5.0 from 600 votes
Powdered Sugar Icing
This easy, 3-ingredient Powdered Sugar Icing is perfect for bundt cakes, pound cakes, angel food cakes, cookies, and quick breads. A little glaze makes everything look (and taste) even better.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 12 servings (1 tbsp each)
Calories: 81 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar (see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or water (see note 2)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together powdered sugar and vanilla. Add water or milk until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over cooled baked goods or dessert. The glaze will harden in 20 to 30 minutes.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Powdered sugar: Using powdered sugar is important because it dissolves without heat. To make your own, pour granulated sugar into a blender or food processor, then blend the sugar until it is a fine, fluffy powdered sugar.
- Milk: Or water or half-and-half. Add enough for your desired glaze consistency.
- Yield: This recipe makes about 3/4 cup icing (12 tablespoons) depending on how much liquid you add to thin it.
- Lemon icing: Substitute 1/4 cup lemon juice for the milk or water and omit the vanilla extract. Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest if desired.
- Lime icing: Substitute 1/4 cup lime juice for the milk or water and omit the vanilla extract. Add 1 teaspoon lime zest if desired.
- Orange icing: Substitute 1/4 cup orange juice for the milk or water and omit the vanilla extract. Add 1 teaspoon orange zest if desired.
- Almond icing: Substitute 1/2 teaspoon almond extra for the vanilla extract.
- Light icing: Mix 1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon low-fat milk and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
- Does powdered sugar icing need to be refrigerated? No, even if you use milk in your icing. The small amount of milk is stabilized by the large amount of sugar and is considered safe at room temperature for two to three days. Always refrigerate any cake with a frosting that contains eggs or egg whites, or one that has whipped-cream frosting or any type of filling.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1tbsp
Calories
81kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Cholesterol
1mg
(0%)
Sodium
2mg
(0%)
Potassium
6mg
(0%)
Sugar
20g
(40%)
Vitamin A
6IU
(0%)
Calcium
4mg
(0%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings (1 tbsp each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 81
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1tbsp | |
| Calories | 81kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 2mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 6mg | 0% |
| Sugar | 20g | 40% |
| Vitamin A | 6IU | 0% |
| Calcium | 4mg | 0% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.