Royal Icing Won't Dry

Are you sure you aren't overmixing it?  That can cause what you are describing.  Did it ever dry?  I overmixed my icing once and it never truly 'set up' but remained tacky even after sitting for 12 hours.

I had in my first cookies the same problema, in that time I dry them on a gas heater ( that for rooms when it's cold).   They melted.   They were red and light Brown.  It was the weather to humid, I don't decorate cookies when it's raining. It could be to much wather in your royalicing.   Because I had never the same problem.

There's another forum topic on this subject already; you might want to check it out: http://cookieconnection.juliau...yal-icing-not-drying

 

(It's generally best to search the forums to see if your topic has already been covered before opening up a new thread on the same thing . . . this just helps to keep the answers to similar topics all in one place. Thanks!)

Thank you all for your tips and comments.  Unfortunately they never dried.  Julia thanks for the tip about the other forum, I'm pretty new to this site so I'm just getting the hang of it.

I tested out a variety of different changes to royal icing for making ri transfers, one particular batch never dried, was sticky like damp taffy. Is far as I was able to determine, it was because a tiny smidge of vegetable shortening was on either the spatula or bowl. I was not aware of grease getting into it, but it was the only explination I came up with.

I used the same icing for a piping ri transfers in a lighter and a darker version, and one of a thinner consistency. Next I paused and did something else that involved very lightly greasing a pan with shortening (crisco). I then thickened the icing with a little extra sugar to thicken it, mixed well, and piped. It appeared the same while wet, but did not dry overnight like the others did, never did dry over a few days. I never did it again intentionally to see if that was indeed the result, but never had it happen again.

I always see posts stating that even a little residue of oil, grease, butter, or shortening on utencils or bowls will ruin royal icing. I have not, however, come across anything stating what the oily substance actually does to it. If anyone knows, please let me know!