aquafaba, you can use a vegan meringue powder or a mixture of water and agar-agar to mimic its properties.
Cream of Tartar: Helps stabilize the aquafaba, ensuring the icing holds its shape and doesn’t collapse. It also prevents crystallization, keeping the icing smooth. Instead of cream of tartar, you can use lemon juice or white vinegar as an alternative, though it may slightly alter the flavor.
Confectioner’s Sugar: Also known as powdered sugar, or 10x sugar, provides sweetness and structure. It dissolves easily into the aquafaba, creating the smooth, thick texture ideal for decorating. If you need a sugar-free version, try using powdered erythritol or a homemade powdered sugar alternative made from a blend of a sugar substitute and cornstarch.
Light Corn Syrup: Gives royal icing a smooth, glossy finish. It also helps the icing set quickly, preventing it from becoming too runny. If you prefer not to use corn syrup, you can substitute with agave syrup, maple, or golden syrup for a similar texture and shine, though the color will not be purely white.
Scroll to the recipe card below for exact quantities and measurements.
How To Make Vegan Royal Icing Without Meringue Powder
Traditionally, royal icing was made with liquid egg whites or meringue powder. This was the secret ingredient that allowed it to set and dry to a hard, glossy finish. Luckily, it’s even easier to make eggless royal icing in just a few steps!
Step 1: To start, use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment installed or a hand mixer to whip together the aquafaba and cream of tartar. Start on a low speed and gradually increase it to the highest setting. It should take about 5 to 7 minutes for the mixture to be light and fluffy, much like whipped cream.
Step 2: Add half of the powdered sugar, whisk until incorporated, then add the remaining half. Whisk again until smooth and glossy. Follow that with the corn syrup and both extracts, mixing again well.
Step 3: Test the consistency to see if it’s thick enough to pipe as desired. If not, add another ½ cup of powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add in more water, just a few drops at a time; a little bit goes a long way.
Step 4: Divide into bowls and add color if using (see below for natural coloring ideas.) Transfer into piping bags and apply to your desserts. If you don’t have traditional piping bags, you can also use zip top baggies with the very tip of one corner snipped off.
Helpful Serving Tips and Suggestions
Royal icing is perfect for decorating cookies, cakes, and cupcakes with stunning detail and a glossy finish. Use it for intricate piping, flood designs, or even as edible glue for gingerbread houses. With a few simple tips, you can easily customize colors, textures, and designs for any occasion!
Always Sift! If the powdered sugar is packed into the measuring cup, the ratios will be off. Clumps are also tricky to beat out once they’re already in the aquafaba mixture, so save yourself the headache and take care of it early on.
Use Liquid Food Coloring: This will add more moisture to the icing, which means you’ll probably have to add more powdered sugar to achieve a firm, pipable royal icing that isn’t too runny.
Ease into Extracts: Play with different flavor extracts to make your icing more exciting. There’s everything from coconut to root beer, but bear in mind that some of these will change the color of the icing too.
Seal for Success: If you’re working with multiple colors at once, make sure you keep the icing you’re not working with fully covered to prevent it from drying out. Keep plastic wrap directly on the surface so it doesn’t form a crackled skin on top.
How To Store Decorated Cookies
Once applied to your desserts, let the icing stand for at least 1 to 2 hours to dry and fully set. It will take longer in more humid environments.
Carefully stack them using a piece of parchment paper in between each one and store them in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
For longer storage, you can even freeze iced sugar cookies for up to three months! This is great if you want to get all of your holiday baking done ahead of time. Simply remove the cookies from the freezer and thaw them at room temperature in the morning on the day you want to serve them.
How To Color Vegan-Friendly Royal Icing
Plain white royal icing has a clean and elegant look. When you want to inject more color into your cookie masterpieces, it’s the perfect canvas. You can find natural food coloring in liquid or powder form at most health food stores and online. If you’d like to make your own, there are many easy ways to add color from whole food sources. Add a little bit at a time until it reaches your desired intensity.
Purple: Purple potato powder or red cabbage powder
Black: Food-grade charcoal
Brown: Cocoa or carob powder
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of corn syrup?
Feel free to use light agave nectar or maple syrup if you’d prefer but bear in mind that these will turn the icing a pale beige color, particularly with the latter option.
