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    Home » Recipes » Frostings, Icings, and Glazes

    Easy Sweet Orange Glaze

    Published: Jun 8, 2026 by Nicole Spiridakis

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This two-ingredient orange glaze adds sweet citrus flavor to cakes, quick breads, scones, muffins, and more!

    A spoon lifts up a little bit of orange glaze.

    This glossy and sweet orange glaze can be whisked together in less than a minute and adds a beautiful citrus note to whatever you drizzle it over. Add glaze to oat flour scones, gluten free molasses cookies, oat flour sugar cookies, or turn a gluten free lemon loaf into an orange loaf!

    I detail how to make this quick and easy recipe below, and share tips on how to adjust consistency, etc. See my lemon glaze recipe for a similar vibe!

    Jump to:
    • This is Such a Bright, Fresh Glaze!
    • Ingredients Needed
    • Variations to Consider
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Tips & Recipe Notes
    • How to Use Orange Glaze
    • Proper Storage
    • More Simple Topping Recipes
    • Recipe

    This is Such a Bright, Fresh Glaze!

    I love simple little recipes that are so much more than the sum of their parts! Who would have thought that a basic mix of fresh juice and sifted powdered sugar would combine to make such a versatile glaze? I know you'll love:

    • Simple ingredients. That's right - all you need are powdered sugar and a few tablespoons of orange juice!
    • Easy to adapt. Getting the proportions right for simple recipes like glazes is imperative! Once you master this formula, you can use it with other flavors and citrus juices. Experiment!
    • Adds lovely orange flavor to anything. Dress up a classic gluten free pound cake with orange glaze, or drizzle it over a gluten free rhubarb cake. You can't go wrong!
    Ingredients for orange glaze are text-labeled.

    Ingredients Needed

    Just 2 ingredients go into this little glaze. Make sure to scroll down to my recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full ingredient amounts and instructions!

    • Powdered sugar
    • Orange juice - I prefer the juice of a fresh orange here, though you can use purchased orange juice if that's all you have.

    Variations to Consider

    • Lime - I love using this method for an easy lime glaze. Just swap an equal amount of fresh lime juice for the lemon juice.
    • Tangerine/tangelo/clementine/etc - Any variety of orange works here!
    • Add zest - For even more flavor, zest the orange using a fine grater or zester into the glaze.
    • Vanilla - Add ¼ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the glaze.
    • Honey - Swap 1 tablespoon of the orange juice for honey to make a honey-lemon glaze.
    A whisk lays flat next to a bowl of orange glaze.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here's an overview in photos of how to make this citrus glaze:

    Orange juice is added to powdered sugar to make a glaze.

    1. Combine: Place the orange juice and powdered sugar in a bowl.

    The orange glaze after being whisked in a bowl.

    2. Whisk: Whisk and stir together until very smooth.

    A spoon rests in a bowl of orange glaze.

    Tips & Recipe Notes

    • Consistency matters. You can add more powdered sugar to make a thick, frosting-like glaze or add more juice for more of a drizzly icing. Make sure to have extra sugar and juice on hand so you can adjust as needed.
    • Add to cooled items only. The quickest way to make a glaze disappear is to add it to warm baked goods! Make sure to thoroughly cool cakes, cookies, muffins, etc., before adding the glaze so that it shows up prettily on top.
    • Sift the sugar. ALWAYS sift powdered sugar before whisking it into glazes or mixing it into frostings. This will eliminate any lumps and instead create a gorgeously smooth glaze.
    • Double up. Easily double or even triple the quantities in the recipe card to make more glaze.
    A gluten free orange loaf cake topped with orange glaze.

    How to Use Orange Glaze

    • Cake - Drape orange glaze over a gluten free orange loaf cake (above), a gluten free gingbread snacking cake, a gluten free busy day cake, or a gluten free vanilla buttermilk cake.
    • Muffins - Gluten free gingerbread muffins love an orange glaze, as do gf blueberry muffins, oat flour blueberry muffins, or gluten free rhubarb muffins.
    • Scones - Try this glaze on gluten free blueberry scones or gluten free cherry scones.
    • Cookies - Dress up gluten free shortbread or oat flour shortbread with this delightful glaze!

    Proper Storage

    Place the glaze in an airtight container such as a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    More Simple Topping Recipes

    • A bowl of lemon glaze.
      Super Easy Lemon Glaze
    • A bowl of maple glaze on a white napkin with a spoon.
      Three-Ingredient Maple Glaze
    • Chocolate cookie dough in a bowl, ready for baking.
      Whipped Chocolate Ganache (For Frosting and More)
    • Chocolate icing on a cake.
      Simple Chocolate Icing

    Happy baking! If you make this orange glaze recipe, I'd love to know. Please leave a comment below, reach out with any questions, and tag me on Instagram @Cucina Nicolina  ❤️

    Recipe

    A small white bowl of orange glaze.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Orange Glaze

    Nicole Spiridakis
    This two-ingredient orange glaze adds sweet citrus flavor to cakes, quick breads, scones, muffins, and more!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 473 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

    Instructions
     

    • Sift the 1 cup powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk in the 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice, using 2 tablespoons to start and adding more if needed. Adjust the consistency by adding more sugar for a thicker glaze or more lemon juice for a thinner glaze.

    Notes

    • Consistency matters. You can add more powdered sugar to make a thick, frosting-like glaze or add more juice for more of a drizzly icing. Make sure to have extra sugar and juice on hand so you can adjust as needed.
    • Add to cooled items only. The quickest way to make a glaze disappear is to add it to warm baked goods! Make sure to thoroughly cool cakes, cookies, muffins, etc., before adding the glaze so that it shows up prettily on top.
    • Sift the sugar. ALWAYS sift powdered sugar before whisking it into glazes or mixing it into frostings. This will eliminate any lumps and instead create a gorgeously smooth glaze.
    • Double up. Easily double or even triple the quantities in the recipe card to make more glaze.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 473kcalCarbohydrates: 122gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 118gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
    Disclaimer: Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is an estimate (I'm not a nutritionist and can't guarantee accuracy!). Even when not specified, be sure to check that all the ingredients you use are gluten free if you need them to be by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer.
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know in the comments how it went!

    More Frostings, Icings, and Glazes

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      Salted Caramel Frosting
    • A cake frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting.
      Favorite Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

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    A photo of Nicole Spiridakis

    Welcome!

    I'm Nicole, a writer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I share carefully tested gluten-free baking recipes as well as the occasional vegetarian and vegan dish, all made with simple, wholesome ingredients. I believe in real food, lots of vegetables, and balance, too -- because I dearly love cake. Welcome! Learn more about me.


    The cover of the cookbook Flourless: Recipes for Naturally Gluten-Free Desserts by Nicole Spiridakis shows an opera cake.

    My cookbook, Flourless, was published by Chronicle Books and is full of naturally gluten-free desserts to tempt everyone! Learn more.

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