Powdered Sugar Glaze

Powdered sugar glaze is such an easy recipe that you’ll have it memorized the first time you make it. The humble topping allows baked goods such as cookies, cakes, muffins, biscuits and scones to shine. The nice part? It takes less than five minutes to pull together. You can have fun with this frosting-of-sorts by adding food coloring; that way, you can get artistic with your sweet decors.

Powdered Sugar Glaze Ingredients

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

• Confectioners’ sugar: We use powdered sugar in this glaze recipe because it dissolves easily when mixed with liquid, creating a creamy topping.
• Water: To create the base of this glaze, we add a few tablespoons of water to the powdered sugar.
• Vanilla extract: A few drops of vanilla extract give this confectioners’ sugar glaze some depth of flavor.

Directions   

Step 1: Make and use the glaze

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home 

In a bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, water and vanilla and stir until smooth (it’s OK if the mixture is thick). Add a few drops of food coloring to give this glaze a tint if desired. Then, you can use a butter knife or small metal spatula to lightly spread the glaze on cooled cookies or other baked goods—let the glaze dry and set for an hour.

Diana Rattray for Taste of Home

Powdered Sugar Glaze Recipe Variations 

• Add spices: To give this glaze a pop of flavor, sprinkle in some cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom.
• Make a chocolate glaze: To make the glaze chocolatey, add a few spoonfuls of cocoa powder to this recipe. 
• Use natural food dye: Try using a natural dye for this glaze, add a few drops of beet, orange or spirulina juice or powder.

How to Store Powdered Sugar Glaze

If you have powdered sugar glaze left over from your decorating, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for three to seven days. When you’re ready to use it again, let it come to room temperature first. 

Can you make this glaze ahead of time? 

If you’re hosting a party and plan to decorate cookies, you can make a batch of this glaze in advance. Follow the recipe and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for three to seven days. Then, on the day of your event, let it come to room temperature before using.

Can you freeze this powdered sugar glaze?

If you have leftover glaze, you can store it in the freezer. Put it in an airtight container or a freezer-friendly bag. The glaze will stay fresh for up to two to three months in the freezer.

How long does powdered sugar glaze last? 

The glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three to seven days or frozen for up to two to three months.

Powdered Sugar Glaze Tips

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How can I make a looser version of this powdered sugar glaze?

This recipe yields a product that is thicker in texture and ideal for spreading on cookies. But if you want a glaze better suited for drizzling, add more water to the batter until it reaches your desired consistency.

Can I use granulated sugar for this recipe?

For this recipe, using powdered sugar is essential as it dissolves easily when mixed with liquid, resulting in a smooth consistency. If you’re out of powdered sugar, you can easily create it by blending granulated sugar until it becomes fine. (Psst: Here’s a guide on how to make homemade powdered sugar.)

Is there a difference between powdered and confectioners’ sugar?

While the names differ, there isn’t a vast difference between these two sugars. While confectioner’s sugar sometimes contains cornstarch, you can still use the two sweeteners interchangeably in recipes.