Easy Brown Sugar Glaze For Cake

Try this Easy Brown Sugar Glaze if you’re looking for a simple and delicious way to take your cake to the next level! With just four ingredients and a few easy steps, you can create a decadent topping that adds a rich brown sugar sweetness to any baked dessert!

This sweet, creamy brown sugar cake glaze is a game-changer when it comes to taking your cake to the next level. It’s made with just four simple ingredients – butter, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and cream – but the end result is a luxurious, velvety glaze that adds a whole new dimension of flavor to your dessert!

What makes brown sugar glaze so special? For starters, it has a rich, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with any flavor of cake. The combination of brown sugar and butter creates a deep, nutty taste that’s both indulgent and satisfying. And when you add in the powdered sugar and cream, you get a smooth, creamy texture that’s the perfect complement to the tender crumb of a cake.

But the best part about this brown sugar topping is that it’s incredibly easy to make. Even though I am trained in pastry, I’m telling you its foolproof. To make it even easier you can learn all about how to thicken frosting quickly if you do mess it up!

All you need is a small saucepan, a whisk, and a few minutes on the stove. The glaze comes together quickly, so you can whip it up while your cake cools. And because it hardens quickly once poured over your dessert, you get a beautiful, glossy finish that looks like it took hours to create!

Use it on top of a spiced Carrot Bundt Cake or crunchy Gingerbread Biscotti for a decadent twist on your favorite desserts!

Why you should make this recipe

• Quickly add a delicious icing to take your bundt cakes over the top.
• It all comes together easily in one saucepan!
• It’s delicious as a cookie glaze too!

Ingredients you need

• Unsalted Butter – Adds richness and a creamy texture to the glaze while also serving as the base for the other ingredients to melt into.
• Brown Sugar – The key ingredient in this glaze. It provides a deep, caramel-like flavor that complements the sweetness of powdered sugar and creates a complex taste profile. I like to use dark brown sugar for a deeper taste but light is fine too.
• Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the glaze and helps to thicken it, giving it a smooth, creamy texture that coats the cake or cookie evenly.
• Cream – Adds richness and helps to thin out the glaze, making it pourable and easy to spread. It also adds a subtle tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of the sugar.

Light brown sugar vs dark brown sugar

I prefer dark brown sugar because it has a deeper flavor from the molasses content than light brown sugar. You can use either one depending on your preference as long as its fully incorporated into the ingredients.

How to make brown sugar glaze

Melt the butter and brown sugar: Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and melt fully. Then, add in the brown sugar, and stir until fully incorporated and melted. 

Remove from heat: To the butter and sugar mixture, add the powdered sugar and take off the heat. 

Whisk in the cream: Add in the cream and whisk to create a thick glaze. 

Pour over cake: Immediately pour over cake or cookies as this glaze hardens quickly. Let harden and enjoy!

Note: Only make this glaze if you are ready to pour it over the cake. The cake should be cool before glazing.

Recipe Tips

• Learning how to thicken frosting quickly is a useful skill to ensure you have the correct consistency when using this recipe on your favorite desserts.
• Use unsalted butter so that you can control the saltiness of the glaze. Salted butter may make the glaze too salty and overwhelm the sweetness of the sugar.
• When melting the butter and brown sugar together, be sure to stir constantly. It’s important to melt the brown sugar completely to get rid of the lumps so that the glaze has a smooth, glossy texture.
• Once you’ve added the powdered sugar, take the glaze off the heat and whisk it together until it’s smooth and thick. This will prevent the sugar from clumping and create a smooth, creamy consistency.

Flavor variations

• For a spiced version, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the glaze before pouring it over your cake or cookies. This will add warm, cozy flavors!
• To make a coffee-infused brown sugar glaze, add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the glaze and whisk it in until it’s fully dissolved.

Storing and freexine

Storing and freezing is not recommended as this glaze hardens quickly. There’s no need to refrigerate. You should make this glaze right before you plan on pouring it over your dessert.

Yes, but keep in mind that dark brown sugar has a deeper flavor and molasses content than light brown sugar. You can use either one depending on your preference as long as its fully incorporated into the ingredients.

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