Add Bitterness to the Royal Icing for the Best Christmas Cookies
The royal icing is very pretty, but it doesn’t taste great. The hard, super-sweet cookie filling is more decor than anything else, but if you want to add a little flavor, grab a bottle of cocktail bitterness.
Bitters, like vanilla, are actually nothing more than highly flavored alcoholic extracts. A small amount makes a big difference, and just a teaspoon is enough to season three cups of frosting. Plus, thanks to the cocktail renaissance we’ve enjoyed in the last decade, there are tons of fancy flavors to choose from. Orange is especially good with sugar cookies and gingerbread, but I think the bitterness of pecans works great here.
Cocktail bitters can be added to any royal icing recipe – I usually use this one from the Food Network – just add them like vanilla. If using egg whites, beat them together until frothy before adding sugar. If you are using meringue powder, just mix everything at once. Start with a teaspoon per batch of three cups, try and add more if desired. Arrange on bowls, color as usual, and decorate the cookies with the icing you really want to put in your mouth.