Easy Lemon Icing
Whether you’re baking for a gathering (like a Cookie Decorating Party), for friends/family/neighbors or just because, this Easy Lemon Icing is a simple, go-to recipe to make balanced sweet and tart icing for any cookies! This lemon glaze icing is perfect for cookies or drizzling on cakes. Makes enough to ice 60 cookies.
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I didn’t always like lemon-flavored things.
In all honesty, my discovery of lemon came about in my mid-20s, as did most of my food revelations… and I think it had to do with the fact that I discovered real lemons.
While I’m sure we juiced them for lemonade when I was a kid, I only remember the faux-lemon lemonade that came in a can. (Sorry, Mom.)
And I’m sure I’d used them in other dishes, too, but I never really put two and two together for sweet things until I was older.
Now, I’m a huge lemon fan, so long as it doesn’t taste like floor cleaner smells. 😉
Why I love this recipe:
This lemon glaze icing for cookies is an utter delight in its simplicity and flavors. The lemon flavor is bright and bold and beautifully tart.
Plus, it doesn’t require much, but it packs in a ton of flavor, no matter the treat you drizzle it on.
This recipe hardens when given enough time, so it’s perfect for sugar cookies with a twist, too!
You can also spoon this on top of your favorite baked goods, be they scones, a lemon pound cake or even lemon zucchini bread. I would not recommend using this for a layer cake or cupcakes, simply because this recipe is for a light glaze, not a thick lemon frosting.
Cookie recipes that pair beautifully with this easy lemon glaze: Lemon Tea Cakes / Greek Yogurt Cut Out Sugar Cookies / Lemon Sugar Cookies / Orange Pound Cake / All-Butter Tea Cake Cookies / Soft & Chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies
Need a dessert, but don’t know what you want? Check out my desserts recipe index.
What you’ll need to make this Lemon Sugar Cookie Icing
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- Large glass bowl
- Sifter or a Fine Mesh Strainer to ensure there are no lumps in the sugar
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Ramekins to separate the icing for coloring
- Gel food coloring (I like this better than the drop kind because it’s a little less messy)
- Offset spatula or butter knives
- Wire cooling rack
- Parchment paper to cover the counter beneath the wire cooling rack so cookies can drip onto this instead of your countertop
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here is what you need to find at the store to make this lemon glaze recipe:
- Powdered sugar — also known as confectioners’ sugar, there’s no real replacement for this sugar in this lemon icing recipe, so please don’t try to find one.
- Kosher salt — just a pinch makes all the difference!
- Pure Lemon Extract — we’re getting a punch of lemon from this, and a little goes a long way. I’ve used Adams Extract Lemon Extract, but you can use whatever brand you’ve got on hand.
- Pure Vanilla Extract — this gives us some vanilla undertones and notes to the icing. Like the lemon extract, a little goes a long way.
- Fresh lemon juice — a little extra punch with some fresh lemon flavor.
- Milk — you can use cow’s milk or non-dairy milk here because both work.
- Food Coloring
How to make the perfect lemon glaze
In a large glass bowl, combine the ingredients for the icing.
Whisk until smooth. You can also use a hand mixer (or an electric mixer) if you don’t want to mix this by hand and to get it smoother faster. The consistency will be on the runnier side.
Separate the icing into different containers if you’re planning on coloring it. Personally, I pour ¼ cup of icing into 5 different containers to evenly distribute the icing.
Color the icing using food coloring, if you’d like, then spread this lemon icing onto cooled cookies using an offset spatula or a butter knife. Then add sprinkles or any other decorations.
how to store:
Store the leftover lemon icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will firm up while it is in there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stored in the fridge in a jar, it’ll last for more than a week. But do you really want it to last that long? Probably not.
Yes, this Lemon Icing hardens! In fact, it’s based off my Easy Sugar Cookie Icing recipe that’s wildly popular and that also hardens.
However, this takes about 4-6 hours total.
Personally, I like for mine to sit overnight to ensure the icing is no longer wet in any places, especially the drips.
To make the hardening process faster, let the cookies dry on a wire cooling rack so that no icing pools around the edges. You can also place them in the refrigerator uncovered for a little while to speed up the process, too.
Yes. I’m sensitive to milk when I’m not pregnant or nursing, so I’ve replaced the milk in this recipe with both non-dairy milk and water. It still works. You’re welcome, Internet. 😉
My favorite non-dairy milks to use in this cookie icing recipe are unsweetened cashew milk or unsweetened almond milk, which you would find in the refrigerated section of your grocery.
The only non-dairy milk I would not use for this recipe is coconut cream (from a can), as it would make the frosting entirely too thick.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Icing
- Make it in advance! Whip up this lemon icing for cookies, and store it covered with plastic wrap in the fridge until it’s go time.
- Color it! I made mine look springy since I used it to ice my Lemon Tea Cake Cookies, but you can color yours whatever combination of colors you’d like. This would be great for decorating patriotic cookies in the summertime or even icing Christmas cookies for a lemony zip!
- Don’t worry if it’s a little runny. The icing is a thin icing, but it sets up nicely once on the cookies. If you’re concerned that it’s too runny, add a little more powdered sugar, but don’t add too much because that will make it too sweet. And I, personally, like the tartness this icing brings to the table.
More frosting and icing recipes to try:
- Brown Butter Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Sugar Cookie Icing
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Here’s how we make this lemon one…
Easy Lemon Icing
EQUIPMENT
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Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pure lemon extract
- ½ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/3 cup milk non-dairy milk OK
- Gel food coloring
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We’ll email a link directly to you so you can come back to it later! Plus, you’ll receive new recipes delivered to your inbox each week.
Instructions
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, salt, lemon extract, vanilla extract, lemon juice and milk to create the icing.
- Whisk until smooth, then separate out into individual bowls for coloring.
- Once colored, set aside until time to ice the cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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