Royal Icing Recipe

Weatherill family Christmas special. Well ok not that special, same as all the other Royal Icing recipes but Michael taught me to make it he was more of a baker than Lorna. Christmas always makes me think of them both.

2 egg whites
450g icing sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1tsp glycerine

Beat the egg whites until they are stiff and stand in peaks.
Mix in the iceing sugar with the mixer on slow (traditionally Weatherill family used a hand held electric whisk, but now I have the kitchen aid)
Keep mixing until the icing is a good consistency - it should hold peaks - Weatherill family normally go for a 'rustic' look as it is quicker and easier and they are really just interested in getting on and eating it! If you want a smooth finish you want it a bit runnier.
Add the lemon and glycerine and mix a little bit more.
Apply to the cake (should cover about 20cm round cake).
It will dry out less and not get the cake colour through if you put marzipan on the cake before the icing, but we don't always in Weatherill family as we are lazy!