Waaaah!!!! :-( Help Me - Royal Icing And I'm Up Too Late!

Decorating By SweetResults Updated 13 Oct 2006 , 2:54pm by ibmoser

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SweetResults Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 5:22am
post #1 of 9

My royal icing is not coming together!

Collette Peters recipe from book - doubled

2 egg whites
4 tsp water
1 tsp cream of tartar
2 lbs conf. sugar

Beat slowly wi paddle until stiff peaks and pure white.

Been mixing for almost 30 MIN and still like SAND! WHY WHY WHY do I do these crazy things this late at night?? Is anyone awake that can help me so I don't have to toss it???? icon_cry.gif

8 replies
7yyrt Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
7yyrt Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 6:17am
post #2 of 9

I looked it up, and my book says to add the sugar 1 Tablespoon at a time. If you put it all in at once, I'm not sure it can be salvaged. Set it aside, go to bed, and try again in the morning -
I'll bump you so you'll be further up and someone who knows more about it will have a better chance of seeing you.
Good luck!

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KrisD13 Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 6:17am
post #3 of 9

I'm not familiar with her recipe, but what about adding more liquid, if it's still dry like sand?

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kylielam2005 Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 8:59am
post #4 of 9

I don't use a recipe. I put the icing sugar (very soft cake sugar) in a bowl, then add a little egg white at a time until it's the right consistency. If it wont come together than you just add more egg white or a little water & mix. Keep adding until it mixes together. you get the hang of it after awhile. If it's too runny, add more icing sugar. If you're piping do it abit thicker than you think or it will be too runny. Hope that helps! (remember to cover the icing bowl with gladwrap/plastic wrap asap or it will crust)

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kylielam2005 Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 9:02am
post #5 of 9

Sorry, I didn't look at the time. It's probably too late to reply to you. I forgot to add I'm in Australia so it's only 7pm. If you need anything let me know (email me...I'm fairly new to this site...can you get my email? If not, try [email protected]) You should only have to mix a short time (seconds to minute or so). You sound like me being up late doing something I should've tried beforehand first!

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wgoat5 Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 9:57am
post #6 of 9

Mine did that to at the start...I just added water till it was the right consistency. I did what the instructions said and it just balled up and sounded like a baseball in my KA!!! So I decided just to add more water. I had a rough time with it while I was working with it also! icon_sad.gif

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SweetResults Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 1:09pm
post #7 of 9

I've made it so many times before, but I just can't get it to be the same every time. I ended up adding another egg white and a bit more water and it was ok - but just takes WAY too long!

I say Duff using Royal Icing Mix the other day on his show. Anyone know about that? I'm gonna make a separate post on it.

THanks for the help!

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kylielam2005 Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 2:25pm
post #8 of 9

I buy a royal icing mix in Australia & have been using it. Mind you it's just as easy using egg white as it's almost the same. Adding liquid to icing sugar.With the mix you just add water. My royal icing recipe you just use icing sugar & add enough eggwhite til you get the right consistency. You can add a little lemon juice (I think that's similar to the tatare as it's acidic). If you want it softer add glycerine (a little) & it wont set as hard. Mind you I'm not an expert on this.

ibmoser Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ibmoser Posted 13 Oct 2006 , 2:54pm
post #9 of 9

I have a couple of 1# bags of "Royal & Picture Icing" mix by CK Products. Bought them at Nicolas Lodge's just to try. I have serious issues with royal icing due to the humidity here, and I thought it might be easier. Contents: Confectioners Sugar, Starch, Egg Whites, Vegetable Gum, Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, Citric Acid, Cream of Tartar. It is a bit faster, but at $2 per pound, it is much more economical to just make your own. I still have the humidity issues either way, but the mix seems a little more forgiving, probably because of the other little additives..... I'm sure that other companies make a mix, too.

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