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Sweetened Condensed Milk Glaze

This creamy sweetened condensed milk glaze is made with 4 ingredients in 5 minutes or less. It turns cake, bread, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls into the ultimate treat and makes every bite delicious. You’ll love to have this light and velvety icing recipe in your repertoire.

sweetened condensed milk glaze

Easy glaze with sweetened condensed milk

This condensed milk glaze is so easy – simply combine the ingredients and mix until smooth. No fuss, just a delicious cake glaze in a minute or two. We’ve been making this recipe for years, and it will elevate any dessert and treat.

The sweetened condensed milk icing has a velvety, thick texture, comparable to cream cheese icing, and spreads effortlessly on cakes, bread, and cinnamon rolls. It’s also great to dip muffins into, frost cookies, and drizzle over waffles and pancakes.

Whatever you want to refer to this recipe – sweetened condensed milk glaze, condensed milk icing, or condensed milk frosting – you call it yummy! Just one lick, and you’ll be hooked. Enjoy!

condensed milk glaze ingredients

Ingredients

This condensed milk icing is prepared with 4 staple ingredients, making it perfect for whipping up on a whim. Here’s an overview of the ingredients. I’ve listed the specific quantities in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

  • Powdered sugar, aka confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar, is very fine and creates a light and sumptuous glaze. I recommend sifting to remove lumps.
  • Butter: I prefer salted butter in this recipe to highlight the sweetness and milky flavor. Of course, you can also use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt. It’s best to soften the butter before getting started to mix easier.
  • Sweetened condensed milk helps to make the glaze wonderfully creamy and adds a subtle toffee note. You need 1/3 cup for the recipe. Save the rest for other treats like these condensed milk pancakes.
  • Vanilla extract rounds out the other aromas. If possible, use pure vanilla extract rather than the imitation stuff. You could omit it and make it a 3-ingredient glaze, but I prefer that little extra oomph vanilla provides.
how to make condensed milk glaze

How to make sweetened condensed milk glaze

It’s so quick and easy to make this condensed milk topping. You can whip it up with a hand-held mixer or a stand mixer. Here’s the process step-by-step:

#1: Mix butter and condensed milk

  • Place the sweetened condensed milk, softened butter, and vanilla extract into a medium mixing bowl.
  • Beat with an electric mixer until the butter is fully blended in and the mixture looks evenly.
  • You can also perform this step with a stand mixer fitted with the balloon whisk attachment.

#2: Add powdered sugar

  • Add the sifted powdered sugar into the bowl.
  • Mix on low for a minute to incorporate, then increase the speed to high and whip for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture looks thick, creamy, and velvety.

#3: Flavor glaze (optional)

  • Add any additional flavorings you desire (e.g., cocoa powder, ground cinnamon, citrus zest), and mix until combined.
  • See the variations section below for suggestions.

#4: Use glaze

  • You can use the glaze in different ways. Spread it onto cookies, rolls, buns, and cakes using an offset spatula or a spoon. Dip the tops of muffins and cupcakes in the glaze. Or pipe it onto your baked goods and desserts with a pastry bag.
condensed milk icing

Tips for success

  • Soften the butter before whipping the glaze; it will whip much easier. To soften, remove your butter from the fridge 30 minutes before you want to use it. You can also gently warm the butter in the microwave for a few seconds, but be sure not to fully melt it.
  • Adjust the consistency. To make the condensed milk icing recipe firmer and turn it into a frosting, double the amount of powdered sugar and use 2 cups. If you need a thinner, runnier glaze, simply mix 1 to 2 tablespoons milk into the mixture until you achieve your desired viscosity.
  • Makeahead: You can make this sweetened condensed milk icing a day in advance and store it covered in the fridge. Before icing your goodies, take the glaze out of the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour and let it come to room temperature. Quickly re-whipped with your mixer or a whisk and use.
fast condensed milk icing

Variations

  • Vanilla bean: Replace the vanilla extract with 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or the seeds from a fresh vanilla bean pod.
  • Chocolate: Mix 1 to 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder into the condensed milk glaze.
  • Cinnamon: Prepare the condensed milk topping for cakes with 1 tsp ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
  • Citrus: Flavor the icing with 1 tbsp freshly grated lemon zest or orange zest.
condensed milk frosting recipe

How to use condensed milk icing

Condensed milk glaze is sweet, luscious, and incredibly addicting. The rich icing is a compliment for many treats and desserts. It’s the perfect addition to your homemade baked goods and can even be used to dress up store-bought items. The glaze is delicious on:

  • Cakes, sheet cakes, and pound cakes
  • Bread and quick bread
  • Rolls and buns (we love it on cinnamon rolls)
  • Sugar cookies
  • Muffins and cupcakes
  • Bars and brownies
  • Donuts
condensed milk cake glaze

FAQ

Can I double the condensed milk icing recipe?

