Quick and Effective Ways to Speed Up Royal Icing Drying for Cookie Decorating

Quick and Effective Ways to Speed Up Royal Icing Drying for Cookie Decorating

Are you a cookie decorator looking for ways to speed up the royal icing drying process? 

Waiting for royal icing to dry can be time-consuming, especially when you’re layering colors or adding details. In this guide, we’ll dive into effective methods to dry your icing quickly and efficiently without compromising its glossy, beautiful finish. Perfect for anyone wanting faster results!

1. Use a Fan or Blow Dryer (Cool Air Only)

One of the simplest ways to speed up drying is by using a fan. Placing your cookies in front of a fan on a low, cool setting can help the icing dry without affecting its texture. A blow dryer set to cool air also works but avoid using heat, as it can cause the icing to bubble. This method is very effective if you are intended to dry one layer of icing cookies, never put a fan if you are planning to do the wet on wet technique, this will cause your icing to dry fast and you won't be able to drag the icings to make cool effects.

Small fans works better for me, as the flow of air is not to strong.

2. Employ a Food Dehydrator

For serious, very serious cookie decorators, investing in a  a food dehydrator can be an invaluable tool. Set the dehydrator to a low setting, around 90°F, and let the cookies sit for about 10-15 minutes. This method helps the top layer crust over faster, which is ideal for multi-layered designs. If you decorate a lot, a lot of cookies this is a great investment! 

3. Energy Efficient and Inexpensive Method

This method is my favorite one, it is inexpensive and you won't be wasting energy, actually you will use the heat from your oven to accelerate the drying time on your cookies. There are two different ways I like to use this method. 

a) After I finish baking my batch of cookies, I turned off the oven and  I start decorating my cookies and in that time the temperature of the oven will decrease and by the time I finish decorating the cookies the temperature of the oven should be around 250 ºF degrees,  and I placed my cookies over a baking sheet and put them in the oven (Oven should be off) for 10 min.  In this time frame the royal icing will crust will dry faster.  If the temperature is lower, like around 170 ºF you can leave the cookies inside the oven up to 30 min. 

b) After finishing decorating the cookies, I turn on my oven to the lowest temperature, 170 ºF and once it arrive to that temperature I turn off the oven and place the baking tray with the decorated cookies and I leave them inside for up to 30 min. 

You can watch a video here:↓

3. Work in a Low-Humidity Environment

Royal icing dries faster in a low-humidity environment. If you live in a humid climate, using a dehumidifier in your workspace can make a big difference. The drier the air, the quicker the icing will set. I also avoid to have water or broth boiling in the kitchen the day I will decorate cookies. 

4. Let the Cookies Rest in Front of an Oven Light

If you don’t have a fan or dehydrator handy, place your cookies on a baking sheet near an oven with the light on. The gentle warmth (without direct heat) helps accelerate the drying process without melting the icing.

5. Use Thicker Icing Layers Sparingly

When decorating cookies, using a thin layer of icing can significantly reduce drying time. If your design requires thicker icing, try adding it in stages. Allow the first layer to crust before applying additional layers—this speeds up the process for intricate designs.

6.- Use a Magic Consistency Icing

I like to decorate my cookies using a "magic consistency", this consistency is less fluid than the flooding consistency, it means that it has less water, so this consistency will dry faster. 

Tips for Best Results

• Airflow: Always ensure there’s adequate airflow around the cookies; avoid covering them entirely to let moisture escape.
• Proper Placement: Arrange cookies on a cooling rack to maximize air circulation, which can help the icing dry faster and more evenly.

Speeding up the drying process can help you complete your decorated cookies in record time. Whether you’re preparing for a large batch order or just want to speed up your home baking, these techniques will save you valuable time and also it will decrease the cost of your cookie production and you can offer better prices and better looking cookies  to your costumers!