This cream cheese glaze is made with just four simple ingredients (plus bourbon, if you'd like!) and takes only five minutes to prepare. It's versatile and easy to whip up, making it a fun addition to any of your favorite desserts.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I originally created this recipe to top my Pumpkin Pound Cake, which, in my opinion, is the ultimate fall treat. The combination of the tender pumpkin cake with this sweet, simple glaze is absolutely heavenly. I love to add a hint of bourbon to the glaze to give it a more complex, rounded flavor, but it's completely optional (although highly recommended!).
The secret to a good glaze is ensuring it's loose enough to flow over the sides of your cake or baked goods. If it’s too thick, just add a little more milk. Be sure to add the confectioners' sugar gradually to avoid lumps (you can sift the sugar beforehand if you prefer). For a vegan version, you can substitute dairy-free cream cheese and plant-based milk, or stick with full dairy ingredients.
The glaze is the perfect finishing touch for cakes or cookies, both in flavor and presentation (an essential topping for holiday baking and more!).
Ingredient Notes
- softened cream cheese: Full fat cream cheese yields the best texture and flavor. Allow the cream cheese to sit at room temperature for about an hour, or until it becomes soft.
- confectioners’ sugar: Also known as powdered sugar or icing sugar. Use more or less depending on your desired sweetness.
- Bourbon (optional): This adds fantastic flavor, but is completely optional. Other great flavor variations include almond extract, lemon, cocoa powder, or another favorite flavor of your choice.
- pure vanilla extract
- milk
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Step 2: Increase the speed to high. Very slowly add the confectioners' sugar (if you add it too quickly, it could become lumpy). Beat until a smooth texture is reached. Reduce the speed to low, and add the bourbon (if using), vanilla, and milk. Beat until the glaze is creamy and drizzles easily in a thick, steady stream. If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, beat in a touch more milk.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, feel free to use a hand mixer.
- You can add milk to reach your desired consistency. If you’d like a thinner glaze, add more milk, 1 tbsp at a time. For a thicker glaze, use less milk, or if it’s too runny, add a little more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, use dairy-free cream cheese and unsweetened plant-based milk.
- There are many variations you can create with this simple glaze. While I included bourbon as an optional add-in, you can also tweak it to make the following:
- orange cream cheese glaze: Add ½ teaspoon of orange extract.
- chocolate cream cheese glaze: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
- almond cream cheese glaze: Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of almond extract.
- other tasty options include lemon extract, maple syrup, peppermint extract, ground cinnamon, or espresso powder.
Ways to Serve
This homemade cream cheese glaze takes baked goods to the next level! Use it as a topping for any of these recipes: pumpkin pound cake, banana bread, blueberry scones, lemon cake, pumpkin muffins, carrot cake muffins, or any other favorite desserts.
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Let the creamy glaze get to room temperature and give it a good stir before using.
Recipe FAQs
Although very similar, frosting and glaze mainly differ in their consistency. Cream cheese frosting is thick, rich, and spreadable, making it a good option for covering cakes, cupcakes, or cookies. It usually contains unsalted butter, which adds density and a creamy texture that allows it to hold its shape for decorating. In contrast, a glaze has a much thinner, pourable consistency, making it ideal for drizzling over baked goods such as muffins, sweet scones, cinnamon rolls, and certain quick breads or cakes.
*This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting From Scratch Fast!
More Sweet Treats
- Pumpkin Pound Cake
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- The Best Gluten Free Coffee Cake
- Easy Orange Almond Cake
- Healthy Apple Cake
Stay Connected
I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to give this recipe a star rating and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @nickisizemore so that I can share your creations!
Get the Recipe
Easy Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe (for Cakes & More!)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon bourbon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed
Instructions
- In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Increase the speed to high. Very slowly add the confectioners' sugar (if you add it too quickly, it could become lumpy). Beat until smooth. Reduce the speed to low, and add the bourbon (if using), vanilla and milk. Beat until the glaze is creamy and drizzles easily in a thick, steady stream. If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, beat in a touch more milk.
Notes
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, feel free to use a hand mixer.
- You can add milk to reach your desired consistency. If you’d like a thinner glaze, add more milk, 1 tbsp at a time. For a thicker glaze, use less milk, or if it’s too runny, add a little more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
- There are many variations you can create with this simple glaze. While I included bourbon as an optional add-in to this recipe, you can also tweak it to make the following:
- orange: Add ½ teaspoon of orange extract.
- chocolate: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
- almond: Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of almond extract.
- other tasty options include lemon extract, maple syrup, peppermint extract, ground cinnamon, or espresso powder.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Let the creamy glaze get to room temperature before using.
Leave a Comment