• About
  • Work with Me
  • Contact
  • Food Photography

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Baked Goods Β» Icing without Powdered Sugar

January 3, 2021 (last updated February 4, 2021)

Icing without Powdered Sugar

Jump to Recipe

I love to be able to top a muffin or quick bread with a pretty white icing. But powdered sugar is usually the base and I wanted something that is only lightly sweetened but still creates that beautiful drizzle on my muffins. This icing recipe without powdered sugar uses coconut cream as the base.

This icing is a perfect topping for my gluten-free banana bread, gluten-free vegan pumpkin bread, gluten-free sweet potato muffins or my zucchini carrot apple muffins (gluten and dairy-free). My gluten-free blueberry muffins would be amazing with the lemon version of this icing (see below).

gluten-freedaity free muffins with no-sugar icing

What is Coconut Cream?

Like coconut milk, coconut cream is available in cans. Open a can of coconut cream and there is a thick white cream on top and coconut water on the bottom (usually). DO NOT MIX OR SHAKE THE CAN. Scrape the thick cream off the top and save the water and thinner cream for a smoothie.

The different brands of coconut cream vary wildly! Some are as thick as butter while others are more like whipped cream. The one that has mostconsistently worked for me is the the Whole Foods market 365 brand coconut cream. The Native Forest is usually too thick.

NOTE Coconut is very sensitive to temperature. Too hot and it might be runny. Too cold and it might be grainy or too thick. If it’s hot in your house, this icing might not be the best option. If it’s a cold day and the coconut cream seems too thick, heat it in the microwave for 3, yes, just three seconds, then stir. This will heat it enough to be more pourable.

Add a little sweetener and you have a perfect, no powdered sugar icing. I prefer agave or maple syrup as the sweetener but use whichever one you prefer.

How to Ice Muffins

In order to get that pretty drizzle on top, a squeeze bottle or piping bag with a #4 tip works best. Be sure that you have blended the mixture smooth so that there are no chunks of coconut cream. The chunks will clog up the piping tip.

Hold the tip at least 1/2″ above the muffin or bread, squeeze and move slowly across to create your desired pattern.

gluten-free muffin with squeeze bottle piping icing on top

Icing Flavors

Add different flavors to complement your muffins or bread. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Add the zest of one orange for a topping that is perfect on banana bread, muffins, pumpkin bread. The zest will make it a little chunky so, it will not pipe as well but still tastes AMAZING!
  • Add the zest of one lemon for a topping that is great on blueberry muffins or poppy seed muffins.
  • Add 1/8 tsp of vanilla extract or peppermint flavor.
  • Add 1/8 tsp cinnamon for a perfect topping on just about ANY muffin or bread.
Continue to Content
Icing without Powdered Sugar

Icing without Powdered Sugar

Yield: 1/4 c
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This muffin or quick bread icing contains NO powdered sugar. Coconut cream is the base.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut cream (1 15 ounce can should have enough)
  • 1 tsp agave, maple syrup or your choice of sweetener
  • Optional flavor additions:
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • zest of one orange
  • 1/8 tsp peppermint flavor
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

NOTE Coconut is very sensitive to temperature. Too hot and the cream might be runny. Too cold and it might be chunky, grainy or too thick. If it's hot in your house this icing might not be the best option. If it's a cold day and the coconut cream seems too thick, heat it in the microwave for 3, yes, just three seconds, then stir. This will heat it enough to be more pourable.

  1. DO NOT SHAKE or stir the can of coconut milk. Scrape the thick, white cream off the top. There may or may not be coconut water underneath. Save that for a smoothie.
  2. There will likely be some chunks in the coconut cream. Stir well with a wire whisk.
  3. Stir in the sweetener and optional flavor additions if using.
  4. Pipe or spread on just before using.

Did you make this recipe?

Share the yum!

© Janet Harlow
Cuisine: American / Category: Baked Goods
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Baked Goods, Dessert, Vegan · Tagged: dessert topping

