3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

An easy, refreshing Lemon Glaze made with just 3 ingredients! You can whip up this amazing Lemon Glaze recipe in 5 minutes. Lemon Glaze Icing is perfect for breads, pound cakes, angel food cakes and so much more!

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (1)

You know spring is here when lemons have become a staple. In our home you’ll find a large bowl of them on the counter, one in just about every glass of water, and infused into many of my favorite recipes (listed below).

This three ingredient lemon glaze recipe is the perfect addition to breakfast rolls, pound cakes, sweet breads, abundt cake, angel food cake, donuts, scones, cookies, cheesecake and so much more!

This Lemon glaze icing turns even the most basic pastries into something special!Don’t skip our complete guide to the BEST Lemon Desserts too.

When life gives you lemons, make glaze.

It has a fresh lemon flavor you’ll crave again and again! It’s slightly tart, slightly sweet – perfect for all lemon lovers!

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2)

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

I’d like to think aglaze is icing without all the guilt, wouldn’t you agree? Just a little touch of lemon glaze to quench your spring or summer sweet tooth without all the calories of a pile of icing.

There’s so much flavor in each bite. This lemon glaze is soft, yet hardens just enough for a beautiful slice, every time.

If that’s not enough, glaze creates the prettiest drizzle that enhances any basic dessert, making it feel more like a centerpiece. No cake decorating skills required, which is always an added bonus!

I still long to take cake decorating classes, but until I find the time, this glaze will suit me just fine.

Lemon Glaze Icing is made with just three staple ingredients which is perfect to mix up on a whim!

What is in Lemon Glaze?

  • Butter – at room temperature is the base for this delicious glaze. I always use salted in my recipes, but unsalted works as well. It’s truly your personal preference.
  • Powdered Sugar– You can make it with granulated sugar, however it won’t have the same amazing consistency. Confectioner’s sugar gives this glaze the most incredible texture and soft bite. You can make your own powdered sugar by pulsing granulated sugar in a food processor until fine. Organic powdered sugar is not a suitable substitute.
  • Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed or store bought lemon juice adds just the right amount of refreshing flavor to this lemon glaze icing. You can add a little lemon zest to garnish if you’d like but this glaze is delightfully sweet and the perfect compliment to desserts.

Lemon Glaze is so quick and simple! It truly is the best way to elevate a dessert or breakfast treat – even if it’s store bought! To see just how easy it is, watch the video in this recipe!

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (3)

The Easiest Lemon Glaze Recipe

  1. Combine – Combine butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth.
  2. Warm and Drizzle – Once your cake, cookies or bread have cool completely, warm the glaze and drizzle over the top of the cake or bread!

You can also use a bowl to dip the top of muffins in the sweet glaze. This glaze recipe is so flexible, because you can thin it out or leave it a little thicker depending on the look and consistency you’re after.

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (4)

Tips

  • Warm the glaze in the microwave (you can use a measuring cup).
  • Whisk until smooth to remove any lumps.
  • Pour over your baked goods.

This method ensures a beautiful drizzle. This glaze hardens just enough to set, but still offers a soft, supple bite. It’s thick, yet translucent, This way you get a pretty slice and unbelievable flavor and texture!

How to Thicken Glaze

Add additional powdered sugar a teaspoon at a time.

How to Thin Glaze

Warm or add more lemon juice (for classic glaze add milk to thin).

Do you put glaze on warm cake?

It’s best to bring cake to room temperature before adding a glaze to prevent it from melting off.

How do you glaze a bundt cake?

Warm and drizzle over the top in a continuous motion to ensure it’s evenly glazed.

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (5)

How to Store Glaze

Refrigerate – You can make glaze ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before warming. Freezing glazes is not recommended.

There’s a glaze for everything! Don’t forget to try these amazing glazes as well: Cream Cheese Glaze,Cinnamon Roll Glaze,Apple Pie Glaze,Basic Glaze, and Orange Glaze!

Serving Suggestions

  • Blueberry Bread
  • Blueberry Muffin
  • Honey Lemon Cake
  • Lemon Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
  • Lemon Loaf
  • Scones
  • Breads
  • Muffins
  • Cakes
  • Pound Cakes
  • Cookies

More Lemon Recipes

Cakes Cupcakes & Bars

Honey Lemon Cake

27 mins

Ice Cream

Lemon Ice Cream

5 mins

Cakes Cupcakes & Bars

Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

1 hr 28 mins

Pastries, Pies, Tarts & Crusts

Frozen Lemon Dessert

10 mins

Lemon Desserts

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (10)

4.92 from 144 votes

Lemon Glaze

By Julie Blanner

This 3 ingredient lemon glaze recipe is the perfect addition to breakfast rolls, pound cakes, sweet breads, honey lemon cake, angel food cake and so much more! Just a little touch of lemon glaze to quench your sweet tooth without all the calories of a pile of icing.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 12

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small microwave safe mixing bowl or large measuring cup, combine butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.

  • Warm 15 seconds and whisk to remove any clumps. Pour over scones, cookies, cakes, pound cake and more!

