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    Home » Lemon Glaze (Lemon Icing)

    Lemon Glaze (Lemon Icing)

    Published: Mar 17, 2023 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This lemon glaze is easy to make in one bowl with 4 ingredients. With a bold lemon flavor and hints of vanilla, this delicious lemon icing can be used top of cookies, cakes, etc.

    Lemon Glaze on top of lemon cookies

    When it comes to desserts, I am usually a chocolate person. But one non-chocolate flavor that I cannot resist is lemon!

    This lemon glaze is easy to make with 4 ingredients and is absolutely irresistible. With a rich lemon flavor and notes of vanilla, it takes any dessert from good to wow!

    Use it on top of your favorite cakes (like this lemon poppy seed cake, regular poppy seed cake, etc.) and cookies (sugar cookies) and of course - these lemon cookies!

    a bowl of Lemon Glaze

    Lemon Glaze Recipe: Ingredients

    overhead photo of the ingredients in this Lemon Glaze Recipe
    • Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice are both great choices.
    • Powdered Sugar. You can make your own refined-sugar free powdered sugar using this recipe.
    • Whole Milk. Heavy cream is a great substitute.
    • Vanilla. you can substitute vanilla bean paste for the vanilla extract.
    a bowl of Lemon Glaze

    How to Make Lemon Icing

    This lemon glaze recipe is so easy to make! We'll walk through the steps together, and don't forget to watch the video.

    Begin by measuring powdered sugar into a large bowl

    powdered sugar in a bowl to make lemon icing

    Then, add the lemon juice, milk and vanilla.

    adding vanilla and milk and lemon juice to powdered sugar to make lemon glaze

    Whisk the ingredients until the mixture is smooth.

    If desired, you can adjust the "thickness" of the glaze in one of two ways:

    1. Thin it out: add more milk.
    2. Make it thicker: add more powdered sugar.
    whisking lemon glaze in a bowl

    Serve

    Use to pour or drizzle over your favorite cakes, cupcakes, or cookies. Here are some suggestions:

    • Use it to glaze this lemon poppy seed cake or sweet poppy seed cake.
    • Glaze this yellow cake or vanilla cupcakes!
    • Spread it on top of these sugar cookies or lemon cookies.

    How to Store Lemon Glaze

    I suggest using the glaze as soon as you make it. You can store it in an airtight container or a piping bag, but it hardens after a while.

    lemon glaze dripping off of a spoon into a bowl of lemon glaze

    Recipe FAQs

    What is lemon glaze made of?

    This recipe has 4 ingredients, powdered sugar, lemon juice, whole milk, and vanilla extract.

    Can you color lemon frosting?

    Yes, you can add a drop of gel food coloring, if desired.

    6 cookies with lemon icing on top

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Lemon Glaze (Lemon Icing)

    Laura
    This lemon glaze is easy to make in one bowl with 4 ingredients. With a bold lemon flavor and hints of vanilla, it's a delicious glaze to use on top of cookies, cakes, etc.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course condiment, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 90 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • whisk
    • glass batter bowl

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Measure powdered sugar into a large bowl
    • Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla and whisk to combine.
    • Use to pour over your favorite cakes, cupcakes, or cookies.

    Video

    Notes

    If desired, you can adjust the "thickness" of the glaze in one of two ways:
    1. Thin it out: add more milk.
    2.  Make it thicker: add more powdered sugar.
    Ingredient Substitutions
    • Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice are both great choices.
    • Powdered Sugar. You can make your own refined-sugar free powdered sugar using this recipe.
    • Whole Milk. Heavy cream is a great substitute.
    • Vanilla. you can substitute vanilla bean paste for the vanilla extract.
    How to Store Lemon Glaze
    I suggest using the glaze as soon as you make it. You can store it in an airtight container or a piping bag, but it hardens after a while.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.5TBSCalories: 90kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.003gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 0.2mgSodium: 1mgPotassium: 6mgFiber: 0.01gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.01mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    The photos in this post were taken by Ginny from In Bloom Bakery!

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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