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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.
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
- 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.
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!
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Recipe Card
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!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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.
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.
Notes
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
- 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: 1serving | Calories: 2179kcal | Carbohydrates: 362g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 54g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 231mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 82mg | Sugar: 354g | Vitamin A: 2761IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did you make my Basic Vanilla Buttercream Glaze Recipe?Show it off! Share on Instagram, tag @thefreshcooky, and use the hashtag #thefreshcooky!
Mary
This was exactly what I was looking for! Will definitely try out more flavors of extract in the future, but the texture was perfect! (For the record, it worked totally fine with my “fake” butter. I use Country Crock avocado oil butter that’s dairy free for most things, and it doesn’t make a difference 😉
That’s so great to know Mary, thank you for taking to time to tell us your twist! SO HAPPY it worked so well for you!
Ms C
This buttercream glaze was just what I needed for my Bundt cake!
So happy to hear that, Ms C! Thanks!
Free Clarke
Simply the best! The search is over! This was so easy, and so delicious! Will adapt and use for all of my bakes! Thank you!
Awe thank you so much!!!
Jeanne
This is soooo good! My new go-to glaze recipe!!
Love hearing this Jeanne, thank you so much!
Carol Schafer
Perfect for the vanilla Bundt cake that I made! I didn’t have any lemons, but used bottled lemon juice replacing two tbs of the cream with the juice. Didn’t curdle the cream! Yippee! I’m not a baker but no complaints from my guests! Thanks for sharing! —- Carol
YAY!! So glad you loved it and love that you put your twist on it with the lemon juice! Thanks for your kind comment!
Debbie
I just found this recipe about 2 weeks ago and I’ve already made it 2 times. My kids give it 5 stars
That is high praise from kids. Thanks, Debbie!!
Jared J Zeiders
Fantastix recipe. Poured smoothyl in beautiful ribbons on my bubdt cake. Best bundt cake icing i have tried yet. Double the vanilla for heaven!
Yay!! Thanks Jared! Love that you doubled the vanilla!!!
Shanna
Hi, I wonder if this portable buttercream will work on petite fours? The traditional poured fondant just doesn’t sound very tasty to me.
Hi Shanna, I’m with you not a fan of fondant. I believe it will work, it will be softer than fondant, but give you the same look. I would suggest putting them in the fridge tho to keep it more firm. Good luck, let me know how it goes!!
Blair
How would you make a chocolate version?
Hi Blair, I would use my chocolate ganache recipe in place of a glaze honestly. You could try adding about 6 tablespoons cocoa powder, you may need to increase your liquid. Let me know if you try. Here’s my ganache if you would rather do that. https://www.thefreshcooky.com/easy-chocolate-ganache/
luis rosado
Best ever
Thank you so much Luis!!
Beverly
Can I add passionfruit puree to the buttercream glaze? Thanks!
Yes, I would reduce the amount of liquid you are adding until you have the right texture and consistency! Yummy!
Nikki Lee
This looks like a great staple recipe for so many baked goods!
Thank you Nikki, such a great staple!
Julie Menghini
This is the perfect Buttercream and your tips made for a creamy frosting that went perfectly on our chocolate cake! It’s now our go-to recipe.
So glad to hear that Julie!
Min
My go-to vanilla glaze recipe!! So easy and so yummy. I always use it on my chocolate cake recipe – it was perfection!
Sheila Thigpen
This is the perfect pourable glaze! I use it on everything … quick bread, donuts, and coffee cakes … YUM!
Michaela Kenkel
Hands down the BEST vanilla buttercream glaze I have ever made!
Makes me so happy to hear this Michaela! Thank you!
Erin
Welp, this was absolutely DELICIOUS! I’m obsessed with a good glaze like this, and the fact that the powdered sugar’s sweetness is balanced by the butter and vanilla was wonderful.
Thank you so much Erin!
Erin
We used this on a pound cake this weekend. I loved how it wasn’t too sweet!
Julie Menghini
We were looking for a quick and easy glaze for some cake I baked and this one is by far one of the most delicious recipes I’ve made.
Sheila Thigpen
So smooth and buttery, this glaze is now my go-to whenever I need a little something extra on quick breads, muffins, donuts…you name it!