Easy Sweet Orange Glaze
This two-ingredient orange glaze adds sweet citrus flavor to cakes, quick breads, scones, muffins, and more!
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!
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This is Such a Bright & Fresh Orange 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 Needed for Orange Glaze
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 for Orange Glaze
- 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.
How to Make Sweet Orange Glaze
Here's an overview in photos of how to make this citrus glaze:
1. Combine: Place the orange juice and powdered sugar in a bowl.
2. Whisk: Whisk and stir together until very smooth.
Make the Best Orange Galze
- 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.
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
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 ❤️
Orange Glaze
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.
