I know fondant icing looks great on a Christmas cake, but it's a bother to make so royal icing gets my vote most years. And yes, you can buy it, but if I've actually managed to make a cake, I don't want to spoil the home-made flavours with bought icing. Just call me picky.
Royal icing is so forgiving. If you are in a hurry - think late on Christmas Eve - you can mix it up, slap it on, and find something in your cupboard to decorate the cake with.
Key ingredients in Royal Icing
Icing sugar - to sieve or not to sieve?
If the icing is freshly bought and opened you might feel you don't need to sieve it. If you have the tiniest doubt, get the sieve out. You don't want any lumps on your Christmas Cake
If you don't have a cover on your mixer, I strongly recommend a splatter lid which will help avoid icing sugar everywhere.
Are egg whites safe?
Use fresh eggs as the cake may last a few weeks. Sugar is a preservative so nothing will go off. In the UK it is perfectly safe to eat raw eggs that are British Lion stamped.
If you have any doubts or want more information, see the Food Standards guidance on eggs.
Glycerine - animal or vegetable?
Glycerine is used to soften the icing, which would otherwise get very hard. It used to be made from animal fat, but these days most of it is vegetable in origin. Do read the label if it matters to you.
Dr Oetker glycerine is vegan and widely available.
Flavourings
You can use a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice to counteract the sweetness. Or you could try a teaspoon of rosewater or orange flower water for a subtle flavour.
As I put all these in my marzipan, I don't add anything extra to my icing - but feel free.
Secrets of Success
Don't rush adding the icing sugar! Add a spoonful at a time to get the right consistency and avoid covering your kitchen in a layer of fine white powder.
How to decorate your Christmas Cake
For years I had a pack of Santa candles that I looked at every December and ignored. One year I finally put them on the cake, burned them and threw them away. One small step towards the ongoing decluttering!
Edible and inedible decorations
A quick trip to the supermarket usually yields some type of sugar Christmas cake decorations like these sweet holly and pudding buttons - with the bonus that you can eat them and you don't have to find a home for them after Christmas.
For more selection look early or go online - Amazon has a good variety of Christmas cake decorations.
Ribbon around the sides?
If you have a little more time, you could add a red or gold ribbon around the side of the cake.
If you find it slips around, add a few dabs of icing to the underside and it will stick to the cake. A pin under the bow also helps - but do remember to remove it before anyone eats it!
The sad truth is that my family will look at the cake, say something nice and then the children will eat something else because they don't really like fruit cake. That said, they are more likely to try this lighter fruit cake than a traditional matured one, which is definitely for an older generation only, apparently.
If you like this...
...Why don't you try:
Quick Christmas Cake
How to Marzipan a Christmas Cake
And if you want a quick and easy recipe for marzipan:
Marzipan
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Recipe
Royal Icing
Ingredients
- 2 large egg whites
- 500 g icing sugar, see Notes
- 1 teaspoon glycerine (5ml)
Equipment
Instructions
- Put the egg whites in a large bowl and beat briefly to break them down2 large egg whites
- Add the icing sugar a tablespoonful at a time and beat thoroughly in between (or leave the mixer on if using). Stop when you get to a mixture that holds its shape and forms soft peaks.You may not need all the icing sugar. It will depend on the size of your eggs500 g icing sugar,
- Add the glycerine and beat for 5 minutes to get a good shine1 teaspoon glycerine
- Tip or spoon the icing onto your marzipanned cake and spread more or less evenly over the top and sides with a palette knife. If you want a snow effect, put the flat blade of the knife on the icing and pull off quickly. (It's a bit like dabbing at the icing)
- Decorate with whatever you like - or whatever the supermarket has the week before Christmas
Notes
Everyday Cooks tips:
- Use the freshest eggs that you have as they aren't cooked. The sugar preserves them, but I like to start with freshest possible
- You don't need to sieve the icing sugar if you open a fresh pack that is in date and hasn't got damp (if it's in a box it will be fine). If you're using icing sugar from an opened bag you will need to sieve it
- Glycerine keeps the icing soft but, if you're making royal icing for a tiered cake, leave it out as the icing will need to support the weight of the other cake(s).
Tania says
Hi Susie,
Can I ice straight on the cake, hubby hates marzipan ( which is sad as I love it but what can you do lol)
Vee says
Hi Susie
I live in sub tropical NSW Australia, and our Christmases are often hot and humid. How can I store my Christmas cake once iced? e.g. my bread will mould if left out, even in a container. Open to other suggestions too.
Thank you 😊
Thank you
Susie Collings says
Hi Vee, TBH, I'd be inclined to use fondant icing in that climate. But I'm guessing that, if it's available, shop-bought royal icing might be better as it will have stabilisers in.
If you do want to make it, I'd leave out the glycerine (which softens the icing) and use lemon juice instead (which will harden the icing). The other thing I'd do, is to add the icing in two coats and let the first, thinner, one almost dry before adding the second coat.
Anna says
Would it go nicely on a vanilla cake which is not marzipanned?
Anna says
Hi, would this icing be nice on a vanilla cake, not specifically for Christmas? It sounds so yummy.
Susie Collings says
Hi Anna, the icing will be fine on a vanilla cake that is quite sturdy. If it's a sponge cake you could just put the icing in the top. Don't omit the glycerine as it softens the icing which would be quite hard otherwise.
Rebecca says
Hi, once on the cake, can it be left in a tin at room temp or does it need to be stored in the fridge?
Thank you
Susie Collings says
Room temperature is fine - probably better because you don't want the icing to absorb any water. Also your fridge, if like mine, is probably very full at the moment 🙂
rebecca says
Hi, my icing is still wet 8 days later. Can this be salvaged in time for Christmas?
Susie Collings says
Hi Rebecca. Keep the cake uncovered on a plate. The cake inside is sealed so won't dry out. Cheers - Susie
Rebecca says
Thank you so much for your advice. It really worked! My cake is saved ❤️
Brenda Whitwell says
I have try it but on taste it's not as sweet as my mother made it can use caster sugar with the glycerine.
How long can I keep it and well it's be freezable.
Thank you for your help.
By the way it's the icing for my Christmas cake.💖
Susie Collings says
Hi Brenda, If you're making the icing ahead of time it will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge or a month in the freezer. Once on the cake, keep in a tin rather than a plastic box and it will keep for about a month. Enjoy your Christmas cake 🙂
Brenda Whitwell says
Thank you for your reply.
Susie says
Definitely needed at this time of year!
Hilary Hardy says
Looks nice and quick, thank you!