Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

This incredibly easy cake glaze recipe requires just four staple ingredients and less than five minutes of time to make. It’s smooth, delightfully sweet, and easy to customize with a variety of extracts.

This is the perfect vanilla cake glaze that is perfect for adding to your favorite bundt cakes, angel food cakes, pound cakes, muffins and even doughnuts.

You’ll found countless ideas for where to use it! It’s such a great little recipe to keep in your back pocket… pretty soon you’ll be making it from memory! It’s that easy!

Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (1)

Table of Contents

  • Pound Cake Glaze
  • What is the Difference Between Glaze and Icing?
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How to Make this Cake Glaze
  • Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • How to Store
  • More Icings
  • Cake Glaze Recipe
  • Explore More

You know the saying, “the icing on the cake”? Well, it’s my belief that the icing is just as important, if not more important than the cake itself. This basic cake glaze recipe never disappoints!

One of the reasons I love using a glaze is that it is beautiful without any effort at all. Just make, warm and pour! It’s such an easy way to elevate your baked goods and add a hit of sweetness.

It really couldn’t be easier to make this yummy glaze! Let’s get started!

Pound Cake Glaze

It’s perfect to decorate cakes for friends and family, as well as occasion cakes.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Make Ahead – With just four ingredients that you likely have on hand.
  • Feeds a Crowd – So easy to throw together for any dessert, and any occasion!
  • Easily Customized – Add an incredible variety of extracts to create citrus flavors and so much more.

“*Chef’s kiss* to you and your glaze recipe. (I used Amaretto instead of vanilla extract for my little almond cakes)”

– Michele

What is the Difference Between Glaze and Icing?

It can be confusing, right? What’s the difference between these toppings… frosting, icing, glaze, and the list goes on!

Icing is quite a bit thinner than frosting, but then not as thin as glaze.

Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2)

In this case, icing and glaze are quite similar. The difference is generally defined not by the ingredients, but by the final consistency. Glaze is liquid enough to be poured, whereas icing is generally spread on.

Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (3)

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference.
  • Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing powder. If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can puree granulated sugar in a food processor until soft and fluffy – read more at the link above.
  • Vanilla Extract – Pure rather than imitation if possible. Even better? Make your own at that link!
  • Heavy Cream – You can substitute milk if needed.

Variations

  • Add Zest – Use lemon or orange zest for a fruity flair.
  • Substitute Extract – You can flavor this recipe in so many ways. A few favorites are with almond extract, lemon extract or orange extract.

How to Make this Cake Glaze

  1. Combine ingredients, beat on medium until smooth.
  2. Warm in microwave 30 seconds to make it a pourable glaze for easy topping.
Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (4)
Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (5)

Tips

  • Use Immediately – Use the glaze as soon as you’ve made it or it will harden.
  • It’s easy to make this glaze in a stand mixer, but if you don’t have one, you can also beat it by hand with a spatula in a large bowl, just make sure everything is well combined with no lumps.
  • For thinner glaze, add more heavy whipping cream. Use a tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you’d like.
  • Allow Baked Goods to Cool – Before glazing your cake, ensure that the cake has full cooled, or the glaze can run off of it.

Make More (or Less!)

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I let my cake cool before glazing?

Yes. Always ensure that your baked goods are cooled completely before glazing or icing. If your cake or muffins are too warm, the glaze will simply melt right off.

How long should a cake cool before glaze?

If you want to cool the cake faster, refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes. Otherwise, let it rest at room temperature for at least an hour before adding your cake glaze.

How long does it take for glaze to harden?

It can take up to thirty minutes for this cake glaze to harden.

Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (7)
Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (8)

Serving Suggestions

This cake glaze recipe is perfect for topping pound cake, angel cake, bundt cake and even doughnuts! Try it on all of these baked goods:

  • Homemade Baked Donuts
  • Valentine Doughnuts
  • Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
  • Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
  • Apple Pound Cake
  • Biscuit Donuts
  • Carrot Cake Muffins
  • The Best Blueberry Bread
  • Cinnamon Roll Bread

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – You can store this cake glaze for up to three days at room temperature.
  • Refrigerator – Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
  • Freezer – You can store this easy cake glaze in the freezer in an airtight container for up to three months. It will last even longer but will start to lose its fresh flavor and quality over time.
Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (9)

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Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (14)

5 from 76 votes

Cake Glaze Recipe

By Julie Blanner

This basic pound cake glaze recipe never disappoints. It's perfect for topping pound cake, angel cake, bundt cake and even doughnuts! It requires just 4 staple ingredients and less than 5 minutes of time to make.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 10

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients, beat on medium until smooth.

  • Warm in microwave 30 seconds to make it a pourable glaze for easy topping.

Julie’s Tips

Substitutions

  • Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference.
  • Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing powder. If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can puree granulated sugar in a food processor until soft and fluffy.
  • Heavy Cream – You can substitute milk if needed.

Variations

  • Add Zest – Use lemon or orange zest for a fruity flair.
  • Substitute Extract – You can flavor this recipe in so many ways. A few favorites are with almond extract, lemon extract or orange extract.

