It takes some time and a little patience to decorate cookies or cakes with gold royal icing, but the technique itself is very simple. Here are my tips on how to make gold royal icing.
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Start out by piping your designs in golden brown icing (two parts yellow to one part brown food coloring). I like to use this color because, not only does it help the gold to stand out, but it's less noticeable if you miss a spot.
Let the icing dry completely, about 30 minutes to an hour (or if you're using flood consistency icing, let it dry overnight). For the henna cookies shown in the video in this post as well as in this filigree design featured in my book, I used medium consistency royal icing and a decorating tip 2.
Photo credit: Tom Moore
I prefer to use Crystal Colors edible gold dusts and Sweet Sticks luster dusts when I make gold royal icing. My favorite Crystal Colors are Antique Gold, Old Gold, and Blush Gold and my favorite Sweet Sticks are Glamorous Gold and 24K gold. You can find these dusts on Amazon or at Sugarpaste.com.
Fill a small container with about a half teaspoon of luster dust. Mix the dust with grain alcohol or very strong vodka (at least 150 proof). I use alcohol when I make gold royal icing because it evaporates very quickly, which means that the liquid won’t dissolve the icing as you are applying the paint. The stronger the alcohol, the better!
You can also use flavored extracts for this process, but the alcohol content is relatively low, so it's possible that it will damage the icing as you paint. If you are looking for alternatives to alcohol, read about my experiments with different liquids to use when painting with gold.
Add just enough alcohol, a few drops at a time, so that you achieve the consistency of paint. If you add to much liquid, it will run off of the decoration and create a mess. If you add too little, your paint will be chunky.
As I mentioned before, the alcohol evaporates very quickly, so you'll need to add more drops as you work to maintain the correct consistency.
Very carefully paint the icing with a brush. Crystal Colors Blush Gold is shown here.
Let the paint dry for about 10 minutes before handling the cookie.
Find more cookie decorating techniques in my book, Cookie Art: Sweet Designs For Special Occasions. Available in hardcover in my shop and on Amazon.
Printable supply list and instructions for how to make gold royal icing:
How To Make Gold Royal Icing
It takes some time and a little patience to decorate cookies or cakes with gold royal icing, but the technique itself is actually very simple!
Materials
- Royal icing, completely dry
- Brown & Yellow food coloring
- Gold luster dust (I prefer Crystal Colors brand in Blush Gold, Antique Gold, and Old Gold)
- Decorator brushes
- Alcohol or any flavor extract (I use Devil's Spring 151 proof vodka)
- Paint palette or small dish for mixing
Instructions
- Start out by piping your designs in golden brown icing (two parts yellow to one part brown food coloring). I like to use this color because, not only does it help the gold to stand out, but it's less noticeable if you miss a spot. Let the icing dry completely, about 30 minutes to an hour. For the henna cookies shown in the video in this post as well as in the filigree design featured in my book, I used medium consistency royal icing and a decorating tip 2. I prefer to use Crystal Colors edible gold dusts for this method. Antique Gold, Old Gold, and Blush Gold are my favorites. You can find these dusts on Amazon or at Sugarpaste.com.
- Fill a small container with about a half teaspoon of luster dust. Mix the dust with grain alcohol or very strong vodka (at least 150 proof). Alcohol is used for painting on royal icing because it evaporates very quickly, which means that the liquid won’t dissolve the icing as you are applying the paint. The stronger the alcohol, the better!
- You can also use flavored extracts for this process, but the alcohol content is relatively low, so it's possible that it will damage the icing as you paint. If you are looking for alternatives to alcohol, read about my experiments with different liquids to use when painting with gold.
- Add just enough alcohol, a few drops at a time, so that you achieve the consistency of paint. If you add to much liquid, it will run off of the decoration and create a mess. If you add too little, your paint will be chunky. As I mentioned before, the alcohol evaporates very quickly, so you'll need to add more drops as you work to maintain the correct consistency.
- Very carefully paint the icing with a tiny brush. Crystal Colors Blush Gold is shown here. Let the paint dry for about 10 minutes before handling the cookie.
Oh my stars! You have achieved the quintessential website. I searched for the gold dust painting and your video was encouraging. It also led me to membership in a great community.
Thank you for the time and research into instructional video creation. Each is useful and well recorded and fully instructed.
The advice to practice is solid. I wish I had practiced before icing 4 dozen wedding shower cookies. Even though everyone loved them I know what I could improve upon. They certainly would not have been appreciated without your training.
Hi I'm interested to join class
Hi Amber,
I tried to decorate some wedding cookies recently with gold luster dust dissolved in alcohol (40%, vodka) and the result was bumpy and kind of dull, not smooth and shiny as I'd hoped.
When I used the same gold "paint" for a feathered edge it was smooth and beautiful. Any thoughts on what I might have done wrong?
Thanks!
Anne
Is there any method that works to create an integrated gold royal icing without having to paint on top of the piping? I have a large amount to do and would love the icing to already have the gold shimmer in the icing....
Any help/insight would be appreciated!
Hi Michelle! Unfortunately I don't know of any product that would be concentrated enough that it would show up when mixed into the icing. The next best thing would be to use a spray like the one I used here: https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/holiday-cookie-decorating/
Amber, what color brown icing do you mix to go under the gold luster dust applilcation?
Hi Martha! I use Wilton Color Right brown with a little bit of yellow 🙂
Question: In the final picture, are the roses on the oval cookie buttercream? or royal icing?
If royal icing, how to you achieve the correct icing consistency, and what tips do you use?
Thanks!
evonne
can i know the royal icing recipe please?
