Holiday Cookie Mistakes Everyone Makes

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2. Making the Icing too Runny

Made of egg whites (or meringue powder and water) and powdered sugar, royal icing is incredibly easy to make, and even if you mess it up, you can always save it. If your icing is too runny, it won't hold its shape, your decorations will be ruined, and your gingerbread house won't stand. If it's too stiff, it will be difficult to pipe, and you'll risk spending Christmas Eve at the dentist's office. Make sure the icing is opaque on the back of a spoon, and holds a slight swirl when it's spread. As structural "cement" for a gingerbread house, make it just a bit thicker.