  • Allow to set before slicing.

Julie’s Tips

Tips

  • Avoid organic powdered sugar. It doesn’t achieve a desirable consistency.
  • Warm the glaze in the microwave (you can use a measuring cup).
  • Whisk until smooth to remove any lumps.
  • Pour over your baked goods rather than spread for a beautiful finish.

To Store

Refrigerate – Refrigerate covered for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before warming.

Note: Freezing is not recommended.

Recipes to Enjoy With

  • Cakes
  • Cookies
  • Pound Cakes
  • Breads
  • Scones
  • Muffins

Video

Serving: 1g | Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 5mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 2mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon glaze made of? ›

Lemon glaze requires only two ingredients: powdered sugar and lemon juice. Some recipes call for milk, but such a small amount of milk dilutes the lemony punch without adding much in return.

Why is my lemon glaze grainy? ›

Why is my lemon glaze grainy? Several issues can cause a grainy powdered sugar lemon glaze. These include if the sugar hasn't properly dissolved into the glaze, if you've used too much sugar, or if you've used low-quality or homemade powdered sugar where the granules aren't fine enough.

Can I use regular sugar for a glaze? ›

My method is a granulated sugar glaze that is made in a pot on the top of the stove. I prefer this method because the sugar melts, so you don't have to worry about "grittiness." Ingredients are brought to a gentle boil for a few minutes, which helps the glaze to thicken.

What are the 3 basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

What are the 3 active ingredients of glaze? ›

All standard ceramic glazes contain the following components:
  • Glass former- silica (SiO2), melting point 3119 degrees Fahrenheit. (RO2)
  • Flux- lowers the melting point of silica; provides the great variety of surfaces in ceramic glazes. ...
  • Stabilizer- alumina, keeps the glaze on a vertical surface; stiffens the melt. (
Jul 15, 2019

What happens when you melt butter and sugar together? ›

Caramelized sugar and butter is a delightfully sweet syrupy liquid that tastes best in small amounts, such as drizzled over cake or fresh fruit. Although sugar can be caramelized without any added ingredients, caramelizing sugar with butter will give the resulting syrup a creamier texture.

Why won't my butter and brown sugar mix? ›

The temperature of your butter is critical when creaming butter and sugar. Too cold, and your sugar won't properly dissolve into your butter. Too hot, and your cakes will end up flat and greasy.

Is powder sugar the same as Confectioners Sugar? ›

Let's get it out of the way: Is confectioners' sugar powdered sugar? Yes! Powdered sugar, confectioners' sugar (including confectioners sugar and confectioner's sugar too), icing sugar, and 10X (a reference to the size of the particles) are all the same.

Should you glaze a cake hot or cold? ›

Cool the cake or pastries completely before glazing. Warm baked goods will make the glaze too runny, and it may soak into the crust, making the cake soggy. Brush away any loose crumbs on the cake or pastries before decorating.

Should you let a Bundt cake cool before glazing? ›

If you have a lighter-colored bundt pan, it may take longer in the oven. Allow to cool for 15-30 minutes then carefully invert onto cooling rack to cool completely before covering with glaze.

How long to let cake cool before glaze? ›

How Long to Cool a Cake Before Icing It? Our recommendation on how long to cool a cake before icing it is to wait 2-3 hours for your cake to cool completely. Then, add a crumb coat and refrigerate the cake for up to 30 minutes. Once that is done, you'll be able to ice until your heart's content.

What is a common ingredient in glaze? ›

Glaze: there are more than 3 basic components in glaze, these are: silica, alumina, flux, colourants and modifiers. The common ingredients in glaze colours are, “ copper oxide", “copper carbonate", “cobalt oxide" and “ iron oxide.”

What can I use instead of glaze? ›

You can replace glaze with slips, metal oxides, ash and etc, but these applications on greenware or bisque fired pieces are coating method is to fuse in the firing process.

How do you make a glaze if you don't have powdered sugar? ›

If you're out of powdered sugar, you can make your own from granulated sugar, for example with a blender or food processor. Icing that uses granulated sugar without grinding it down usually requires some form of heat instead.

What is the main ingredient in glaze? ›

Glazes need a balance of the 3 main ingredients: Silica, Alumina and Flux. Too much flux causes a glaze to run, and tends to create variable texture on the surface. The texture may vary from shiny, where the glass is balanced, to matte where the excessive flux oxides may form visible, possibly lumpy, crystals.

What was glaze made out of? ›

Glazes consist of silica, fluxes and aluminum oxide. Silica is the structural material for the glaze and if you heat it high enough it can turn to glass. Its melting temperature is too high for ceramic kilns, so silica is combined with fluxes, substances that prevent oxidation, to lower the melting point.

What is the most common ingredient in glaze? ›

Silica (or industrial sand) is the key ingredient in glass, raw clay, and ceramic glazes. Silica can be obtained naturally from quartz, sandstone, sand, or flint, or it can be manufactured as silica oxide. When making your own glazes, products like quartz, flint, and pure silica can be added as the glass-former.

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