Hi Hannah! You can learn all about royal icing here: https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/royalicing/
The full recipe with instructions is available as a downloadable PDF in my shop: https://www.sweetambs.com/sweetambs-cookie-recipe-and-royal-icing-recipe/
When using grain alcohol. Can you taste the alcohol in the luster dust?
I’ve seen very high shine gold and cannot figure out how it’s achieved. Even my airbrush doesn’t get there. Is it a specific luster dust or paint?
Hi Stacey! Usually that super shiny gold you see on cookies and cakes is labeled as non-toxic, but it's not actually an edible product. It's meant to be used on decorations that will be removed before eating, such as flowers and fondant. Even though the gold that I use isn't as shiny as the non-toxic products, I prefer to use one that's approved for use on food 🙂
Would you please tell me al, the tools I need it for Royal icing and sugar cookies? I want buy it online
This post lists all of my favorite supplies with links to purchase them online: https://www.sweetambs.com/blog/supplies-for-cookie-decorators/
Is it safe to use alcohol if the cookies are for kids?
Yes - the alcohol dissipates when it dries.
Thanks for the brown icing idea...helped out great!
I too live in ( Alberta} Canada Leanne Parker...we can get Everclear here, but I use cherry Skyy vodka that tastes nasty (nobody will drink it, so I use it on things like this...lol)
Thanks again for the tip.
Sometimes my gold wipes off after it should be dry. What am I doing wrong?
Hi there. I've tried making the gold paint several times, and I can't get it to work. It's either too dry or starts to disintegrate my icing. I use vodka, and just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, as I'm adding a few drops at a time until it seems like it's liquid (paint-like) enough, but it's not the shiny gold like I see on everyone else's cookies. I live in Canada, so I don't have the option of using Everclear, which a lot of people in the U.S. seem to use, with very good results. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Same here. I've tried it a dozen times and a dozen ways and nothing works. I can't figure it out either.
I have used ever clear and I bought SweetAmbs recipe as well. I still can’t get it not to pit the icing
Hi Wendy! Have you read my post on royal icing troubleshooting tips? It could be that the icing is over-mixed or the consistency is too thin. https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/royalicing/
can I mix petal dust or luster dusts into white royal icing? If so, will it give a deeper color than mixing with gel colors? Is mixing powder food color into royal icing the same effect as gel color or would it be a more intense color? Thank you.
I am wondering the same thing?
Hi! I don't recommend mixing pearl dusts or luster dusts into the royal icing, as the shimmer will not be concentrated enough to show up. It's much better if you apply the luster dust to the surface of the royal icing after the icing has dried. As for powdered food coloring, I haven't tried it myself, so I can't say how it compares to gel food coloring. I've been using the gel colors from Wilton Color Right for over a year and they've been working well for me. They're very concentrated, so you don't need to use an excessive amount to get dark colors 🙂
Is it possible to make gold royal icing, to make dots of gold on white (wet on wet)?
When doing the gold dust with alcohol and it evaporates does that mean there will be no alcohol when eating it?
Hi Stacy! The alcohol evaporates very quickly and it doesn't leave any flavor behind, but I can't say for sure that there are no trace amounts leftover.
recently I have make gold dust powder. but it has no lusture & could not make to tablet shape. so,kindly suggest to me how to make lusture & make tablet condition to paint few days later.
can you add this to crystalized sugar?????
Am… I having problems piping my icing…? Please help or suggest!
You just amaze me with your talent. I can only hope to achieve some of your skills. God has really blessed you and us by you sharing your skills with us. Thank you sooooo much!
Hello Amber!! I love watching your videos. You are so talented. I had a question about using this technique on a Katherine Sabbath inspired drip cake. Would flood consistency work or would I need something thicker?
Oh that sounds so cool! I think you'd want to use somewhere between flood and medium consistency so that it can hold those drippy shapes 🙂
What kind of alcohol?
Thank you for sharing your tips and talent with us. I just got done watching several decorating vids and am inspired and relaxed! I loved them!
In the case of painting with gold, or silver for that matter, I found Wilton airbrush paint online..would that work? I'm also looking for an alcohol free alternative.
Hi Amber,
I love your class and work. I want to know where you are located so I can enroll to an actual class. Thanks,
Maria
Thank you, Maria! My studio is in Beacon, New York, which is about 60 miles north of New York City.
hi dear Amber
I really love your work, it's vary special,
I would like to learn and use your classes but unfortunately
I'm in California(sunnyvale), 🙁
What a wonderful coockies thanx for sharing.. I'm just wondering how do you make the icing suger for decoration ?
Спасибо за прекрасный мастер-класс!
Excellent work thanks for sharing.
Love your work and appreciate your help.
Sharing really shows your knowledge . It is great.
Hi Amber
I'm a huge fan of yours. I recently bought your video tutorial and have learned a loooot of techniques. I have one question regarding your tools, where do I find the mini green spatula you use for mixing colors into icing. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you!
Hi Ash! I'm so glad you're enjoying my tutorials! I purchased my green spatula at Target, but I think they're available at most stores where kitchen utensils are sold.
verry nice
I want to try that when I have time that is so cool
Do you do this same way when making cake pops?
I've never tried it on cake pops! That's a good question.
Thank you for all your wonderful and beautiful tutorials!!
Thank you!!
Hey sweetambs I like your tutorials
Aww. Thank you!!!
me encanta la forma como explica todo se ve fácil de hacer gracias por compartir.
Beautiful clean work love the in-depth tutorial thank you for sharing look forward to seeing what's next .