Petits Fours Icing - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring (use clear if you don't want it to tint the icing)
4 cups approx. powdered sugar
food coloring (optional)

Preparation

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, hot water, and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 5 to 9 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Cook until thermometer registers 226 degrees, stirring only when necessary to prevent sticking. Remove saucepan from the heat. Cool at room temperature, WITHOUT STIRRING, to 110 degrees (allow about 1 hour).
Add vanilla flavoring. Stir in enough powdered sugar to make the icing of drizzling consistency. If necessary, beat the icing with a rotary beater or wire whisk to remove any lumps. If desired, stir in a few drops of food coloring.