Easy Chocolate Glaze - Glossy Glaze for Donuts, Cakes, and More! (2024)

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Make perfectly smooth and silky Chocolate Glaze from scratch with this super easy recipe. All you need is 4 ingredients and 5 minutes! This glossy glaze is perfect for dipping gluten-free donuts and eclairs or drizzling over everything from bundt cakes to brownies.

Table of Contents

• The Best Chocolate Glaze (For Donuts and More!)
• What Is the Difference Between Chocolate Glaze and Ganache?
• What You’ll Need
• How to Make Glossy Chocolate Glaze
• Tips for Success
• Variation Ideas
• Ways to Use Chocolate Glaze
• How to Store Homemade Chocolate Glaze
• Can I Freeze the Chocolate Glaze?
• Get the Recipe

The Best Chocolate Glaze (For Donuts and More!)

I think everyone should have a good chocolate glaze recipe like this one. It’s not difficult, requires simple ingredients, and it’s such a perfect way to bring a little shine to so many homemade desserts!

I’ll use this rich glaze as a topping for Chocolate Donuts and Gluten-Free Eclairs just as often as I’ll drizzle it over a Chocolate Bundt Cake. It’s versatile, velvety, and takes minutes to make. I’ll definitely be making this glaze over and over again!

What Is the Difference Between Chocolate Glaze and Ganache?

Ganache is a type of chocolate icing (thinner than frosting, thicker than glaze) that hardens as it dries. Meanwhile, the chocolate glaze will still set, but won’t harden the same way as a ganache. This makes a glaze ideal for garnishing desserts like donuts and cakes that call for soft icing.

This recipe falls somewhere between a glaze and a chocolate ganache. Like a ganache, it’s made with melted chocolate and heavy cream, yet it also has corn syrup to make it pliable and dippable, like a traditional glaze. It’s also not quite as thick as a traditional Fudge Sauce like you often use on sundaes.

What You’ll Need

You need only 4 ingredients to make the perfect chocolate glaze for all your donuts, pastries, and more homemade goodies. Below is a quick overview, and don’t forget to refer to the recipe card for the full ingredient details:

• Chocolate Chips: I recommend using good-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips, as they’ll melt down the smoothest. You can also use nice quality chopped chocolate bars if you prefer.
• Heavy Cream: Use full-fat heavy whipping cream for the silkiest, creamiest glaze.
• Butter: For extra richness. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
• Corn Syrup: Just a tablespoon of corn syrup (either light or dark) enhances the texture and finish of the chocolate glaze, see below.

What Does Corn Syrup Do In Glaze?

Adding corn syrup prevents the sugars in the melted chocolate from crystallizing. This keeps the chocolate glaze super smooth and syrupy, with a glossy finish.

How to Make Glossy Chocolate Glaze

Making homemade chocolate glaze is a quick 3-step process:

• Prep: First, add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Choose a bowl that’s wide enough to dip whichever dessert you’re making.
• Heat: Next, warm the heavy cream, and pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Leave the chocolate chips to sit and melt for about 5 minutes.

• Stir: Lastly, stir in the butter and corn syrup. Give everything a whisk to combine, and your chocolate glaze is ready for dipping!

See Also

Almond Flour Brownies3 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies~Midnight Fudge Cake! - Oh Bite ItThree Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Break-Apart Fudge

Variation Ideas

This recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use another type of chocolate, like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. Keep in mind that the higher quality chocolate you use, the better your glaze will be.

Sometimes I’ll flavor this glaze with a few drops of vanilla extract, or peppermint extract. You could even substitute the cream with Bailey’s Irish Cream for a flavor that’s close to my 5-Minute Baileys Chocolate Sauce. So many possibilities!

Ways to Use Chocolate Glaze

Aside from eating it out of the bowl with a spoon (you will be tempted), there are so many ways to make use of this chocolate glaze. It’s perfect for dipping Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts or instead of the glaze on the Air Fryer Gluten Free Donuts, but I never run out of new desserts to decorate. Here are some easy ideas:

• Cakes and Brownies: Use this glaze as a garnish for drip cakes (like my Gluten Free Chocolate Cake), pour it over bundt cakes, or top Gluten Free Brownies for a glossy finish.
• Gluten-Free Eclairs: Make homemade eclairs filled with Vanilla Pastry Cream dipped in chocolate glaze.
• Gluten-Free Cream Puffs: Fill Gluten-Free Choux Pastry with whipped cream and drizzle the tops with chocolate glaze. Or, fill the pastry with vanilla ice cream to make profiteroles.
• Ice Cream: Use this sauce as a topping for No-Churn Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. Or, drizzle it over vanilla ice cream and whipped cream to make a homemade sundae.

How to Store Homemade Chocolate Glaze

Store leftover chocolate glaze covered tightly in the fridge for up to one week. I recommend taking it out about 20 minutes before you plan to use it, to bring it back to room temperature. If you still find the glaze is on the thicker side, warm it a bit in the microwave and give it a stir.

You can usually store glazed baked goods at room temperature for a couple of days. Refer to the storage instructions for individual recipes.

Can I Freeze the Chocolate Glaze?

Yes. The glaze can be stored airtight and frozen for up to 1 month. Defrost the glaze in the fridge and then bring it to room temperature. Give it a whisk before you use it.

More Topping and Frosting Recipes

• Homemade Chocolate Frosting
• Royal Icing
• Gluten Free Oreo Frosting
• Homemade Vanilla Frosting
• Cream Cheese Frosting