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

This gluten-free, rich, fudgy, chocolate orange ca This gluten-free, rich, fudgy, chocolate orange cake has got us singing a tune. Link to the recipe in my profile. 
🍊🍫🍊
It's dairy free, and gets its wonderful moist, rich texture from vegan yogurt - @kitehillfoods
almond milk is the bomb.
πŸ«πŸŠπŸŽ‚
#orangechocolatecake #chocolateloafcake #chocolatecake #glutenfreecake #glutenfreechocolatecake #glutenfreerecipes #bakefromscratch #glutenfreebaking #cakerecipe #cakefromscratch #glutenfreechef #orangeandchocolate
I am so excited to present these after & before ph I am so excited to present these after & before photos of my Gluten-Free Spice Cake (also dairy-free) with sweet potato frosting. Link to the recipe in my profile.Β 
πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‚
The 3rd photo, from back in 2015, was on my old blog. When I started to learn photography last year, I also launched a new blog & didn't want to post the recipe with that unappealing photo. I finally got around to a re-shoot & the recipe is back.
πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‚
Thank you to @dr_nadiafazal and @sweet_tooth_by_drj for hosting and to @heathygoodiesbylucia for judging this
#foodphotoglowup & inspiring me to do something I'm proud of!Β 
Check out the # for some beautiful food photography.
No food coloring or powdered sugar (no cane sugar No food coloring or powdered sugar (no cane sugar at all) was used in this Sweet Potato Frosting. Just sweet potato, cream cheese butter and maple syrup. Maybe using sweet potato in frosting sounds really weird to you, I think it is perfect. Link to the recipe for this creamy, dreamy frosting in my profile. 
🍠🧁🍠
In my opinion most frostings are way too sweet. Using a naturally sweet base for frosting, means less added sugar. This frosting is just sweet enough and is perfect slathered on carrot cake, spice cake, vanilla cake or even chocolate cake.
I'm excited that this gluten-free chocolate cupcak I'm excited that this gluten-free chocolate cupcake recipe was perfected just in time for Valentines Day. It's simple to make, dairy-free too and the recipe is linked in my profile @chefjanetk
🧁🍫🧁
Top it with just one or all 3 frostings for a neapolitan cupcake. The strawberry buttercream is flavored & colored with freeze dried strawberries. That chocolate cream cheese frosting is vegan and so creamy dreamy! The cream cheese frosting is just sweet enough for a chocolate, red velvet or carrot cake. My previous post links to these frosting recipes.
🧁🍫🧁
This post is my contribution to #youbakemecrazy hosted by the wonderful @prettydeliciouslife @peaches.and.company @jackelinnepastry @the.magic.whisk  and @marilynfoodie
Huge thanks to them for hosting and putting in the work!

#glutenfreecupcakes #chocolatefrosting #veganfrosting #dairyfreecupcakes #creamcheesefrosting #chocolatecupcake #glutenfreedairyfree #glutenfreedessert #strawberryfrosting #featuremyfood #bakefromscratch #glutenfreetreat #glutenfreebaking #foodphotographyΒ  #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreechocolate #neapolitan
Two kinds of frosting on one gluten-free chocolate Two kinds of frosting on one gluten-free chocolate cupcake. Vegan chocolate cream cheese frosting and cream cheese frosting (with dairy). Both recipes are linked in my profile @chefjanetk
🧁🍫🧁
These frostings are just the right consistency for piping onto cupcakes or decorating a cake. I tried making vegan cream cheese frosting without the chocolate and it's yummy, but more like a runny icing. The gf, df cupcake recipe is coming very soon!
🧁🍫🧁
#frosting #cupcakefrosting
#veganfrosting #glutenfreerecipes #frostingrecipe #chocolatefrosting #creamcheesefrosting #chocolateandvanilla #foodphotography #featuremyfood
Just one more pic of the gluten-free pizza I worke Just one more pic of the gluten-free pizza I worked on this week. Broccoli, grape tomatoes, vegan pesto and a healthy drizzle of balsamic glaze.  I highly recommend the balsamic for a sweet tangy accent to pizza. Link to the vegan crust recipe in my profile.
πŸ•πŸ₯¦πŸ…
I just perfected this recipe for thin crispy glute I just perfected this recipe for thin crispy gluten-free pizza crust using this @myorodemark cast iron pan. Link to the gluten-free and vegan recipe in my profile. 
πŸ•πŸ•πŸ•
The key to a crispy pizza crust is high, DIRECT heat on your crust, just like the pizza ovens at your fav pizza place. This cast iron pan allows you to get that direct heat in your home oven. It's a little tricky with delicate gluten-free dough,  but I worked out a method to make it easy.
πŸ•πŸ•πŸ•
I simplified my old recipe by using @kingarthurbaking Measure-for-measure flour. All you need is 6 ingredients!
Are you a pizza traditionalist?Are you a cheese pi Are you a pizza traditionalist?Are you a cheese pizza person or are you creative with your toppings? 
πŸ•πŸ•πŸ•
This gluten-free pizza is topped with pesto, butternut squash, vegan feta & mozzarella, fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. It's a perfect way to use whatever you have in the fridge. Regardless of the toppings this gluten-free pizza crust recipe is linked in my profile!

Copyright © 2021 Chef Janet · Theme by 17th Avenue · Privacy Policy