Wilton Meringue Powder Review: Royal Icing That Holds
The powder that turns powdered sugar and water into royal icing, the hard-drying glue bakers trust for gingerbread walls. A small can that rescues any kit.
Yes, for anyone building a gingerbread house, kit or homemade. It adds body to royal icing so walls set firm [1]. Skip it only if your kit icing already sets hard and you build one house a year.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 28, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Size | 4 ounces [1] |
| Container | Plastic can, resealable top [1] |
| Uses | Royal icing, meringue boiled icing, buttercream [1] |
| Certification | Kosher [1] |
| Item weight | 4.8 ounces [1] |
| Maker | Wilton [1] |
Pros and cons
- A small can for the price [1]
- Royal icing needs a mixer for best results
- Needs powdered sugar, which is sold separately
Why kit icing fails
Most gingerbread disasters start with the icing. Kit pouches are often thin, and walls slide apart before they set. Royal icing is the fix: it dries hard like mortar, which is why bakers build with it.
Meringue powder is the easy way to make royal icing without raw egg whites. A can lasts for several houses and a few batches of decorated cookies.
Body for royal icing
The listing says the powder adds body to royal icing and meringue boiled icing and stabilizes buttercream [1]. It comes as 4 ounces in a plastic container with a resealable top that opens completely for easy measuring [1].
It is certified kosher, according to the listing [1]. Mix it with powdered sugar and water, beat until stiff peaks form, and keep the bowl covered with a damp towel so the icing does not crust while you work.
A small can and a mixer
The can is small for the price, so a family that builds a big village every year may go through more than one. Royal icing also comes out best with a stand or hand mixer; stirring by hand gives a softer icing.
It is only half the recipe. Powdered sugar is sold separately, and icing colors are another purchase if the kids want red doors.
Setting up the icing station
Mix one stiff batch for walls and a thinner one for decorating. Fill a separate bag for each child so nobody waits.
From this guide, it goes with Domino Powdered Sugar for the base and Wilton Edible Gel Food Coloring for colored trim.
FAQ
What is Wilton meringue powder used for?
The listing says it adds body to royal icing and meringue boiled icing and stabilizes buttercream [1]. For gingerbread, its main job is royal icing that dries hard enough to hold walls and a roof. It replaces raw egg whites, which many families prefer for kids [1]
How do you make royal icing with meringue powder?
Beat meringue powder, powdered sugar and water together until the icing forms stiff peaks; the label on the can gives the exact ratio [1]. Use it stiff for walls and thinner for decorating. Keep it covered while you work, because royal icing crusts quickly in open air [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the Wilton Meringue Powder, 4 oz
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 28, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
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