How can I make my own confectioner’s sugar?
If you run out of confectioner’s sugar and can’t get out to the store, don’t panic! You can simply take 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca starch and grind them together in a food processor until finely powdered. Scale up the quantities as needed.
Can I make sugar-free royal icing?
Sugar is the main ingredient here which makes it difficult to swap out. There are powdered sugar alternatives made from stevia, erythritol, and/or monk fruit that can be used at a 1:1 ratio, but if used for royal icing, it may not dry completely. Your mileage may vary depending on the specific blend.
Can I buy vegan royal icing in stores?
Since it hardens when it dries, the icing is not shelf-stable and you can’t buy it in stores. In a pinch, you can use “accidentally vegan” canned frosting such as Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines. It can be piped as is or warmed to loosen it into a more liquid or pourable consistency but bear in mind that it will remain soft after being applied.
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This vegan royal icing is easy to make and use. It beautifully decorates cookies with ease and has the most delicious flavor. This recipe never lets me down, and has helped our family create cookies we’re proud to show off and share with others.
1⁄4cupaquafaba, the liquid inside a can of chickpeas / garbanzo beans
1⁄4teaspooncream of tartar
1 1⁄2cuppowdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), measured then sifted, + more as needed
1tablespoonlight corn syrup
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1⁄4teaspoon almond extract
Food coloring, optional
Instructions
Using a handheld or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, mix the aquafaba and cream of tartar on the highest speed possible until fluffy, bright white, and very thick, 5–7 minutes.
Add 3⁄4 cup of the powdered sugar and mix on medium speed until glossy, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add the remaining 3⁄4 cup of powdered sugar, the corn syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix until incorporated.
Decide if your icing is thick enough by adding a small amount of icing to a piping bag fitted with a decorating tip (alternatively, you can decorate your cookies with a butter knife.) Test the icing on parchment paper or on one of your cookies to see if it runs. If it does, add up to 1⁄2 cup more powdered sugar a little at a time until the icing reaches a thick enough consistency.
Add the food coloring, if using, one drop at a time until you reach the desired color. If using multiple colors, divide the icing into small bowls and color each one separately.
Decorate cookies with icing, followed by sprinkles or other decorative candies, if you like.
Allow iced cookies to set at room temperature until completely dry, 1–2 hours.
Notes
Helpful Tips:
Be sure to sift powdered sugar before adding to the mixing bowl.
The more food coloring you add, the longer the icing may take to dry.
For more precise decorating, use piping bags fitted with decorating tips.
Unless you’ll be refrigerating or freezing the icing immediately, it’s best to make up only one batch at a time so it doesn’t harden before you use it.
Storage Tips:
Refrigeration – Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Cover the icing’s surface with plastic wrap to prevent it from crusting.
Freezing – For longer storage, freeze it in an airtight container for up to a month. Thaw it in the fridge and remix before using.
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Vegan Royal Icing recipe was reprinted with permission from Vegan Christmas Cookies and Cocoa by Audrey Dunham. Photos by Candi Elmfor World of Vegan, all rights reserved.
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This is such a clever. I use aquafaba a lot as an egg white substitute, but somehow never thought to use it to make royal icing. Your cookies are beautifully decorated too.
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I would have never come up with this myself, thank you !
Hope you enjoy!!
I love royal icing so much! Perfect for all sorts of cookies and gingerbread houses.
This is such a clever. I use aquafaba a lot as an egg white substitute, but somehow never thought to use it to make royal icing. Your cookies are beautifully decorated too.
I’m SO excited I finally found a royal icing that actually works! This is hands down the best I’ve used. Yay!
perfect on top of so many sweet treats! so happy to have found this icing recipe!
Looks delicious, great for cookies, muffins, cupcakes
This is the perfect icing for my holiday cookies. Yay! So happy to have this vegan-friendly recipe!
Can’t wait to try it during the upcoming Holiday season!
Love having this super helpful basic recipe! Perfect for Christmas cookies for the kiddos 🙂
this icing turned out so incredibly good! thanks for all the helpful tips!
Always so much fun to decorate cookies with this icing. Easy to make, and delicious as well.
Love how this royal icing turned out! The flavor really does taste like marshmallow! New go-to recipe 🙂