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This powdered sugar icing is the easiest glaze ever! Simply mix powdered sugar and milk, then drizzle on cookies, breads, and cakes. It takes just 1 minute to whip up! (Vegan variation included.)
Get ready for the easiest icing recipe: powdered sugar icing! It’s just two ingredients and comes together in a flash, perfect for drizzling onto cookies, muffins, and quick breads to give them a little flair.
Alex and I originally developed this icing to use on our pumpkin oatmeal cookies. Over the past few years, used it on so many more recipes, from strawberry bread to muffins of all kinds. We’ve also created fun flavored spins like lemon glaze and chocolate glaze. Here’s how to make this quick and easy recipe!
How to make powdered sugar icing
There’s only one basic step to powdered sugar icing. Here’s what to do (or see the full recipe below):
- Mix together powdered sugar and milk. Stir together ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk until all the lumps dissolve and the texture is smooth. This makes ¼ cup powdered sugar icing. If it’s too thin you can add a little more sugar, or if it’s too thick you can add a hint more milk.
- Drizzle on cookies or muffins. Make sure that the cookies or muffins are fully to room temperature, otherwise the icing will melt. That’s it!
The best way to drizzle
You might think the easiest way to drizzle powdered sugar icing would be with a spoon. But because you can load quite a bit of icing onto a spoon, it come out really fast in a big chunk instead of a thin strip.
Instead, drizzling icing with a fork gives you the best control and helps you make a perfectly thin lines. You can also pipe icing using a pastry bag. But this powdered sugar icing is the type meant for drizzling on cookies, muffins, and Bundt cakes: and using a fork is the easiest way to do it!
Vegan variation
You can make this powdered sugar icing vegan as well! Substitute your favorite non-dairy milk for the dairy milk, like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Keep in mind, almond milk has a more watery texture than dairy milk. So start with a little less milk than you would with dairy, and add just enough to get it to a drizzle-able consistency.
Ways to use powdered sugar icing
This icing is great on a variety of baked goods! Here are a few of our recipes it pairs well with:
- Cookies like Almond Thumbprint Cookies or Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Muffins like Banana Muffins, Apple Muffins with Streusel or Blueberry Muffins
- Quick breads like Zucchini Bread, Applesauce Bread, or our Best Banana Bread Recipe.
- Cakes like Lemon Cake or Applesauce Cake
Dietary notes
This powdered sugar icing recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Powdered sugar icing, also known as glaze or frosting, is a simple and versatile icing made with powdered sugar, liquid (such as milk, water, or juice), and sometimes flavoring like vanilla extract or almond extract.
Powdered sugar icing is a thinner, simpler icing that is typically used for drizzling or spreading over baked goods. Royal icing, on the other hand, is made with egg whites and has a thicker, more stable consistency that can be piped and used for decorating.
We suggest using powdered sugar icing immediately after using it. You can store leftover powdered sugar icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, but it’s best freshly made. Before using, allow it to come to room temperature and stir well to restore its smooth consistency.
Powdered Sugar Icing
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 minute
- Yield: ¼ cup icing 1x
Description
This powdered sugar icing is the fastest glaze ever! Simply mix powdered sugar and milk, then drizzle on cookies and cakes. (Vegan variation included.)
Ingredients
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk OR ½ to 1 tablespoon almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk for vegan
Instructions
- Stir together the confectioners’ sugar and milk until a smooth sauce forms and all lumps are dissolved. (If you’re using dairy free milk, start with ½ tablespoon and use just enough until it comes to a drizzleable consistency: most non-dairy milks aren’t as thick as standard milk.)
- To drizzle on cookies or cakes, make sure they are at room temperature or the glaze will melt. Dip a fork into the glaze and drizzle in a zigzag pattern. Let sit at room temperature until the glaze is dry, about 15 minutes.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: Essentials
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