Basic Vanilla Buttercream Glaze Recipe

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A basic vanilla buttercream glaze recipe is a must for every baker! If you want something a little more than a powdered sugar and water glaze, this is the recipe for you. Creamy, buttery and so very simple!

Whether you are lightly frosting a cake, quick bread, donut, cookies or cinnamon roll glaze, this vanilla glaze is perfect!

Having great frosting, buttercream and glaze recipes in your recipe box is essential, like this brown butter glaze, and our favorite fluffy vanilla buttercream.

4-INGREDIENT BUTTERCREAM GLAZE

Simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, gather these and let’s make this simple but amazing vanilla butter glaze:

• BUTTER | it wouldn’t be a butter glaze without the butter, I used salted, if you use unsalted, add a pinch of salt.
• POWDERED SUGAR |that fluffy sweet, white stuff, aka confectioners sugar and icing powder.
• VANILLA EXTRACT | Real vanilla extract is important here! I also love using vanilla bean paste, or a teaspoon of each.
• HEAVY CREAM | binds everything together, adding to that creamy texture and taste. If no heavy cream, half and half or whole milk may be used.

HOW TO MAKE VANILLA BUTTER GLAZE

1. In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, add all ingredients, beat on low until combined.
2. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth.

At this point it’s a light, airy, buttercream, which is perfect to ice a cake or quick bread, but keep reading to see how to make this into a pourable icing.

HOW TO MAKE BUTTERCREAM AN ICING GLAZE

• Simply place buttercream glaze into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stirring until desired pourable consistency.

VARIATIONS FOR BASIC GLAZE RECIPE

Variations are the spice of life!

• Use a different flavor extract | for instance, you might try Bourbon Vanilla, Lemon Extract, Peppermint extract, Orange Extract, Almond Extract and Maple extract. Substitute teaspoon for teaspoon.
• ADD ZEST | Zest one lemon or an orange and toss it in during mixing, adds a bright and beautiful zing!
• ADD COLOR |Add a drop or two of food coloring (I like all natural food colorings)

TIPS FOR THE BEST VANILLA GLAZE

• Use immediately! Glazes will harden as they cool. If glaze hardens on you, simply stir in a teaspoon or two more of cream, stir and then microwave until pourable once again.
• Pour onto COOLED Baked Goods | For a visible glaze or icing on the cake, make sure your baked goods are cooled completely.
• Soaking a Cake | Some cakes use a glaze on the hot cake (like this Kentucky Butter Cake), the warm buttery glaze soaks into the cake giving it a sweet, slightly crunchy texture.
• USE REAL BUTTER | In all baking recipes, it is important to use real, creamery butter. If your butter is soft directly out of the fridge it is not real butter, but a blend!
• Storage | Store leftover icing glaze in the refrigerator in an airtight container, up to 7 days. Warm in microwave and stir well to use.
• SPRINKLES | I love sprinkles, if using, sprinkle quickly after drizzling as this buttercream glaze will harden rather quickly

SERVING SUGGESTIONS FOR VANILLA GLAZE

The list is limited only by our imaginations!

• Slather a little of this vanilla glaze on top of canned or store bought cinnamon rolls to spruce them up.
• Pour over the top of your favorite quick breads to add a dessert like flare.
• Drizzle butter glaze on top of your favorite cake or bundt cake recipe, like this Easy Chocolate Cake!

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Basic Vanilla Buttercream Glaze Recipe

Author: Kathleen Pope

4.80 from 15 votes

A basic vanilla buttercream glaze recipe is a must for every baker! If you want something a little more than a powdered sugar and water glaze, this is the recipe for you. Creamy, buttery and so very simple!

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Frosting

Cuisine American

Servings 1 Glaze to cover 1 Bundt Cake

Calories 2179 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  7-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Turbo Beater II Accessories and Pro Whisk – Contour Silver
• ▢
  Silicone Spatula Set – Heat Resistant BPA FREE
• ▢
  Anchor Hocking 2 Quart Glass Batter Bowl With Lid 

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 6 tablespoons butter, melted (salted or unsalted may be used, if using unsalted add a pinch of salt)
• ▢ 3 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, see additional extract suggestions in notes
• ▢ 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream, half and half, whole milk may be substituted

Instructions

 

• In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, add all ingredients, beat on low until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth.
• At this point it’s a light, airy, buttercream, which is perfect to ice a cake or quick bread, but keep reading to see how to make this into a pourable icing.
• Simply place buttercream glaze into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stirring until desired pourable consistency.

✱ Kathleen’s Tips

Icing Variations

• Use a different flavor extract | for instance, you might try Bourbon Vanilla, Lemon Extract, Peppermint extract, Orange Extract, Almond Extract and Maple extract. Substitute teaspoon for teaspoon.
  ADD ZEST | Zest one lemon or an orange and toss it in during mixing, adds a bright and beautiful zing!
  ADD COLOR |Add a drop or two of food coloring (I like all natural food colorings)

TIPS for the Best Glaze

• Use immediately! Glazes will harden as they cool. If glaze hardens on you, simply stir in a teaspoon or two more of cream, stir and then microwave until pourable once again.
• Pour onto COOLED Baked Goods | For a visible glaze or icing on the cake, make sure your baked goods are cooled completely.
• Soaking a Cake | Some cakes use a glaze on the hot cake (like this Kentucky Butter Cake), the warm buttery glaze soaks into the cake giving it a sweet, slightly crunchy texture.
• USE REAL BUTTER | In all baking recipes, it is important to use real, creamery butter. If your butter is soft directly out of the fridge it is not real butter, but a blend!
  Storage | Store leftover icing glaze in the refrigerator in an airtight container, up to 7 days. Warm in microwave and stir well to use.
• SPRINKLES | I love sprinkles, if using, sprinkle quickly after drizzling as this buttercream glaze will harden rather quickly

Serving TIPS

• Slather a little of this vanilla glaze on top of canned or store bought cinnamon rolls to spruce them up.
• Pour over the top of your favorite quick breads to add a dessert like flare.
• Drizzle butter glaze on top of your favorite cake or bundt cake recipe, like this Easy Chocolate Cake!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving Calories: 2179 kcal Carbohydrates: 362 g Protein: 2 g Fat: 84 g Saturated Fat: 54 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g Monounsaturated Fat: 22 g Trans Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 231 mg Sodium: 560 mg Potassium: 82 mg Sugar: 354 g Vitamin A: 2761 IU Vitamin C: 0.3 mg Calcium: 54 mg Iron: 0.3 mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.