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.

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 142 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

3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze Recipe | Julie Blanner? ›

Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference. Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner's sugar. Lemon Juice – Juice 2 medium to large lemons for fresh flavor or substitute with ¼ cup lemon juice found in the produce section of your grocer.

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.

Why did my lemon glaze curdle? ›

This is because the acidity of the lemon juice causes the milk and butter to curdle.

What are the 3 basic ingredients in glaze? ›

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

How to make lemon glaze martha stewart? ›

Simply stir fresh lemon juice into confectioners' sugar until the glaze is thick yet pourable. It's easy to adjust: if you like a thick glaze, add more sugar; for a thinner glaze, add more lemon juice. It's a two-ingredient wonder recipe that makes the perfect finishing touch for all kinds of baked goods.

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.

Why is my glaze not sticking to my cake? ›

If your glaze is too hot, it will drip right off and none of it will stick (it will also melt your buttercream and create quite the mess). If it's too cold, it will be way too thick and won't drip like it should down the sides of your cake. The temperature you want is room temp – so not too hot, not too cold.

Should a cake with a glaze be refrigerated? ›

No, you should never put any type of cake in the fridge. Cakes go stale by drying out and putting a cake in the fridge will make it dry out more quickly. To keep your cake fresh as long as possible put it in an airtight container and it should stay fresh for as long as any human being can keep a cake without eating it.

Can I use regular sugar for a glaze? ›

Use Granulated Sugar: You will have to heat it over the stove to get the bigger granules of sugar to melt, but it still makes a great glaze! You will need a little flour to help it thicken up, and some people add some butter as well. Use Brown Sugar: You can use brown sugar instead of powdered sugar.

How do you reduce the bitterness of lemon? ›

The secret ingredient is salt, which removes any bitterness. Don't be tempted to use reconstituted lemon juice or to add the juice until the sugar water is completely chilled!

Why is my glaze so watery? ›

The glaze contains too much water, making it thin and watery in the bucket. (This means specific gravity needs to be adjusted.) The glaze was applied too thinly.

What happens when you mix lemon juice and milk? ›

No new substances are produced; therefore, no chemical change occurred. Sometimes combining two liquids, such as lemon juice and milk, can produce a curd- like solid. The acid in the lemon juice changes the pH of the milk. This causes proteins in the milk to clump together, creating curds.

Can you mix lemon and milk in baking? ›

If we don't have buttermilk in the fridge, the closest substitute would be another dairy product with a little acidity added; milk with a spoonful of lemon juice or white vinegar does the job quite nicely. This mixture won't get as thick and creamy as buttermilk, but it will perform its role in the batter just as well.

Is it okay to mix milk and lemon juice? ›

Mixing milk with sour and citrus fruits or ingredients is a strict “No'' this is because the presence of vitamin C and citric acid in sour foods like orange and lemon when combined with milk can coagulate and lead to acid reflux, heartburn, upset stomach and allergies, chest congestion and cold cough to name a few.

What is glaze made 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 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 does glaze contain? ›

Many clay bodies are not vitreous without being glazed, meaning if you added liquid to an unglazed ceramic, it would leak through the pores. Glazes are made up of three ingredients: glass-formers, fluxes, and stabilizers.

What are the 4 components of glaze? ›

GLAZE 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

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