Name: Glaze
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); 3 cups powdered sugar; 3 tablespoons heavy cream (or whole milk); 2 teaspoons extract (vanilla, almond, lemon, orange or your favorite)

Luxuriously smooth Glaze takes baked goods to the next level! It’s the most effortless way to decorate a cake, but don’t stop there! Mix up this easy glaze recipe in minutes with just 3 ingredients to drizzle or dip desserts, doughnuts, breads, muffins and more!

Glaze Recipe

Also known as Cake Glaze, Powdered Sugar Glaze, Icing Sugar Glaze, Confectioner’s Sugar Glaze and Pound Cake Glaze. Whatever you call it, it’s easy, adaptable and delicious!

Sweeten your favorite desserts with silky smooth glaze adding a soft, delightful bite. It sets and slices beautifully with a picture perfect glossy finish.

Elevate bundt cakes, pound cakes, angel food cakes, cookies, muffins, doughnuts, breads, cinnamon rolls and more – just mix, warm and pour! I pour it on just about everything…it’s the icing on the cake!

This easy recipe is made with 3 staple ingredients so you can mix it up on a whim!

Pound cake slice covered in a pound cake glaze.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Butter – Butter is the base of this recipe contributing to its incredible flavor, soft, supple texture, and beautiful bite, setting just enough to slice.
Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners sugar, icing sugar or icing powder is fine, fluffy sugar that easily dissolves, resulting in a smooth consistency.
Heavy Cream or Whole Milk – High fat content adds flavor and smooth, creamy texture.

How to Make Glaze without Powdered Sugar

If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can make powdered sugar with white granulated sugar or brown sugar.

If you are allergic to starch (potato or corn) used in store-bought powdered sugar to prevent clumps, you can make glaze on the stovetop.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, add butter and white granulated sugar. Whisk to combine until all sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Whisk in milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until you achieve desired consistency. Add extract.

How to Make Glaze

Powdered sugar glaze is foolproof. Customize your glaze by adding powdered sugar a half cup at a time to achieve the desired consistency or adding more heavy cream or milk as needed.

In a medium mixing bowl, add ingredients and beat until smooth.
Add optional extract or zest.

To make it pourable, warm in microwave for 20-30 seconds or on the stovetop.

Test Kitchen Tip

Bring baked goods to room temperature before topping with glaze to prevent it from melting.

How to Store Glaze

Room Temperature – Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days for maximum freshness
Refrigerator – Store refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.
Freezer – Glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer up to three months. However, it’s so quick and easy to make, I recommend making fresh when possible.

5 from 78 votes

Click stars ↑ to rate and leave a review!

Glaze

By Julie Blanner

Elevate your favorite cakes, muffins, breads, cookies and more with this foolproof, 5 star easy glaze recipe!

Prep: 5

Total: 5

Servings:

Pin Rate Print

Ingredients

▢ 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
▢ 3 cups powdered sugar
▢ 3 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk

Optional

▢ 2 teaspoons extract vanilla, almond, lemon, orange or your favorite

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl using a spatula or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add butter, powdered sugar and heavy cream or milk and combine on low, gradually increasing speed until smooth. Fold in vanilla extract or your favorite.
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Make it Pourable

In a microwavable carafe or jar, warm 20-30 seconds, stir and pour over cooled baked goods.

Julie’s Tips

Avoid “organic powdered sugar” which tends to be clumpy and not combine well.

If powdered sugar is lumpy, sift first for a smooth appearance, texture and consistency.

When substituting heavy cream with milk, add 1 tablespoon at a time. Lighter milk is thinner, requiring less.

Customize to your favorite consistency adding powdered sugar a half cup at a time or adding more heavy cream/whole milk to thin.

Customize the flavor by adding your favorite extract or zest.

Bring baked goods to room temperature before glazing.

Foolproof Adjustments

Thin Glaze – Add more powdered sugar
Thick Glaze – Add more heavy cream or milk or warm to pour.

Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or in the refrigerator up to 1 week. It can be stored in an airtight container in a freezer bag in the freezer up to 3 months.

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

Explore More

Popular Glaze Recipes

Frostings & Glazes

83 Comments