Absolutely! The recipe makes approximately 1 1/2 cups glaze, more than enough to ice 12 cinnamon rolls/muffins or 20 cookies. If you intend to ice a large cake or sheet cake, you probably want to double the quantities to have enough condensed milk glaze.

Does glaze with sweetened condensed milk need to be refrigerated?

Yes, icing with condensed milk needs to be refrigerated. While canned condensed milk lasts for serval years, opened condensed milk can go bad at room temperature. To learn more, have a look at this article from Does It Go Bad?

Can I use pure condensed milk as a glaze?

Yes, you can use sweetened condensed milk as a glaze without adding additional ingredients. Room temperature condensed milk has a runny, syrupy consistency and doesn’t hold up well.

However, there’s a simple trick to make it work: Chill your can of condensed milk in the fridge overnight. Cooling condensed milk thickens the texture, and it will hold up better. Ideally, you also want to refrigerate the glazed pastry, so the glaze doesn’t warm up and become runny.

Can I use evaporated milk for this recipe?

No, this homemade glaze won’t work with evaporated milk because it’s thinner than condensed milk and doesn’t have added sugar.

powdered sugar and condensed milk icing

Storage instructions

  • Refrigerator: Icing made with sweetened condensed milk will keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Allow it to come to room temp before using it.
  • Freezer: You can freeze leftover condensed milk frosting recipe in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

More frosting recipes

If you love a good homemade frosting, here are a few more that you can try. These icing recipes are easy to make and are perfect for all your baking projects.

sweetened condensed milk glaze

Condensed Milk Glaze Recipe

Yield: 1 1/2 cups icing
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This creamy sweetened condensed milk glaze is made with 4 ingredients in 5 minutes or less. It turns cake, bread, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls into the ultimate treat and makes every bite delicious. You’ll love to have this light and velvety icing recipe in your repertoire.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup / 130 g / 4.6 oz powdered (confectioners’/icing) sugar, sifted
  • 1/4 cup / 1/2 stick / 60 g / 2 oz salted butter, softened (can use unsalted butter + 1/8 tsp salt)
  • 1/3 cup / 90 g / 3 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Mix butter and condensed milk. Place the sweetened condensed milk, softened butter, and vanilla extract into a medium mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until the butter is fully blended in and the mixture looks evenly. You can also perform this step with a stand mixer fitted with the balloon whisk attachment.
  2. Add powdered sugar. Add the sifted powdered sugar into the bowl. Mix on low for a minute to incorporate, then increase the speed to high and whip for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture looks thick, creamy, and velvety.
  3. Flavor glaze. (optional) Add any additional flavorings you desire (e.g., cocoa powder, ground cinnamon, citrus zest), and mix until combined. See the variations section below for suggestions.
  4. Use glaze. You can use the glaze in different ways. Spread it onto cookies, rolls, buns, and cakes using an offset spatula or a spoon. Dip the tops of muffins and cupcakes in the glaze. Or pipe it onto your baked goods and desserts with a pastry bag.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 (2 tbsp per serving) Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 66Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 43mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

Amy

Thursday 10th of October 2024

I made this and it is delicious! Thanks for a super easy recipe.

Cyna | Country Hill Cottage

Friday 11th of October 2024

Thank you so much, Amy!

Cheryl

Sunday 7th of April 2024

thank you for your recipe, i cannot wait to try it!

does the glaze harden as it dries? i plan to drizzle it on cookies

Cyna | Country Hill Cottage

Monday 8th of April 2024

Hi Cheryl! The glaze forms a thin crust (because of the powdered sugar), but it doesn't harden through (thanks to the condensed milk). You can drizzle it on cookies, but I wouldn't stack the cookies. I hope this helps and happy making!

Beverly

Monday 4th of March 2024

Can I make this and use peanut butter for the flavor?

Cyna | Country Hill Cottage

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

Hi Beverly! I haven't tried it, but think you can stir some peanut butter into the finished glaze. Please let me know how it goes if you try. Happy making!

Trudy

Sunday 1st of October 2023

Recipe says: 1/4 cup / 1/2 stick / 60 g / 2 oz salted butter, softened (can use salted butter + 1/8 tsp salt)

Very confusing. Salted butter + 1/8 tsp salt?

Cyna | Country Hill Cottage

Monday 2nd of October 2023

Hi Trudy! Thank you for catching that - updated now! it's either 1/4 cup salted butter OR 1/4 cup unsalted butter + 1/8 tsp salt. Happy making!

CHERYL COLEMAN

Wednesday 7th of September 2022

WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS? AWESOME DELICIOUS. WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE PREMADE AGAIN. AND THIS IS SIMPLE.

Susan Huber

Friday 9th of December 2022

This sounds so great! I first saw your recipe on a baking show and the person was using it for the icing in macarons. This is what I’m going to use it for as well. Thanks for sharing this great recipe with us!

Cyna | Country Hill Cottage

Thursday 8th of September 2022

I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing this kind review!

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