I just use a regular frosting--a bit of butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, (Optional cocoa powder or food coloring) and some cream to get the right consistency. I never measure for frostings (cake or cookie) BUT for cookies, I add a spoonful or two of meringue powder or powdered egg whites so the frosting will harden so the cookies are stackable. Just a little makes a huge difference.

I use the standard Royal Icing. I outline with frosting from a soft plastic squeeze bottle (much easier for me than a piping bag), then flood when that has set up a few minutes.

Royal Icing
1 box confectioners' sugar (1 pound)
5 tablespoons meringue powder, or 2 large egg whites
Scant half cup water

Assorted colorings per your design.

I use a recipe like azzalea's. The measurements are:

1-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons softened butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tablespoon cream or H&H
pinch of salt

Beat all together. Add food coloring, if desired.

Same as morz8.

I make brown sugar icing and everyone loves it. It tastes like fudge". You can find the recipe online.

Since there are so many different recipes online for brown sugar icing will you please give us your recipe for it. thankyou in advance

Brown Sugar Icing
1/2 cup butter
1 Cup of packed brown sugar 2cups of sifted confectionary sugar
1/4 cup milk
In saucepan melt butter, add brown sugar.Bring to a boil and lower heat to med. low and continue to boil for 2 min.stirring constantly,add milk and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm and gradually add sifted confectioner's sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick you can add a bit of warm water.

I don't know what age girls will be doing the frosting, or the age of the birthday guest of honor, but without offending anyone, could I just say...

The brown sugar frosting is yummy, and I'd use it for lunches, for having someone over for coffee, but for presentation - a little boring. Brown crowns? Not exactly exciting for a party theme if that was important.
At my house, taste would win out and 90% of the time pretty wouldn't be important - I occasionally make exceptions.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I use royal icing, too. I use the Wilton's squeeze bottles (intended for candy melts) for the icing colors. I make the icing rather thin, flood the outlined cookies, add another color or two and run a toothpick through the colors to marbelize.

Royal icing doesn't really taste of anything but sweet, but it dries hard and glossy.

These are some I made for my sister's wedding, the photo doesn't really show the colors that well (light and dark pink on white):

I use a glace icing. We like the taste better than Royal icing, but it dries hard enough that you can stack cookies iced with RI. I will say that you can get more detail with Royal.

But when I'm in a hurry, I just use buttercream. Those cookies are plainer, but still delicious.

I meant to say... the glace icing dries hard enough that you can stack cookies iced with it.

Thank you everyone for all the recipes and tips. The guests of honor will be my little granddaughter and a little boy from our church and they are both turning one year old within four days of each other. The theme of the party is princess and prince. Their Mothers and aunt will be doing the decorating. I only will be baking them. They are planning a lunch right after church along with the party things. I will be busy preparing a lot of the food that will be served. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of the pretty cookies you have posted. If you have any more ideas please post them. Thank you all.

Sue