Icing Sticky Gingerbread

Our answer

Nigella's Sticky Gingerbread (from Christmas) can be dusted with icing sugar (confectioners' sugar) or topped with a glace icing made from icing sugar and lemon juice. Usually the icing will stay white, however it sounds as if some of the dark colour of the cake bled into the icing.

Make sure that the cake is completely cold before spreading over the icing as this will reduce the risk of any transfer of colour. Also make sure that the cake is stored somewhere cool and dry. You could also try making the icing a thicker consistency (add the lemon juice and then any water a teaspoon at a time until the icing is thick but spreadable) or you could try using a royal icing instead. In the UK it is easy to buy royal icing powder and Nigella's introduction to the Edible Christmas Tree Decorations recipe on the Nigella website gives a recipe for royal icing made with meringue powder (dried egg whites).