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If you’ve ever wondered how to achieve that glossy, perfectly sweet glaze like on a Krispy Kreme donut, I’ve got you covered. With years of recipe testing under my belt, I’ve mastered the secrets to a silky-smooth glaze—sifting powdered sugar, balancing the right liquid ratio, and creating a finish that’s never tacky, whether your donuts are fresh and warm or room temperature.
Homemade Donut Glaze
If you’ve ever wondered how to achieve that glossy, perfectly sweet glaze that melts in your mouth, like on a Krispy Kreme donut, you’re in the right place. Making a classic donut glaze might seem simple—it’s just powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla—but getting it silky smooth and just the right consistency requires a few expert tips I’ve learned through years of recipe testing. Trust me, I’ve made (and glazed) enough donuts to know what works and what doesn’t!
The secret to a flawless glaze starts with sifting the powdered sugar. Skip this step, and you’re left with a lumpy, uneven glaze—not ideal when you’re aiming for bakery-quality donuts. I also learned that the ratio of milk to sugar matters; too much liquid and the glaze will slide right off, too little and it won’t coat properly. This glaze sets beautifully at room temperature, giving you that perfect non-tacky finish, whether you’re dipping hot, fresh-out-of-the-fryer donuts or room-temperature ones.
After years of perfecting my donuts and glazes, I can confidently say that this recipe and technique deliver consistent, professional results every time. I’m here to share everything I’ve learned so you can skip the trial and error and dive straight into making the best donuts and glaze of your life.
Donut Glaze Ingredients
This recipe uses just three simple ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need (full recipe in the recipe card below):
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla extract, optional
How to make Donut Glaze
It doesn’t get simpler than this! Here are the short, easy steps:
- Sift sugar. To ensure a silky smooth glaze, I recommend sifting the powdered sugar before combining it with the additional ingredients.
- Combine ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until pourable. Add more powdered sugar if it’s too runny or more milk if it’s too thick.
- Dip donuts. Transfer the glaze to a shallow dish. Dip one donut at a time into the glaze, allowing the excess to fall off into the bowl before placing the donuts on a drying rack.
Easy Donut Glaze Variations
Another great thing about this classic recipe is how easy it can be customized to different flavors. Here are some ideas:
- Maple Glaze: Add 4 teaspoons of maple syrup extract, adding more powdered sugar as needed. For a deeper maple flavor, I recommend adding ½ teaspoon maple extract.
- Chocolate Glaze: Follow my chocolate glaze for donuts that uses real chocolate chips.
- Cinnamon Glaze: Stir in ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a sweet and spiced glaze.
- Lemon Glaze: Replace the milk with freshly squeezed lemon juice and add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
- Orange Glaze: Swap the milk for orange juice and add 1 teaspoon of orange zest.
- Almond Glaze: Substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract.
- Strawberry Glaze: Mix in 2-3 tablespoons of strawberry jelly / strawberry puree.
- Coffee Glaze: Replace the milk with brewed coffee or espresso for a bold, mocha-like flavor.
- Peppermint Glaze: Replace the vanilla extract with ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract.
Donut Glaze Recipe Tips
These tips will help you nail that perfect, Krispy Kreme-style donut glaze every time!
- Sift the Powdered Sugar: Always sift the powdered sugar before mixing it with the milk to ensure a silky, smooth glaze free of lumps.
- Adjust the Consistency: Start with 1 tablespoon of milk and gradually add more, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired thickness. A thinner glaze will lightly coat the donuts, while a thicker glaze will create a more opaque finish.
- Vanilla for Flavor: While optional, adding vanilla extract enhances the flavor and gives the glaze a subtle, sweet depth.
- Use the Right Temperature: For the best results, dip warm, freshly fried donuts into the glaze. The heat helps the glaze set perfectly, creating that signature glossy finish. However, it also works on room-temperature donuts.
- Dip, Don’t Drizzle: Fully immerse the top of the donut into the glaze, then lift and let the excess drip off. This method gives a smooth, even coating.
- Let It Set: Place glazed donuts on a wire rack to allow the excess glaze to drip off and the glaze to set. This step ensures the donuts aren’t sticky to the touch.
- Work Quickly: The glaze can start to harden as it sits, so mix it right before you’re ready to use and keep stirring occasionally to maintain smoothness.
Ways to use Donut Glaze
This is my go-to for all of my homemade donut recipes, including:
- Moist Cake Donuts that aren’t dry or greasy
- Old-Fashioned Donuts made without cake flour
- Baked Gluten-Free Donuts that taste like regular donuts
- Easy homemade baked donut recipe
Here are some other creative ways to use this recipe:
- Drizzle on Cakes & Cupcakes
- Cinnamon Rolls: Instead of (or in addition to) icing, drizzle it over warm cinnamon roll casserole made in the oven.
- Muffin Top Glaze
- Brownie or Blondie Drizzle
- French Toast Topping
- Pancake or Waffle Drizzle
- Dipping Sauce for Fruit
- Ice Cream Drizzle
- Glazed Popcorn: Drizzle over popcorn for a sweet, crunchy treat.
How to store Donut Glaze
You can store leftovers or make this ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it come to room temperature and stir well before glazing donuts. I do not recommend freezing donut glaze.
More Donut Recipes
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Recipe for Donut Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (169g) powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
Instructions
- To ensure a silky smooth glaze, I recommend sifting the powdered sugar before combining it with the additional ingredients.1 ½ cups (169g) powdered sugar
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until pourable. Add more powdered sugar if it’s too runny or more milk if it’s too thick.1 ½ cups (169g) powdered sugar, 1-2 tablespoons milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Transfer the glaze to a shallow dish. Dip one donut at a time into the glaze, allowing the excess to fall off into the bowl before placing the donuts on a drying rack.
