This easy powdered sugar icing uses only 3 ingredients and is the perfect way to elevate your cookies, cakes and muffins.
Looking for more frosting recipes? Check out my buttercream frosting, sugar cookie icing and gingerbread house icing.
Table of Contents
Powdered Sugar Icing Ingredients
That is all it takes to make an icing you can use on a variety of baked goods.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Heavy cream: Or whole milk, the higher the fat content, the thicker the icing will be. Thin icing to desired consistency by adding the cream or milk little by little.
- Powdered sugar: This is sugar ground up to a powder and usually contains cornstarch to act as an anti-clumping agent. Even still, make sure to sift it to guarantee a smoother glaze.
- Vanilla extract: I use pure vanilla extract. For a pure white glaze, use a clear vanilla extract.
Variations
- Citrus: You can make a lemon icing, lime icing or even orange glaze. Just replace the milk with 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, lime juice or orange juice and omit the vanilla. Add citrus zest as desired.
- Extract: For a almond icing, substitute almond extract for the vanilla. You can also use coconut extract, lemon extract or butter extract.
- Chocolate: Add unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate version.
- Fresh berries: Add 1/4 cup pureed strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.
- Colored icing: Tint your powdered sugar icing by adding any food coloring or gel food coloring you would like.
- Seasonal: Add a pinch of cinnamon sugar or pumpkin pie spice to add a warm flavor to the icing or sprinkle on after glazing.
- Light icing: Use a low-fat milk. Increase vanilla extract for added flavor.
How to Make Icing with Powdered Sugar
If you can stir, you can make this powdered sugar glaze. Just be sure to get the right consistency by adjusting the amount of liquid, if needed.
- Combine: Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl and add heavy cream (or whole milk) and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- Add: If you are finding it too thick, add more cream a teaspoon at a time, as needed. You want it on the thicker side, otherwise, it will run off of your baked goods!
- Use immediately: Once your cookies, muffins, donuts, quick bread or other baked goods have cooled, drizzle the icing over top using a spoon.
Expert Tips
- Yield: This icing makes about 3/4 cup glaze or 12 Tablespoons. This could differ depending on how thin or thick you make it.
- If it thickens: If your icing starts to stiffen, whisk it vigorously to bring back to smooth consistency.
- Piping the icing: If you’re wanting to decorate using a piping bag, make your own by placing the icing in a zip-top bag and snip the end to create a small opening. Best used immediately while nice and smooth!
- Add after baked goods cool completely: If you do this while they are still hot, the icing will thin out almost completely and drip right off the baked good.
Favorite Ways to Use the Icing
This glaze tastes delicious on sweet recipes like pound cakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, donuts, quick bread, and scones. I even love it as as an easy sugar cookie icing!
Recipe FAQs
The names can be confusing, but powdered sugar, icing sugar, confectioner’s sugar, confectioners sugar and 10x sugar are one and same thing and can be used interchangeably.
Absolutely! For a dairy-free alternative and vegan version of this powdered sugar glaze recipe, simply use water in place of the heavy cream. You can also use oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk or almond milk.
If you need to avoid powdered sugar because of allergies, you can use granulated sugar but it will need to be melted on the stove and you may need to add a pinch of flour to thicken it. Brown sugar can be used but will need to be blended to a fine consistency.
No, even if you use milk. This glaze will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. The small amount of milk is preserved by a large amount of sugar and will remain safe. If your frosting contains eggs, egg whites, cream cheese or has whipped cream this is when refrigeration is required.
More easy frosting recipes to try include chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting and cream cheese frosting.
More Easy Icing Recipes
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Powdered Sugar Icing
Video
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 powdered sugar, heavy cream and 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.
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Thank you so much.love this on my cakes and cookies, so does my granddaughters.
So glad you enjoy the frosting Elizabeth :)
This icing is literally great for everything! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe with me!
This came out perfect following your directions! Thank you!! So so easy!
We are making this icing all December long!! It’s quick & easy & makes everything taste so good!!
Easy and just added strawberry extract. 🍓
Simple, easy, delicious. My Vanilla extract turned it a slight cream/yellow tint. Any ideas on how to keep it milky white?
You can use a clear vanilla extract so that it doesn’t change the color of the icing :)
It sounds super easy but I do have one question can you actually make it with skim milk or with half and half instead of whole milk?
The flavor may not be as rich, but that should work!
Great recipe – I made it last weekend for our family and it was a hit!
The possibilities are endless on what you can use this on! Thanks for the storing tips so we get the most out of it.
My daughter loves this icing on almost everything! So delicious and yummy!