Tips

  • Use Immediately – Use the glaze as soon as you’ve made it or it will harden.
  • It’s easy to make this glaze in a stand mixer, but if you don’t have one, you can also beat it by hand with a spatula in a large bowl, just make sure everything is well combined with no lumps.
  • For thinner glaze, add more heavy whipping cream. Use a tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you’d like.
  • Allow Baked Goods to Cool – Before glazing your cake, ensure that the cake has full cooled, or the glaze can run off of it.

To Store

  • Refrigerate –Store refrigerated in an airtight container. Warm and stir well to use.

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 63mg | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 280IU | Calcium: 5mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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Easy Four Ingredient Pound Cake Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

FAQs

What is glaze made of cake? ›

A glaze is usually drizzled onto a cake or applied with a pastry brush to give a glisten to pastries. Glazes also add a glassine look to fruit pies and tarts. A basic glaze contains powdered' sugar and a liquid such as water or milk.

What is cake mirror glaze made of? ›

Chocolate Mirror Glaze – or Glacage Chocolat in French – is the most stunning of all cake glazes! Made with a simple mixture of cocoa, cream, sugar, water and gelatine, it's used to make Mirror Cakes like this elegant Chocolate Glazed Mirror Cake with layers of chocolate cake and chocolate ganache.

Can you make glaze without powdered sugar? ›

To make icing without icing sugar, start by grinding granulated white sugar in a blender for 5 minutes or until it feels fine and powdery. Then, pour the sugar into a bowl and whisk it to make it fluffier and clump-free. Once you've whisked the sugar, just use it as a substitute for icing sugar in your recipe!

Does lemon glaze need to be refrigerated? ›

How to Store and Keep Lemon Glaze. Store any leftover glaze in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. To use the refrigerated glaze on a future dessert, let it come to room temperature and whisk to recombine, or heat in a microwave until it has a pourable consistency.

What are the 3 basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

What are the 4 components of glaze? ›

GLAZE COMPONENTS
  • Glass former- silica (SiO2), melting point 3119 degrees Fahrenheit. (RO2)
  • Flux- lowers the melting point of silica; provides the great variety of surfaces in ceramic glazes. ...
  • Stabilizer- alumina, keeps the glaze on a vertical surface; stiffens the melt. (
Jul 15, 2019

What is the difference between glaze and mirror glaze? ›

In fact the Mirror Glaze is very similar to the Glaze Toppings, with 2 important differences: first, the Mirror Glaze is best used over a frozen cake and secondly, it can also be applied to the side of the cake. So we often see this product used for a mirror layer over dome cakes.

How to make a cake glossy? ›

Confectioner's glaze is the easiest product to use to give your fondant a pearly shine. Usually the glaze comes in a ready-to-use spray can, which makes application quick and easy, especially on larger cakes.

What makes mirror glaze shiny? ›

It's all about the magic of gelatin. Thanks to this magical ingredient, you can transform the entire surface of your cake into a glimmeringly mirror-like, out-of-this-world masterpiece. (We're not kidding when we say “out-of-this-world”—the glaze looks something like a far-off galaxy.)

What can be used as a glaze? ›

It may be either sweet or savory (in pâtisserie, the former is known as glaçage); typical glazes include brushed egg whites, some types of icing, and jam (as in nappage), and may or may not include butter, sugar, milk, oil, and fruit or fruit juice.

Can you make a glaze with regular sugar? ›

Combine granulated sugar, water and salt in 1-quart saucepan. Stir over heat until sugar dissolves. boil, without stirring to 230 degrees F or thread stage.

What happens if you use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar? ›

"Regular sugar has a larger crystal size than powdered sugar," he explains. "This means, cup for cup, there would be more sugar in a cup of powdered sugar than in a cup of regular sugar." In addition to inconsistent measurements, regular sugar won't dissolve and mix as well into recipes like frosting and icing.

Should you glaze a cake hot or cold? ›

Cool the cake or pastries completely before glazing. Warm baked goods will make the glaze too runny, and it may soak into the crust, making the cake soggy. Brush away any loose crumbs on the cake or pastries before decorating.

Is confectioners sugar the same as powdered sugar? ›

Although the terms are often colloquially used interchangeably, they are not the same. Powdered sugar is similar to confectioners' sugar but without the cornstarch. Because the words are often mistaken for each other, you will even find "powdered sugar" in the grocery store that is actually confectioners' sugar.

What's the best way to drizzle icing over a cake? ›

Use a spoon rather than a piping bag.

A piping bag results in a spindly drizzle rather than more organic flowing drips that create the imperfect effect we are after, so a small serving spoon is best for the job.

What is a glaze on a cake? ›

Purpose: Typically a thin, shiny coating for pastries, cakes, and doughnuts. Texture and Ingredients: Thin and runny, made from powdered sugar and a liquid like water, milk, or fruit juice. Thin enough to be poured - about the consistency of a thin corn syrup.

What's the difference between frosting and glaze? ›

Frosting typically has a butter or cream cheese base, while icing and glaze are made from powdered sugar and water, juice, or milk. So if the taste is fattier or creamier, it's probably frosting.

What exactly is a glaze? ›

: a transparent or translucent color applied to modify the effect of a painted surface. c. : a smooth glossy or lustrous surface or finish. 3. : a glassy film.

What is food glaze made from? ›

Confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac, is a resin secreted by the female lac insect. Shellac is commonly used as a wood varnish and it is also used as a coating on candies.

References

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