Easy Vanilla Bean Glaze Recipe

A deliciously simple Vanilla Bean Glaze that takes just minutes to make and can be used on so many of your favourite baked goods.  Try it with my Lemon Sour Cream Cake, Bundt Cake or just drizzle it over your favourite .

A really good Vanilla Bean Glaze is one of those great base recipes that can be used on just about everything!  You're going to love this great, old school recipe that's made with just 4 basic ingredients, all in one bowl and whisked together with a simple hand whisk.  So adaptable, you can flavour it countless ways and use it anywhere you think needs a little finishing touch -think Baked Donuts, Cookies, Sponge Cakes….

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It literally takes minutes to make
• It's a great alternative to buttercream, for those people who prefer less icing (my boys!)
• This can be a thin or thick glaze -just adjust the amount of milk.
• There's no need to use your stand mixer -it's all by hand, using a whisk or wooden spoon!
• It will remind you of the icing your grandmother used to make (for me, at least)
• There's so many ways to flavour it and so many ways to use it
• It's a great base recipe that everyone needs

Ingredients

• Pure Icing sugar or powdered sugar, it is the body of the glaze and gives sweetness
• Unsalted butter to add a little richness to the glaze
• Whole milk helps to thin out the icing and contribute to the creamy texture
• Vanilla bean paste for the ultimate flavour -use a high quality vanilla and use as much as you desire!  Using a good quality vanilla bean paste gives you all the beautiful vanilla flavor, without having to mess around with vanilla bean pods

Substitutions and Additions

• Milk -use heavy cream for a richer, creamier icing
• Vanilla bean paste -use a pure vanilla extract or swap for peppermint essence and use on my favourite chocolate cake for a delicious choc peppermint slab cake.
• Citrus -swap out the vanilla for fresh lemon, lime or orange juice and decorate with the zest.
• Pure icing sugar -I prefer pure icing sugar over confectioners' sugar, as there's no added cornflour that's present in confectioners' sugar.

Step by Step Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a heatproof bowl (preferably glass bowl)

• Place the mixing bowl on top of a small saucepan of simmering water
• Use a hand whisk to stir the ingredients as the heat melts the butter and dissolves the sugar

• Once smooth, use as required (pour over a cake, drizzle over muffins or cookies, dip donuts or spread over cupcakes) 

Tips and Tricks

• The best way to get the right consistency is to start by adding half of the milk at first.  If you want a thinner glaze, add the remaining milk.
• Don't worry about sifting your icing sugar, as it will dissolve while you whisk the mixture.
• If you're not quite ready to use the glaze, just leave it over the hot water.  Simply stir it again, or reheat it and use when needed.
• This isn't a huge amount of icing, so you will only need a small bowl -just as long as it sits on top of your saucepan.

Serving Suggestions

• Cakes:  such a delicious and simple topping -try it on my Orange Cake 
• Cupcakes: a great, simple glaze when you just want a little bit of icing.  Use on my Vanilla Cupcakes for a double dose of vanilla!
• Cinnamon Rolls:  this is the perfect sweet vanilla bean glaze to lather over your cinnamon rolls!
• Bundt Cakes: because of the thin consistency, this glaze pours beautifully over Bundt Cakes
• Cookies:  elevate your shortbread cookies with a drizzle of this vanilla glaze
• Donuts:  top your delicious donuts with this simple glaze, then sprinkle with 100's & 1,000's
• Muffins: this glaze is the perfect finishing touch to your muffins

Storage

• Refrigerator: if you don't use all of the glaze, simply cover it with plastic wrap or pop it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for a week, then reheat in the microwave for about 20 seconds to use again.  It's a good idea to check the mixture after 20 seconds, to see if it's the right consistency.  If not, reheat for another 10 seconds.
• Freezer:  this glaze can also be frozen for up to 3 months.  Simply bring back to room temperature for 1-2 hours, then reheat for 10-20 seconds in the microwave.

Did you try this recipe?  I'd love it if you could  take a minute to leave a review or share your photos on Instagram, tagging @apple.cake.annie