Working with royal icing can be tricky and time-consuming, but we can show you how easily you can make "faux" royal icing using canned white frosting straight from the grocery store.
Roll, cut, and bake cookies according to package directions.
Transfer baked cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
Divide frosting into 4 microwave-safe bowls. Using a toothpick tint each bowl of icing with a different color.
When the cookies are completely cool begin covering them with your base icing.
Begin with one color and 3 cookies at a time. Microwave your icing for 5 seconds, stir, and then microwave for up to 5 seconds more. The consistency should be smooth but the oils should not be separated.
Spoon a tablespoon of the icing in the center of the cookie and then tilt from side to side until the cookie is evenly filled. You may have to guide your icing with the back of your spoon. Working quickly set the cookies back on the cooling rack to fully dry. You may have to reheat icing in between cookies. 5 seconds at a time.
Continue with remaining cookies and icing colors until each cookie is filled. Each color will fill 3 cookies. Allow cookies to cool for 1 hour to set.
Using the red icing tube fitted with a writing tip, pipe your favorite Valentine messages on the cookies!
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Notes
Getting the right icing consistency may take a few tries. Use one cookie as a practice cookie. You can always scrape it off and start over. Every microwave is different so you may need to figure out the correct melting time for your particular microwave.
A little bit of gel color goes a long way, add a little gel at a time to reach your desired color. You can always add more but can’t remove it if you’ve put too much. You can reserve a bit of the white icing in the event that you need to lighten colors.
Keep toothpicks handy to straighten icing or clean up lettering or to clear the icing tip if it becomes clogged.