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Homemade Icing with Powdered Sugar

Easy Powdered Sugar Icing or Frosting

Print Recipe
The best quick powdered sugar icing for cookies, cakes, & baked goods of all kinds! All you need is powdered sugar, milk, & optional flavoring.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Diet Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword confectioners sugar icing, homemade icing, icing with confectioners sugar, icing with powdered sugar, powdered sugar frosting, powdered sugar glaze, powdered sugar icing
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 8 Tbsp
Calories 60
Author Alyssia Sheikh

Ingredients

Powdered Sugar Icing or Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
  • 1-2 Tbsp milk or water (or fruit juice)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

For Buttercream Frosting, add:

  • 2 oz butter softened

For Cream Cheese Frosting, add:

  • 2 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 oz butter softened

Instructions

How to Make Icing or Glaze with Powdered Sugar

  • In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk to your desired consistency. (Use less liquid for a thicker icing; add more liquid for a thinner glaze.)
  • Optional: Add vanilla extract for a vanilla icing, or add any other flavoring you’d like.
  • Use a spoon to pour or drizzle icing over cookies, cakes &pastries while they’re still warm (but not too hot, or the icing will melt). Allow to set at room temperature—the icing will harden as the baked goods cool.
  • Yield: ~½ cup icing or glaze. (Enough for ~40 cookies, 1 Bundt cake, 12 cinnamon rolls, 8-10 scones.)
  • Storage: Cover powdered sugar icing or glaze and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

How to Make Frosting with Powdered Sugar

  • In a large bowl, beat softened butter (and/or cream cheese) with a hand mixer until smooth & creamy, for about 2 minutes.
  • Add powdered sugar and milk (if needed) and beat for 1-2 minutes, until fluffy.
  • Optional: Beat in vanilla extract or any flavoring you’d like. Or beat in a drop of food coloring to make different frosting colors.
  • Spread or pipe frosting onto completely cooled cookies, brownies, or cupcakes. Allow to set in the fridge for about an hour.
  • Yields: ~⅔ cup buttercream frosting. (Enough for 12-16 cupcakes or a pan of brownies.)
  • Storage: Keep buttercream in an airtight container or sealed piping bag at room temperature for 1-2 days, or store in the fridge for up to a week.

Video

Notes

Nutrition for Powdered Sugar Icing

Per 1 Tbsp:
60 calories | 0g fat | 15g carbs | 0g fiber | 15g sugars | 0g protein
1mg sodium | 0mg cholesterol

Nutrition for Buttercream Frosting

Per 1 Tbsp:
88 calories | 4.4g fat | 12g carbs | 0g fiber | 12g sugar | 0g protein
36mg sodium | 12mg cholesterol

Nutrition for Cream Cheese Frosting

Per 1 Tbsp:
88 calories | 4.2g fat | 12g carbs | 0g fiber | 12g sugars | 0.5g protein
40mg sodium | 12mg cholesterol

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp icing | Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 15g