This powdered sugar icing is the easiest way to finish off your favorite baked goods. Just 3 ingredients, one bowl, and 5 minutes is all you need for this quick glaze.

Powdered sugar icing in a white bowl ready to drizzle over baked goods.

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Easy to Make Powdered Sugar Icing

Powdered sugar icing is one of the easiest ways to add a sweet finish to your baked goods. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a quick icing that’s perfect for drizzling over cookies, cakes, or sweet breads.

Making a powdered sugar glaze is easier than making buttercream frosting and is very similar to sugar cookie icing or a classic gingerbread house icing. Looking for something more structured for decorating cookies? Check out my royal icing, which uses egg whites for a firmer finish.

XO - Jamielyn

Ingredient Notes

Powdered sugar icing ingredients including powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Powdered sugar: Finely ground sugar with a little cornstarch to prevent clumping. Sift it before mixing for the smoothest glaze. Also labeled as confectioners sugar or icing sugar at the store, they are all the same thing.
  • Heavy cream: Whole milk works too. The higher the fat content, the thicker and creamier the icing. For dairy-free, oat milk or coconut milk are great swaps.
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract adds the best flavor. Use clear vanilla if you want a bright white glaze.

How to Make Powdered Sugar Icing

If you can stir, you can make this vanilla powdered sugar icing recipe. Just be sure to get the right consistency by adjusting the amount of liquid, if needed.

Whisking together powdered sugar icing in a bowl.
  1. Combine: Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl, then add the heavy cream and vanilla. Stir until completely smooth.
  2. Adjust: Too thick? Add more cream a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. You want it slightly thick so it doesn’t run right off your baked goods.
  3. Drizzle: Once your cookies, muffins, donuts, or quick bread have fully cooled, drizzle the icing over the top with a spoon or piping bag. Never drizzle on warm baked goods or it will slide right off.

Recipe Tips

  • Yield: This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of icing, enough for roughly 12 servings. Keep in mind the final amount will vary depending on how thick or thin you make it.
  • Too thick? Add milk or cream a tablespoon at a time and stir until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Too thin? Add a few tablespoons of powdered sugar and stir until smooth.
  • Want a spreadable frosting instead? If you’re looking for something thicker with butter, my sugar cookie frosting is the one you want.

Variations

  • Citrus: Swap the milk for 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice and skip the vanilla. Add a little zest for extra flavor. So good drizzled over these glazed lemon cookies!
  • Almond: Replace the vanilla with almond extract for a slightly nutty, bakery-style flavor. Try it on these almond cookies for a perfect pairing.
  • Cream Cheese: Stir in a little softened cream cheese for a tangier, richer cream cheese glaze.
  • Strawberry: Add strawberry jam for a fruity pink glaze that’s as pretty as it is delicious. We use this method on our strawberry bread and these strawberry brownies.
  • Colored: Add a drop or two of gel food coloring to tint this any color you like. Perfect for decorating Christmas sugar cookies for the holidays.
Easy 3-ingredient powdered sugar glaze in a bowl.

More easy frosting recipes to try include chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting and cream cheese frosting.

More Easy Icing Recipes

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Whisking together powdered sugar icing in a bowl.

Powdered Sugar Icing

5 from 17 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12
This powdered sugar icing is the easiest way to finish off your favorite baked goods. Just 3 ingredients, one bowl, and 5 minutes is all you need for this quick glaze.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk , more or less as needed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract , plus more to taste
  • Pinch salt (optional)

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
  • Add more cream as needed to thin out the consistency. You want it to be smooth and slightly thicker so that it doesn't run off your baked goods. Taste and add salt or more vanilla, if desired.
  • Drizzle or pipe. Place in a zip-top bag and snip the end or use a spoon to drizzle over the top of cookies, doughnuts, quick breads, or muffins. Best used immediately.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storage: This icing keeps at room temperature for up to 3 days. No refrigeration needed, even if you use milk. The sugar content preserves it just fine.

Nutrition

Calories: 48kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 3mg, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 37IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.01mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.