Simple & Easy Vanilla Icing

Hand whisking easy vanilla bean icing for muffins, cakes, cinnamon rolls, scones, and more.

5 from 1 vote

Vanilla Icing is perfectly sweet and adds warm vanilla flavor to your baked goods. Just add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk! Then drizzle it on cakes, cookies, scones, cinnamon rolls, and more.

Prep Time3

Total Time3

Course: Dessert, Sweets

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: cup

Calories: 505kcal

Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoon milk, dairy-free milk, or heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

Instructions

Mix vanilla icing - In a bowl, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla bean paste or extract, and salt until it forms a smooth glaze. If the glaze is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar; if the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk. Use for cakes, scones, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and more.
1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoon milk, dairy-free milk, or heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

Video

Notes

Storage

Refrigerate leftover icing in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week for best results. After 1 week, the icing will lose its texture. You can also freeze the icing in a freezer safe bag for up to 2 months.

Top Tips

Let the baked goods cool before you glaze them. This ensures the glaze won't run off the baked goods or soak into them too much.
Sift the powdered sugar and whisk it the other ingredients thoroughly so there aren't any clumps.
Use high quality powdered sugar. The finer the powdered sugar, the smoother the icing will be.
Use high-quality vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for a true vanilla flavor. We recommend Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste or Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract.
Use heavy cream for a thicker glaze or milk for a thinner glaze.

Nutrition