Cinnamon Roll Icing is what makes or breaks your Cinnamon Roll. This vanilla buttercream Cinnamon Roll Icing Recipe is the best you’ll ever have!
Cinnamon Roll Icing Recipe without Cream Cheese
Homemade cinnamon rolls can be an incredible dessert, breakfast, or snack, but beyond that, cinnamon filled center and fluffy breading is a cinnamon roll icing that holds it all together. There are many different options for topping a cinnamon roll, but a buttercream frosting or powdered sugar glaze are two of the more common preferences.
I think we can all agree that the cinnamon roll icing is what holds a good roll together. A plain cinnamon roll may be ooey-gooey and delicious, but without the frosting on top, it would seem like something is missing. With this recipe only needing 4 simple ingredients, there’s no excuse for a naked cinnamon roll.
This cinnamon roll icing is incredibly easy to make and super delicious to eat! You may even find that you enjoy it so much that you branch off from the traditional cinnamon roll use and find new ways to enjoy this cinnamon roll frosting! For example, using it as a dip for monkey bread bites, or as a homemade donut glaze!
Ingredients in Cinnamon Roll Frosting
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
Exact measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below. This recipe is perfect for doubling or even tripling!
How to make Cinnamon Roll Icing
In a large bowl, cream your butter until it’s smooth.
Add in the powdered sugar and liquid, alternating. 1 cup of powdered sugar and then some liquid, going back and forth. This helps achieve the perfect consistency.
Generously pour the icing over fresh warm cinnamon rolls. I like to allow my cinnamon rolls to cool for 5 minutes or so before icing them, that way the icing stays on top and doesn’t just melt down the sides.
How long will the icing last?
If stored correctly in an airtight container in the fridge, you can expect this frosting to last up to 2 weeks.
Can you make this icing without milk?
If you don’t have any milk handy, you can substitute for water. You could even use liquid coffee creamer, half and half, or another similar liquid, although anything flavored will undoubtedly change the flavor of this icing.
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Pair your Cinnamon Roll Icing with:
- Cinnamon Roll Recipe
- Homemade Donuts
- Monkey Bread
- Apple Pull Apart Bread
Cinnamon Roll Icing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Cream the butter until smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, alternating with a liquid. (1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla, 1 cup powdered sugar, milk, 1 cup powdered sugar)
- Ice warm cinnamon rolls generously.
- Will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Nutrition
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Sarah says
The best icing I’ve had! I made it for my cinnamon rolls tomorrow, and I added a few shakes of cinnamon to it. Very delicious!
Karli Bitner says
Great idea with the cinnamon Sarah, I’m glad it worked out.
Nicole Gemmola says
What kind of butter.
Dan Bitner says
Thanks for the question Nicole. I used salted butter. Happy Baking!
Salma says
Turned out amazing, i put it on my cinnamon rolls since i wasn’t fancy enough to use cheese , but i would even sit down and just eat it alone because it was that delicious! (note: don’t do that unless you want diabetes loll, but it was amazinggg)
Karli Bitner says
haha Just laughed out loud! Best comment ever! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. ❤️
Cathryn Choate says
Can this be made in larger quantities and frozen for later use?
Karli Bitner says
Sure! Just double or triple whatever you’d like. You can store it in the fridge for a few weeks or freeze it for a few months! Just pull it out when your cinnamon rolls are baking to bring it to room temperature.
shreya says
isn’t 3 cups of powdered sugar a bit too much? I’m making cinnamon rolls for the first time and I’m a little skeptical
Karli Bitner says
Hi Shreya- I make this icing all the time and 3 cups of powdered sugar to the 1 stick of butter is what I always do. 🙂
Bill Wrobel says
Is it one stick or 1/2 stick (4 ounces) as in the recipe or 1 whole stick (8 ounces)? Curious.
Karli Bitner says
1/2 cup of butter is the same as one 4 oz stick of butter.
Eberly says
I think three cups is a bit too sweet and completely overwhelmed the sugar in the cinnamon rolls I made, so the second time I made this frosting, I only used two cups and it was much better, I also added cinnamon. Great recipe accept for the amount of sugar.👍🏽🙂
Karli Bitner says
I am glad that you adjusted the recipe too your liking. 🙂
Rynn GirlDad Young says
Same here! Great recipe
Deborah Shaffer says
love your vanilla buttercream icing recipe, thanks for sharing
Karli Bitner says
Thanks for the comment!! 🙂
Marea says
Where should I preserve the cinnamon rolls after I put the icing over them?
Karli Bitner says
You can store your cinnamon rolls at room temperature in an air tight container.
Jason says
Thank you for sharing! Very easy and fast recipe. Big hit at family breakst
Petra says
Made this morning for a easy Christmas Breakfast. I cut the recipe for the glaze way down as my rolls were small and I would have been wasteful to make all that icing. Enjoyed.
Merry Christmas.
Cooking with Karli says
I’m glad that you enjoyed it Petra. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Kay Hammond says
You have great taste!!
Stacg says
What is the best way to store the pre-made icing until the following day? Room temp? Fridge? Plastic wrap right across top of container? Or plastic wrap pushed against it to keep it as moist as possible? (I’m a beginner!) So far I have just placed it on my counter in a glass storage container with the lid snapped on top. But I imagine it won’t last too long unless I refrigerate it? Thanks for the recipe!
Karli Bitner says
Hi there! Any of those will work great! If it is just for a few days, the counter is fine in an air tight container. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a few weeks!