Lemon Glaze

Aug 8, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

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Doughnuts finished with lemon glaze on a cooling rack

A dippable lemon glaze that sets to a smooth shell on doughnuts. Makes enough for 12 doughnuts.

Prep 10 min

Cook —

Set 15 min

Total 25 min

Yield 12 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

2.0 cups (240.0 g)confectioners' sugar, sifted
3.0 tbsp (45.0 ml)lemon juice
2.0 tsplemon zest, finely grated
3.0 tbsp (45.0 ml)whole milk, plus more as needed
⅛ tspfine sea salt

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Instructions

Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl that's wide enough for dipping, and whisk in the salt.
Add the milk and lemon juice and lemon zest and whisk until smooth. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the glaze falls from the whisk in a thick ribbon that settles back into itself in a few seconds.
Dip the top of each cooled doughnut into the glaze, lift, and let the excess drip off. Set on a wire rack.
Let the glaze set until dry to the touch, about 15 minutes.

Tips

Glaze doughnuts while they're barely warm for a thin, crackly shell, or fully cooled for a thicker coat.
Vanilla boost: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract with the other flavorings for a rounder, warmer flavor.
Storage: Best the day it's made. Keep leftover glaze covered at room temperature for up to 1 day; whisk before using.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon glaze?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep, plus 15 minutes to set. It makes enough for 12 doughnuts.

How should I store lemon glaze?

Best the day it's made. Keep leftover glaze covered at room temperature for up to 1 day; whisk before using.

A dippable lemon glaze that sets to a smooth shell on doughnuts. Makes enough for 12 doughnuts.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

82 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

20.7g Carbs

0.2g Protein

20.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~984 cal · 1g fat · 248g carbs · 2g protein · 241g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 82 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 15 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 11 min·0.6 mi·~1100 steps
Moderate cycling 8 min·1.6 mi
Swimming laps 11 min
Jogging 8 min·0.7 mi·~1300 steps
Stair climbing 8 min·~700 steps
Dancing 13 min
Bodyweight circuit training 8 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 19 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.