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    Home » Dessert » Frosting » Powdered Sugar Glaze

    Powdered Sugar Glaze

    Published: Aug 19, 2020 · Modified: May 31, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This easy Powdered Sugar Glaze recipe has only three ingredients! It’s the perfect icing for cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and donuts.

    sweet delicious powdered sugar glaze drizzled into the bowl

    We use this same recipe to make a glaze for cake and donuts, as well as icing for cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies. It can easily be thinned and thickened or flavored and tinted.

    What You’ll Find In This Post

    • What You’ll Need To Make Powdered Sugar Glaze
    • How To Make A Glaze
    • Other Ways To Make It
      • Chocolate Powdered Sugar Glaze
      • Flavored Powdered Sugar Glaze
      • Butter Instead of Cream
    • What is the best way to tint powdered sugar icing?
    • Make Ahead and Storage
    • Ways To Use Powdered Sugar Glaze
    • What Others Want To Know
    • How To Make Glaze Without Powdered Sugar
    • More Frosting Recipes
    Three labeled ingredients in small bowls.

    What You’ll Need To Make Powdered Sugar Glaze

    This basic powdered sugar glaze is made of powdered sugar and half-n-half, and you can take it up a notch by adding a dab of vanilla extract.

    • Sugar: Powdered sugar, which is also known as confectioners sugar and icing sugar, is made of finely ground sugar. It also contains a small amount of corn starch to prevent clumping. It works well in this easy glaze recipe because it dissolves into the half-and-half, making the icing smooth.
    • Cream: I prefer using half-n-half, which is known as half cream in some places, in this recipe. It is thinner than heavy cream, so you don’t need as much. Yet, it is thicker than milk and gives the glaze a richer flavor.
    • Vanilla: I always add a little vanilla extract for flavoring.
    powdered sugar glaze ingredients in a bowl

    How To Make A Glaze

    To make a glaze icing, simply put the powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl and stir to combine.

    stirring the glaze in a bowl

    I use a whisk to combine the powdered sugar glaze, but a fork or a spoon would work too. Just keep stirring until the icing is smooth. Remember that at first, it will seem like there isn’t enough liquid, but keep stirring, and it will become smooth!

    a whisk in a bowl of white glaze

    If your powdered sugar glaze is too thick, stir in more half-n-half a teaspoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you desire.

    On the other hand, if the confectioners’ glaze is too thin, you can add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the right consistency.

    Chocolate powdered sugar glaze.

    Other Ways To Make It

    Chocolate Powdered Sugar Glaze

    You can easily use the recipe to make a chocolate powdered sugar glaze! This variation is delicious on chocolate donuts and bundt cakes.

    • Sift together one cup of powdered sugar and two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Add 2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons of half-n-half and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
    • Whisk until smooth. You can add more cream if the mixture is too thick.
    • For a creamier, smoother texture, you can also stir in two tablespoons of melted butter.

    Flavored Powdered Sugar Glaze

    When I make this recipe for glaze for cake and sugar cookies, I typically use vanilla extract as the flavoring. But other extracts or flavorings can be used instead of vanilla, depending on how you plan to use the icing. Try using almond extract, coconut flavoring, maple flavoring, peppermint extract, or banana flavoring.

    Another option for making flavored glazes is to substitute the half-n-half with another liquid. For lemon glaze, use lemon juice instead of half-n-half. If you want an orange flavor, substitute orange juice.

    Butter Instead of Cream

    You can use melted butter instead of cream for a buttery-flavored frosting! But keep in mind that this glaze will be more yellow in color.

    • Melt four tablespoons of butter in a medium bowl.
    • Add one cup of powdered sugar, one tablespoon of hot water, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
    • Whisk the mixture until smooth. Add more hot water, a little at a time, as needed.
    baked sugar cookies

    What is the best way to tint powdered sugar icing?

    I always use gel paste food coloring to tint this sugar glaze icing recipe. Gel food coloring adds intense color without changing the consistency of icings and frostings. Tinted powder sugar icing is perfect for frosting sugar cookies during the holidays. Check out my sugar cookie icing guide for lots of tips and ideas! This is how my mom taught me to make icing for sugar cookies when I was a kid, and it is still the easiest way to frost them!

    two bottles of vanilla extract

    On the other hand, if you want a truer white icing glaze or frosting, instead of tinting it a color, use a clear vanilla extract. It is a clear flavoring, unlike pure vanilla extract, which is dark brown in color.

    dipping a cinnamon donut stick in the powdered sugar glaze

    Make Ahead and Storage

    Make Ahead: Powdered sugar glaze only takes a couple of minutes to whip up, but there are times when it is more convenient to make it ahead of time. This is especially true when you are decorating sugar cookies and need to make multiple colors. You can mix it up and then store it until you are ready to use it.

