How To Make Successful Royal Icing???

[Scarlett]

Every year, I attempt to ice a Christmas cake, and no matter how hard I try, the Royal icing is too runny, and ends up running off the cake cake. I bought a new hand mixer, and I must have whisked it for 15 minutes. It looked okay, and had little peaks, but still ran off the cake. What am I doing wrong?!

[Barmaid]

Ignore the quantities in the recipe since the size and freshness of the eggs makes a difference. Just keep adding icing sugar until the icing is thick.  Add a little glycerine so it does not set rock hard.

[Scarlett]

Thanks – I forgot to say that I was using the icing sugar that contains powdered egg, and I added a very small amount of water!

[Barmaid]

No water- that will make it run - that's glace icing. Just ordinary egg white and plain sifted icing sugar.

[Buenchico]

There's a video from Mary Berry here, which looks like it might be helpful:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/royalicingforcakes_78912

[Scarlett]

Thank you  - but I'm not using eggs as the icing sugar has powdered egg in it. it says to add water, but that seems to wreck it!

[gingejbee]

Not using eggs...that's the problem. Royal icing needs egg whites.

[theshedman]

If you are using the packet of icing then the egg will already be in it as you say.  The problem will be using too much water.  Just add very small amount of water and it will seem like it is never going to come together but it will or add just a tiny bit more if it doesn't.

[rowanwitch]

Buy it ready made,  by the time you sort out whats gone wrong and started again it's cheaper to use pre done stuff.   Life is too short, and too busy