Lemon Cookie Icing

Sep 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

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Sugar cookies decorated with lemon cookie icing

A glossy lemon cookie icing that sets firm for decorating cookies. Makes about 1 cup; decorates about 24 cookies.

Prep 10 min

Cook —

Dry 8 hr

Total 8 hr 10 min

Yield 24 cookies

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

2.0 cups (240.0 g)confectioners' sugar, sifted
2.0 tbsp (41.0 g)light corn syrup
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)fresh lemon juice
1.0 tsplemon zest, very finely grated
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)water, plus more as needed
⅛ tspfine sea salt

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Instructions

Whisk the confectioners' sugar and salt in a bowl.
Add the corn syrup, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest and stir until smooth and glossy.
Adjust with water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time: thick enough to hold a line for outlining, or thinned until a drizzled ribbon disappears in about 10 seconds for flooding.
Decorate completely cooled cookies and let dry until firm, 6 to 8 hours or overnight, before stacking.

Tips

Corn syrup gives this icing a soft bite and a glossy finish; it dries firm but not rock hard.
Storage: Store leftover icing airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days; stir before using.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon cookie icing?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep, plus 8 hours to dry. It makes about 1 cup; decorates about 24 cookies.

How should I store lemon cookie icing?

Store leftover icing airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days; stir before using.

A glossy lemon cookie icing that sets firm for decorating cookies. Makes about 1 cup; decorates about 24 cookies.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

44 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

11.5g Carbs

0.0g Protein

10.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~1056 cal · 0g fat · 276g carbs · 0g protein · 250g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 44 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 8 min·0.5 mi·~950 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 6 min·0.3 mi·~600 steps
Moderate cycling 4 min·0.8 mi
Swimming laps 6 min
Jogging 4 min·0.3 mi·~650 steps
Stair climbing 4 min·~350 steps
Dancing 7 min
Bodyweight circuit training 4 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 10 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.