Breads & Doughs, Homemade Ingredients

5 Donut Glaze Recipes For Perfect Glazed Donuts

4.69 from 269 votes
Make the ultimate glazed donut. With a 3-ingredient base, my donut glaze recipe has no limitations!
Bowls of donut glazes.

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Hi Bold Bakers!

IN THIS RECIPE:  Glazed donuts don’t have to be boring. In fact, I’ll show you how to make 5 different donut glaze recipes that all start with the same 3 ingredients — and then you can easily turn them into the flavors you want! They take no time at all, only 10 minutes, and finish off the donuts of your dreams. You’ll make vanilla, funfetti, maple, chocolate, and cinnamon sugar glazed donuts by the end of this!

This is one of those recipes you asked for, and since you asked, now you shall receive! I’ve had loads of questions about how to make donut glaze. The glaze is essential whether you’re making my No-Yeast DonutsNo-Knead Donuts, or my Chocolate Cake Donuts. I’m so excited to share with you my five variations on the classic glaze. The only complex thing about these recipes is the flavors — really, they could not be simpler to make!

Pairing The Right Donuts

Honestly, you can’t go wrong. As I mentioned, you can use this base glaze recipe and its 5 variations for my No-Yeast DonutsNo-Knead Donuts, or my Chocolate Cake Donuts. Have you tried my Dunkin Donuts recipe yet? It’s time!

A top-down view of my donut glaze recipes — vanilla, funfetti, chocolate, maple, and cinnamon sugar.

What You Need To Make These Donut Glaze Recipes

It must take time and a lot of equipment to make a glaze just right, right? Wrong. You’ll only need…

How To Make Donut Glaze

I know it’s bold of me to say, but I’m pretty sure anyone could make these basic icings. All of these glazes start with the same 3 ingredients: powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. The fun really begins once you mix that up. You can add anything to my base recipe, like cocoa powder, natural food coloring, or sprinkles.

Which is my favorite? Well, I’m glad you asked! And I’m going to tell you, even if you didn’t.

Of all my glazes, I’m most excited about making maple donuts. This maple donut glaze has sweetness, great depth of flavor, and lots of extra shine! But really, you should try all 5 and tell me which are your favorites in the comments down below!

Homemade Glazed Donuts

This glaze recipe really does all of the work for you. Since the consistency is perfect, not too thin, and not too thick, all you have to do is dunk your warm donuts into the glaze of your choice and then allow them to set on a wire rack. If you want an extra thick layer of icing, I suggest dunking your donut once and then once again after the initial glaze sets.

This method will yield a super sweet and professional-looking donut.

I’m also not here to put a limit on the times you can dunk your donut…

No-yeast donuts glazed with chocolate, funfetti, vanilla, and maple donut glazes

Adding Variety To My Donut Glaze Recipe

This donut glaze recipe is really about the method. I suggest you go wild with the base and add your favorite flavorings. From adding homemade extracts, orange or lemon zest, spices, or homemade food colors, these donuts can be personalized however you’d like. Be Bold!

Make More Donuts

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook — it makes the perfect gift!

Plus, SUBSCRIBE NOW to the Bold Baking Academy for exclusive in-depth baking courses, The Baking Concierge™, and the Bold Baking Academy Community!

Watch The Recipe Video!

5 Donut Glaze Recipes

4.69 from 269 votes
Make the ultimate glazed donut. With a 3-ingredient base, my donut glaze recipe has no limitations!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 10 -12
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Make the ultimate glazed donut. With a 3-ingredient base, my donut glaze recipe has no limitations!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 10 -12

Ingredients

Vanilla Donut Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cups (6oz/172g)) powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Funfetti Donut Glaze:

Chocolate Donut Glaze:

  • cups (6oz/172g) powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Maple Donut Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cups (6oz/172g)) powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar:

  • 1 cup (8oz/225g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions

Vanilla Donut Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients.
  • Whisk until silky and smooth.
  • If you want it thinner add a little more milk
  • Store the icing at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Funfetti Donut Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients.
  • Whisk until silky and smooth.
  • If you want it thinner add a little more milk
  • Store the icing at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Chocolate Donut Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Slowly stir in milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until silky and smooth. If you need a touch more milk to make this a dippable glaze, add a bit more.
  • Dip doughnuts in chocolate glaze and let rest to harden slightly.
  • Store the icing at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Maple Donut Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients.
  • Whisk until silky and smooth.
  • If you want it thinner add a little more milk
  • Store the icing at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Cinnamon Sugar:

  • Combine sugar with cinnamon in a medium bowl.
  • Dip donuts into cinnamon sugar while still warm.
  • Cinnamon sugar can be covered and stored for up to 2 years.
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Isabela
Isabela
4 years ago

Hi Gemma, 8 just found your website looking for glaze recipes and I’m just completely in love with all the info and love you have here! Beautiful work! <3

But I have a question, I'm afraid I misunderstood the directions. Am I supposed to store them for 2 weeks before using so it gives a better result or ifs just that it can be stored for that long? Hahaha sorry

Susan Briggs
Susan Briggs
4 years ago

Hi Gemma! My daughter is getting married in October and instead of a wedding cake, we are serving donuts :). I’m wondering if your glazes are able to be made ahead (just the week of the wedding)? And if made ahead, will they work in a squeeze bottle for our guests to dress their own donuts? Thank you!

David
David
3 years ago

Thank you for the amazing recipe. I made the donuts and the icing and they are a hit at my house. I make them and 1 hour later they are all gone.

Daemon
Daemon
5 years ago

What happens if you dont want to wait 2 weeks for the icing?

Olivia Shay
Olivia Shay
4 years ago

Could I use a milk substitute? Like almond milk

Mikaylia
Mikaylia
3 years ago

Hi Gemma,

I am from Jamaica and I love to bake your recipes have helped. Thank you

Aisha
Aisha
2 years ago

Hello
Home do I make my glaze Thick pl

Anonymous
Anonymous
2 years ago

hi, I only used the chocolate glaze but it was the best glaze ever it didn’t drip that much too.
thank you for the recipe 🙂 I was wondering is it best to have the donut cooked and called down or fresh out of the fryer thanks for the recipe 🙂 – Anonymous person

Mikee Lopez
Mikee Lopez
3 years ago

Hi can I use fresh milk? Thanks! 😊

Annie Gascoyne
Annie Gascoyne
3 years ago

Can you please send me your monkey bread recipe please thanks

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About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

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