With its varied consistency options, when it comes to icing a cake or a cookie, royal icing is the best option for piping. It can be easily colored and flavored to suit your needs.

Here are the top tricks and tips to piping royal icing! 

1. Icing Consistency

The consistency of the icing is the most important factor when it comes to icing. If you are flooding a cookie, you want a thinner icing to create a smooth base. If you are making flowers, you will want stiffer icing.When your icing consistency is off, dump it back into the bowl and try to fix it. Unless you are aiming for self-sabotage, trying to pipe icing flowers with runny icing is just not going to work!

    

 2. Piping Bags

Now, onto the bags...piping bags are something of an individual taste, and you should choose one that works for you. There are reusable silicone, fabric piping bags, and even disposable tipless bags. There are also many different size options.

Things to consider when choosing piping bags:

1. Do you want a piping bag that is sustainable? Opt for fabric! Do you not have the time to wash out silicone bags? Opt for disposable. By selecting the right bag for your job, you will get great results, whether you are icing a cookie or a cake.
2. The thickness of disposable bags will vary, and you will be the judge of which is right for you.
3. How does the piping bag feel in your hand? How does it impact the consistency of the icing?
4. Try to use a 40-micron bag for flooding and piping and use a 55-micron bag for stiffer icing. Size matters! If you have to flood a batch of 50 or more cookies, you will want a 10-inch or 12-inch bag. For smaller jobs, an 8-inch bag is fine!