One of the easiest ways to ice a cake or cookies is to whip up some powdered sugar icing. While some might call it a frosting, it is most certainly more of a glaze.
Chef Jessica Approved ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Simple to make – powdered sugar icing comes together in just minutes with ingredients you likely already have in your refrigerator and pantry. It can be prepared on the fly if a guest pops by and it pairs perfectly with nearly any cake or cookie.
- Whip up quickly – with only three ingredients, you can whip this icing up in nearly no time at all making it a go-to for topping baked goods quickly.
- Change it up easily – there are tons of ways to add various flavors to this simple powdered sugar icing. See our ideas below, or experiment with your own additions.
What You’ll Need
Simple ingredients for this powdered sugar icing will result in the right consistency and best results. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Powdered sugar– Also known as confectioners’ sugar produced by milling granulated sugar, powdered sugar is extremely fine and dissolves well in liquid like the milk in this recipe.
- Vanilla extract– you can make your own homemade vanilla extract or you can grab it at your local grocery store.
- Milk– while you can use lower fat milk, whole milk will work best. For a dairy-free or vegan icing, you can substitute oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. Use more or less to reach your desired consistency.
How to Whip It Up
Making this powdered sugar icing is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Just follow these simple steps.
- Gather Ingredients. Fill a small bowl with the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. Be sure to choose a bowl that allows enough room to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Combine. Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk until smooth. All of the powdered sugar should be fully dissolved in the mixture. Using a whisk is important so that you can incorporate air into the icing while mixing. A whisk also makes for more efficient mixing.
- Frost. Use the icing immediately before it starts to stiffen. It will be easier to spread or drizzle immediately after preparing it.
- Thin, If Needed. If the icing does begin to harden, whisk it vigorously to bring it back to its smooth, thin consistency.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – Salt usually enhances the other flavors of baked goods, this powdered sugar icing doesn’t need it. If you feel it needs some, try topping your icing with some flakey sea salt.
- Seasonings – Instead of pure vanilla extract, use orange, lemon, coconut, almond extract, or even maple for a twist on the original. Especially in the fall, cinnamon sugar can be a perfect addition to create a seasonal sugar icing. Sprinkle it into the icing, or on top after drizzling the icing on cakes or cookies. Pumpkin pie spice is another winner.
- Sauces – A touch of fresh lemon juice or fresh orange juice can add a tang to this simple icing. Other juices like cranberry and apple will work as well. Adjust the powdered sugar to taste after adding the juice.
- Swaps – Add two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to your icing for a chocolatey version. Puree ¼ cup of strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, then combine with the powdered sugar icing. You may want to add more powdered sugar to taste. Use heavy cream instead of milk for a thicker consistency.
- Senses – Powdered sugar icing is silky, sweet, and impossibly smooth. It glides like a satin ribbon over warm pastries, setting with a delicate sheen. The scent is pure vanilla and sugar, light and dreamy. On the tongue, it melts instantly—cool, creamy, and sweet as a whisper, adding a touch of elegance to every bite.
Perfect Pairings
This powdered sugar icing can be used for many purposes.
- Pouring over sugar cookie cut-outs
- Drizzling over cinnamon rolls
- As a quick bread glaze
- Poured over layer cakes
- On pound cakes like our lemon blueberry cake, vanilla pound cake or chocolate pound cake
- Dip for homemade air fryer donuts or donut holes
- Easy cupcake topping
- As a topping for scones or even sugar cookie icing
Storage and Freezing
How to Store
Icing can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. It will harden, so microwave it for 10-15 seconds to soften then vigorously rewhisk.
Can I Freeze Powdered Sugar Icing?
I do not recommend freezing this glaze recipe. It is simple enough with just 3 ingredients to make another batch.
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, and in fact many times they are the same thing. Powdered sugar, confectioners sugar, icing sugar and 10X (in reference to the size) are all milled to the same size grain and can be used interchangeably in recipes.
Without the use of flavor this icing will merely taste like sugar. Using extracts (vanilla, almond, butter), juices (orange, lemon, lime, cranberry), purees (raspberry or blackberry) and sometimes even alcohol (Amaretto or liqueror) will give it better and more robust flavor.
While the names are commonly interchangeably used, they are different. Most notably, buttercreams and frostings use butter or shortening as a base with icings and glazes do not.
No, royal icing uses egg whites or meringue powder. In many recipes they can be used the same, but powdered sugar icing will not hold the same structure like royal icing in cookie decoration unless thickened considerably.
Sure you can! Depending on what kind of treat you use it on, there are endless variations. Use lemon extract and lemon zest to make lemon icing, almond extract will make almond icing, and orange juice or extract will make orange icing. Add it to a piping bag and decorate away!
More Frosting Recipes
Once you have the perfect cake or cupcakes, you need the perfect frosting to go with them! Here are some of our favorites.
Powdered Sugar Icing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and milk until smooth.
- Use immediately before the icing starts to stiffen. To thin, whisk vigorously.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Add1/4 tsp peppermint extract
I made this for a cake at the last minute and was delightfully surprised with how the texture was! I didn’t use the vanilla extract but it was delicious without it
Added coconut extract as well as vanilla (1/4 tsp each) yum!
That sounds fantastic!
I can think of so many ways to use this icing. Thanks for sharing!
This turned out so well! I can see myself making this time and time again.
Such a delicious and versatile glaze! So many uses! I love how easily it comes together too.
What a quick, easy and fabulous icing. I will definitely be using this on cookies, cakes and breakfast pastries.
Just 3 ingredients and tastes amazing. Great for sugar cookies
I definitely needed waaaay more milk than 2 tablespoons. I played around and prob added around 1/4 cup of milk before I had a thick icing I could spread onto gingerbread men!
Wow! I’ve never had to add that much. What type of milk did you use- whole or skim?
I used this icing for cookies and it was great! Perfectly sweet and delicious.
I made some cookies over the weekend and this glaze was the perfect thing to add to them. Thanks for sharing the recipe!