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.

Vanilla glaze poured over a chocolate bundt cake.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

4-INGREDIENT BUTTERCREAM GLAZE

Melted Butter: It wouldn’t be a butter glaze without the butter! I use salted butter, but if you’re using unsalted butter, add a ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Powdered Sugar: That fluffy sweet white stuff; also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar.
Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract! I also love using vanilla bean paste, or even a teaspoon of each, for extra flavor.
Heavy cream: This brings everything together and gives the glaze its creamy texture. No heavy cream? Half and half or whole milk works in a pinch.

Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.

basic vanilla buttercream glaze ingredients. L-R vanilla extract or paste, powdered sugar, melted butter and heavy cream

How to Make Vanilla Glaze

In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add all ingredients, beat on low until combined and no lumps remain.

Increase speed to medium-high and whip until smooth, light and fluffy!

3 images for buttercream glaze. 1. pouring melted butter into powdered sugar. 2. adding vanilla. 3. adding cream

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 into Pourable Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Place the mixture into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 20-30 seconds, stirring until desired consistency.

two images for buttercream glaze. 1. more buttercream consistency, 2. after microwaving pourable onto a chocolate cake

Variations for Basic Glaze Recipe

Variations are the spice of life! Add color, add flavor, make it yours!

Use a Different Flavor Extract: Try something fun like Bourbon vanilla, lemon, peppermint, orange, almond, or maple extract. Most are pretty strong, so start small, taste, then add more if needed.
Add Zest: Zest a lemon or orange and mix it in for a fresh, bright zing! You can also replace some of the liquid with lemon juice.
Add Color: A drop or two of natural food coloring adds a festive touch, especially for holidays or themed bakes.
Dairy-free cake glaze: Replace the butter with your favorite dairy-free butter and the cream with a plant-based cream or coconut milk.

Pink buttercream glaze on top of a chocolate bundt cake with heart sprinkles on top

Tips for the Best Vanilla Glaze

Use Right Away: Glazes will begin to harden as they cool. If it thickens too much, stir in a teaspoon or two of cream and microwave in short bursts until pourable again.
Pour Over Cooled Baked Goods: For a visible glaze or icing, make sure your cake, scones, or bread are fully cooled before glazing. If the baked goods are warm, the glaze will soak in instead of sitting on top.
Soaking a Cake: Some cakes—like this Kentucky Butter Cake—are meant to be glazed while still warm. The buttery glaze soaks in and gives the cake a sweet, slightly crunchy texture.
Use Real Butter: Always use real, creamery butter for best flavor and texture. If your butter is soft straight from the fridge, it’s likely a blend, not true butter.
Storage: Store leftover glaze in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Reheat gently in the microwave and stir well before using again. May be frozen up to 3 months, thaw on counter or fridge.
Add Sprinkles Quickly: If you’re adding sprinkles, do it right after glazing. This buttercream glaze sets up fast!
Want it thinner? Add more liquid. Thicker, add a little extra powdered sugar.

landscape image of chocolate bundt cake drizzled with vanilla buttercream glaze on pedestal with gray tea towel

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, doughnut, muffins, coffee cake cupcakes or pastries.
Drizzle butter glaze on top of your favorite cake or bundt cake recipe, like this Easy Chocolate Cake!
Use it as a dip for strawberries (yum!).

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card

Vanilla Glaze Icing (for pound cake)

5 from 13 readers

Author: Kathleen Pope

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 5

Servings: Glaze to cover 1 Bundt Cake

Print Pin Save

Equipment

Ingredients
US Customary – Metric

▢ 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

Get Recipe Ingredients

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.
6 tablespoons butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
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.
Place buttercream glaze into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 20-30 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

Consider using a different flavor extract, such as Bourbon Vanilla, Lemon Extract, Peppermint extract, Orange Extract, Almond Extract, or Maple extract. Start small and taste, some extracts or oils are much more potent.
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, if warm, the glaze will soak in.
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 the 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, donuts or cookies.
Drizzle butter glaze on top of your favorite cake or bundt cake recipe, like this Easy Chocolate Cake!

Nutrition

Comments

Rate & Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.