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This rich, buttery coffee glaze brings a smooth espresso kick to your favorite baked goods.

With just four simple ingredients, it blends deep coffee flavor with a hint of salt for balance, creating a glossy drizzle that’s perfect for cakes, scones, cookies, and more.

Recipe Info

This recipe is:

Simple and versatile. This coffee glaze comes together in minutes and works beautifully on cakes, cookies, scones, and more.
Deep coffee flavor. Made with brewed coffee, this glaze delivers a rich, smooth coffee taste that’s easy to adjust to your preference.
Easily customizable. Add vanilla, spices, or a bit of espresso powder for extra depth. Want it thinner? A splash of milk or water will do the trick.

Making this coffee glaze for the first time? Read the ingredient notes, step-by-step instructions, and tips. If you already know the recipe, feel free to jump straight to the recipe card.

Ingredients and Substitutes

Brewed coffee. The main source of flavor. I’m using strong, freshly brewed coffee, but any kind works. If you’re using instant coffee or espresso powder, dissolve it in a couple of tablespoons of water. Want a bolder coffee taste? Just use more coffee for the same amount of liquid.
Powdered sugar. The base of the glaze.
Butter. A little melted butter adds richness and enhances the flavor.
Salt. A pinch brings out the flavors. Skip this if you’re using salted butter.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Coffee Glaze

Melt the butter. Heat it on the stove or in the microwave, but don’t let it boil.

Melted butter — Gently heat butter until melted

Prep the sugar. If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift it into a small bowl.

Powdered sugar in a bowl — Sift the powdered sugar

Stir in the coffee. The mixture should be thick. If you see dry spots or lumps, add coffee ¼ teaspoon at a time until it comes together but stays thick.

Mix in the melted butter. Pour it in and stir. The glaze may thicken slightly at this stage.
Adjust the consistency. If it’s too thick or lumpy (which is likely), add coffee in tiny amounts—about 1/8 teaspoon at a time—until smooth. If it gets too thin, stir in more powdered sugar until it’s drizzly but not runny. If you run out of coffee, water or milk will work too.
Add salt to taste. Mix in a pinch, taste, and adjust until you’re happy with the flavor.

Adding the melted butter — Stir in melted butter, adjust with coffee

Stirring in the melted butter — Stir in melted butter, adjust with coffee

Use immediately. Drizzle over baked goods or use for dipping. Make sure whatever you’re glazing is completely cool—otherwise, the glaze will melt and slide right off.

Dipping donut into a bowl of glaze — Drizzle or dip cooled baked goods

Donut dipped in coffee glaze — Drizzle or dip cooled baked goods

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Tips

Add spices. Want a spiced coffee glaze? Mix in cinnamon, cardamom, or your favorite blend of spices into the coffee before making the glaze.

Warm up if speckled. If the glaze looks grainy or speckled, the butter likely solidified before fully mixing in. Set the bowl in warm water and stir until smooth.
Add vanilla extract. A little vanilla (about 1/2 teaspoon) complements the coffee flavor beautifully.

Donut topped with coffee glaze — Donut coated with coffee glaze

FAQ

The surface does form a crust after about 10 to 30 minutes at room temperature, but it stays a bit soft underneath because of the butter. If you add too much milk, it takes longer to dry and might not set properly.

Keep leftover glaze in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. When you’re ready to use it, warm it up and stir in a splash of water, coffee, or milk to restore the right consistency.

Leave them out until the glaze hardens, then place them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge.

Smooth and thick coffee glaze dripping from a whisk

Similar Recipes to Try

Looking for more? Check out these recipes:

Powdered sugar glaze. The classic, made with just powdered sugar, milk, and a touch of vanilla.
Maple glaze. A simple glaze where maple syrup replaces some of the sugar. Exactly as tasty as it sounds.
Brown butter glaze. A little extra effort (since you have to brown the butter), but the flavor is totally worth it.
Earl Grey glaze. Just like this coffee glaze, but infused with Earl Grey tea. Perfect for tea lovers.
Cinnamon glaze. A quick, cinnamon-spiced glaze you can make in 5 minutes.

Coffee Glaze

This rich, buttery coffee glaze brings a smooth espresso kick to your favorite baked goods. With just four simple ingredients, it blends deep coffee flavor with a hint of salt for balance, creating a glossy drizzle that’s perfect for cakes, scones, cookies, and more.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Butter, Coffee, Glaze, Icing, Powdered Sugar, Topping

Servings: cup

Author: Marcin Skrzypiec

Equipment

Whisk

Ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/3 tablespoons coffee more to adjust consistency
1 1/3 tablespoons butter
pinch salt

Instructions

Melt the butter. Melt on the stove or in the microwave without boiling.
Sift powdered sugar.
1 cup powdered sugar
Add coffee. Stir until thick but uniform. If dry spots remain, add coffee ¼ teaspoon at a time.
1 1/3 tablespoons coffee
Mix in melted butter. Stir it in; the glaze will thicken.
1 1/3 tablespoons butter
Adjust consistency. If too thick or lumpy, add coffee in tiny amounts. If too thin, add powdered sugar. The glaze should drizzle but not run.
Add salt to taste. Mix in a pinch at a time, tasting as you go.
pinch salt
Use immediately. Drizzle or dip. Ensure baked goods are cool before glazing.

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Coffee Glaze [4 Ingredients, 5 Minutes]

For when your dessert needs a caffeine boost.