    Room Temperature: You can store it in an airtight, sealed container at room temperature for up to two days.

    Refrigerator: Store the confectioners sugar icing in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Allow it to come to room temperature, and then stir it until smooth. Add more cream if needed.

    Freezer: You can store it in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bring it to room temperature and then stir it until it is smooth again. Add more half-n-half as needed.

    Powdered sugar icing being drizzled onto a bundt cake.

    Ways To Use Powdered Sugar Glaze

    This cake glaze recipe is perfect for all of your baked goods! You can drizzle it on top of cakes, spread it over cinnamon rolls, or use it as a dip.

    • Dip – It makes a great dip for donut sticks, churros, and apple fritters.
    • Icing – Use it as icing for sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, and pumpkin cookies.
    • Drizzle – This is a delicious drizzle icing that will harden on baked goods! Use a spoon to drizzle it over cinnamon rolls, cinnamon coffee cake, pumpkin scones, and pumpkin bundt cake.
    Powdered sugar glaze being drizzled onto a coffee cake.

    What Others Want To Know

    Is powdered sugar glaze made with milk, half-n-half, or heavy cream?

    You can use either milk, half-n-half, or heavy cream to make powdered sugar icing. Since milk is the thinnest, you will need a bit less than you would if using heavy cream. And the opposite is true; if you use heavy cream, you will need to use a bit more.

    How to make powdered sugar?

    You can make homemade powdered sugar if you don’t have any on hand! Put one cup of granulated sugar and one tablespoon of corn starch in a food processor or high-speed blender. Pulse for about 30 seconds or until it reaches the consistency of confectioners’ sugar.

    What is the difference between confectioners sugar and powdered sugar?

    Confectioners sugar, powdered sugar, and icing sugar are all the same kind of sugar.

    How To Make Glaze Without Powdered Sugar

    Another commonly asked question is how to make glaze without powdered sugar. You can make it in the same way you make simple syrup: with granulated sugar and water. Or you can use another liquid, such as lemon juice, milk, or cream, instead of water. This type of glaze is thinner than powdered sugar glaze, and it will harden on your baked goods as it cools.

    • You’ll need two parts sugar to one part liquid. So, for example, use 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of water.
    • Heat the sugar and water (or other liquid) in a saucepan on the stovetop until the sugar is melted without bringing it to a boil. You can also warm it in the microwave.
    • Add vanilla extract or another flavoring after removing it from the heat.
    • Then, slowly pour the granulated sugar glaze over your coffee cake, pound cake, or bundt cake, allowing it to soak in as you go.
    a whisk stirring the glaze

    More Frosting Recipes

    • Cream Cheese Frosting is very smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
    • Buttercream Frosting is so good that you’ll never use store-bought frosting again!
    • Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe is light and airy while still holding its shape.
    • Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting melts in your mouth!
    • Glace Icing is similar to powdered sugar glaze, but it also includes corn syrup for a shinier, smoother finish.
    Powdered sugar glaze.

    Powdered Sugar Glaze

    This easy Powdered Sugar Glaze recipe has only three ingredients! It's the perfect icing for cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and donuts.
    4.46 from 42 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
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    Equipment

    Vanilla Extract, 16 Fl Oz
    Piano Wire Whip

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon half-n-half
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Put all of the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
    • Store any leftover glaze in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    Video

    Notes

    One: Storage

    Store in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

    Two: Thickness

    If it is too thick, stir in more half-n-half a teaspoon at a time. Or if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time.

    Three: Chocolate

    Sift together 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Add 2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons of half-n-half and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Stir in 2 tablespoons of melted butter for a creamier texture.

    Four: Flavored

    Use a flavored extract such as almond, maple, or peppermint instead of vanilla. Or replace some of the cream with lemon juice, orange juice, or lime juice.

    Five: Butter

    Whisk together 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon hot water, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

    Six: Glaze Without Powdered Sugar

    Heat 1 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water (or lemon juice or milk) in a saucepan on the stovetop (or in a bowl in the microwave), stirring often until the sugar is melted. Do not bring it to a boil. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract after removing it from the heat. Slowly pour over a cake allowing it to soak in as you go.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.01mg
    Course: Frosting
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

    More Frosting

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      Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
    • cream cheese buttercream on a cupcake and in a piping bag
      Cream Cheese Buttercream
    • dyed glace icing in small bowls
      Glace Icing
    • collage of decorated sugar cookie photos
      Sugar Cookies Icing Guide

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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