Simple Earl Grey Glaze is the secret weapon for lazy bakers (like, you know, yours truly) who crave a fancy touch on their cakes without fussing over complicated steps.
Maybe you’ve got a store-bought pound cake drying out on the counter or just baked lemon muffins that came out… kind of bland. This glaze takes even the most basic dessert and makes it taste like you accidentally wandered into a five-star restaurant’s kitchen. Seriously. The hint of tea? Genius.
Your friends will think you’re some sort of culinary magician (let’s not spoil the secret).
What Makes Simple Earl Grey Glaze So Special
Okay, so here’s the scoop: Simple Earl Grey Glaze is not just sugar, water, and a splash of vanilla. It’s got soul. That subtle bergamot flavor from the tea just sits there, whispering I’m fancy but not stuck up in each bite. And it goes on just about anything you can imagine: cinnamon rolls, cookies, pound cakes, even scones if you’re feeling fancy on a Sunday morning (who isn’t?).
I was first introduced to this idea after a friend brought this glazed olive oil loaf to brunch. It was the only thing anyone talked about for an hour. At first, I thought, oh, it’s probably hard to make. But nope. It’s laughably simple and tastes like someone spent all afternoon tinkering. Steeping the tea is the hardest step (if you can even call it hard). The payoff? Completely worth it.
“I made the Simple Earl Grey Glaze to top my plain banana bread, and it turned a so-so dessert into something super special. Everyone wanted the recipe!”
— Jamie, regular home baker
What You Need for Simple Earl Grey Glaze
Super basic. Like, five-ingredients-and-you’re-done basic.
- 1 cup powdered sugar (Sometimes called icing sugar. Don’t overthink this. Dump it in a bowl.)
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream (I like using cream for a richer flavor but milk totally works.)
- 1 Earl Grey tea bag (Or one heaping teaspoon loose leaf. Go fancy or just grab from the box in your cabinet.)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (It’s optional but… come on. Why not?)
- A tiny pinch of salt (Let’s bring out those flavors!)
You don’t need a scale, stand mixer, or even a sense of direction in the kitchen. Promise.
Simple Directions for Glaze Perfection
Look, you don’t need a culinary degree for this.
Just follow these down-to-earth instructions:
- Heat your milk or cream just until it’s warm, not boiling (microwave or stovetop, who cares).
- Pop in the Earl Grey tea, let it seep its magic for at least five minutes. The longer, the stronger.
- Remove the bag or strain out the leaves if you went loose.
- Stir in the vanilla and salt, then dump in the powdered sugar.
- Whisk until glossy and smooth. If it’s too thick, add a drip more milk. Too thin? Extra spoonful of sugar. Taste test. Absolutely.
Serving Suggestions for Your New Secret Weapon
- Drizzle liberally onto still-warm cakes and let it soak in.
- Use on top of blueberry scones (seriously, you’ll never go back).
- Spread lightly on cookies when you want something wild, not just sweet.
- Sneak a spoonful straight from the bowl when nobody’s looking.
I accidentally (but not really) poured it over waffles last week. Not mad about it.
Best Tricks and Blunders to Avoid
Let the tea fully steep in the warmed milk. Rushing equals boring glaze. And don’t skimp on the salt. It does something magic. Oh, and if you’re using non-dairy milk, go for oat milk over almond—less weird flavor, in my opinion. Learned that the hard way.
If your glaze looks runnier than soup, add more powdered sugar and whisk like you mean it. And please, taste as you go. Nobody wants a gloppy mess (unless that’s what you’re aiming for). If you want the Simple Earl Grey Glaze thicker so it really sits on top, add more sugar. Too sweet? A squeeze of lemon works wonders.
Give Your Bakes a Little Drama
So here’s the thing: once you make Simple Earl Grey Glaze, you’re going to want to put it on everything. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s seriously the fastest way to perk up lazy cakes, tired scones, or even breakfast waffles. Half the time, people are just amazed you used tea in a dessert garnish. If you want more creative baking ideas, check out these expert baking tips from King Arthur Baking.
Long story short—try this, even if you’re skeptical or convinced nothing can save last week’s leftover loaf. Your inner baker (and honestly, your taste buds) will be glad you did.
Simple Earl Grey Glaze
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 1 cup of glaze 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A quick and easy glaze that adds a sophisticated touch to cakes and other desserts, featuring the unique flavor of Earl Grey tea.
Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 Earl Grey tea bag (or 1 heaping teaspoon loose leaf)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- A tiny pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat the milk or cream just until warm, not boiling.
- Add the Earl Grey tea and let it steep for at least 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag or strain out the leaves.
- Stir in the vanilla and salt, then add the powdered sugar.
- Whisk until glossy and smooth, adjusting milk or sugar for desired consistency.
Notes
Let the tea steep fully for the best flavor and don’t skimp on the salt. Adjust thickness with sugar or milk. Works well on various desserts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg