Royal Icing Snowflakes are elegant, yet they are simple to make. These snowflakes can be used to decorate cakes and cookies, or they can be used around the house to decorate windows or even the Christmas tree. http://www.blisstree.com/bakingdelights/royal-icing-snowflakes/> Royal Icing has been around almost forever it seems, but it is not clear when royal icing snowflakes were introduced.<ref>http://www.wordbanquet.com/icing.html However, there was a recipe for royal icing snowflakes in Betty Crocker's Cooky Book published in 1963; this cookbook was reprinted in 2002 and is readily available at bookstores or a library.http://www.foodtimeline.org/christmasfood.html Another popular use of royal icing is for trimming and decorating items such as cookies and gingerbread houses. In fact, it could be considered the "glue" that holds gingerbread houses together. Since Royal icing is very firm when it dries, and it dries rapidly, it is important to have your designs planned and work rapidly when making royal icing snowflakes.

Just as real snowflakes come in an infinite variety of designs, royal icing snowflakes can be made in a wide variety of patterns. Complex designs will take more practice; however, some designs that appear complex are really quite simple. It is important to work in a fast and efficient manner, as the royal icing will harden rather quickly. It is necessary to have the design pattern drawn in advance and to know how to use the piping bag to create the design. The trick is to learn to use even pressure with the piping bag. If the icing is piped out with uneven pressure, then the snowflake will of course be uneven. Instructions for practice with the piping bag are included on this how to make royal icing snowflakes page. Royal icing has been around for centuries and appears to have taken its name from the fact that it was used as the icing on fruitcake, which was the traditional wedding cake for royalty.http://www.wordbanquet.com/icing.html

You will begin by gathering your ingredients and equipment. Review the videos on this page to learn specific techniques that will be needed for making royal icing snowflakes. Also read the How to Make Royal Icing page here on Mahalo. Here is what you need:

1. Decide on the snowflake pattern that you will use. You can design you own, or follow a pre-made design.
2. Draw the snowflake design on the whiteboard or foam board; you will draw one pattern for each snowflake that you will be making. See the video for detailed instructions on drawing the patterns.
3. Place the parchment paper or the wax paper over the design, and fasten with piece of masking tape, now you are ready to make the icing.
4. Make the royal icing by beating the egg whites with a mixer for details on this see the How to Make Royal Icing page.
5. If you are not familiar with using a piping bag, then follow the instructions in the practice section below
6. Watch the snowflake design video and the how to make a parchment piping bag video
7. Place the icing in a piping bag, and follow the design you have drawn as you pipe the icing onto the wax paper or parchment paper.
8. Allow the design to dry for a minimum of 2-3 hours or overnight.
9. Use the snowflakes to decorate cakes, cookies, your Christmas tree, windows or any other item you wish.http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/delicate-icing-snowflakes/e24b4d43-6d56-461e-9c2c-97209087e174

To practice piping royal icing:

1. Make an extra batch of icing,
2. Use a ruler and thin marker to draw a thin 6" long straight line on a white board or piece of foam board.
3. Cover this line with wax paper, or parchment paper.
4. You will need a piping bag, you may wish to buy one or make your own.
5. You can make a piping by twirling parchment paper into a funnel. See the video “Making a piping bag” below for details on the process.
6. Put the icing into a piping bag.
7. Pipe the icing onto the paper while using a steady, even pressure.
8. Experiment with different tips.
9. Repeat with 6 inch, 4 inch and 2 inch straight lines and diagonal lines.
10. Practice making diamonds, triangles, crosses, and lines that connect.
11. Practice making a 6 inch vertical line and two 6 inch diagonal lines that form an x on top of the vertical line.

The pattern described above in number 11 is the basic shape for all snowflakes. On top of this basic shape you will use various connecting lines to form the actual snowflakes.

When you feel confident with your ability to control the flow from the piping bag to make a variety of shapes and connections you are ready to make snowflakes.