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Home ยป Baked Goods ยป Cinnamon Roll Icing

Cinnamon Roll Icing

Nov 27, 2019 · 17 Comments

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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 photo

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!

Cinnamon Roll Icing Recipe

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.

Cinnamon Roll icing in a bowl

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.

cinnamon rolls with buttercream cinnamon roll icing

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Pair your Cinnamon Roll Icing with:

  • Cinnamon Roll Recipe
  • Homemade Donuts
  • Monkey Bread
  • Apple Pull Apart Bread

pin image for cinnamon roll icing

Cinnamon Roll Icing Recipe photo

Cinnamon Roll Icing

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!
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4.25 from 57 votes
Print Pin Rate
Servings: 12 large rolls
Calories: 186kcal
Author: Karli Bitner

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

Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 68mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
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Karli Bitner
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Karli Bitner
This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope you’ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house. There isn’t ever a shortage of crazy. I can promise you that! Buckle up, keep your hand and legs inside at all times and enjoy the ride!
Karli Bitner
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Comments

  1. Sarah says

    April 7, 2020 at 6:03 pm

    The best icing Iโ€™ve had! I made it for my cinnamon rolls tomorrow, and I added a few shakes of cinnamon to it. Very delicious!

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      April 12, 2020 at 8:10 pm

      Great idea with the cinnamon Sarah, I’m glad it worked out.

      Reply
  2. Nicole Gemmola says

    May 6, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    What kind of butter.

    Reply
    • Dan Bitner says

      May 8, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks for the question Nicole. I used salted butter. Happy Baking!

      Reply
  3. Salma says

    June 3, 2020 at 1:11 pm

    5 stars
    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)

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      June 16, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      haha Just laughed out loud! Best comment ever! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. โค๏ธ

      Reply
  4. shreya says

    June 5, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      June 16, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      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. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Bill Wrobel says

        June 25, 2020 at 7:43 am

        5 stars
        Is it one stick or 1/2 stick (4 ounces) as in the recipe or 1 whole stick (8 ounces)? Curious.

      • Karli Bitner says

        July 1, 2020 at 11:13 am

        1/2 cup of butter is the same as one 4 oz stick of butter.

  5. Eberly says

    August 2, 2020 at 6:09 am

    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.๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      August 7, 2020 at 7:47 am

      I am glad that you adjusted the recipe too your liking. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  6. Deborah Shaffer says

    September 19, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    love your vanilla buttercream icing recipe, thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      November 25, 2020 at 9:03 am

      Thanks for the comment!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  7. Marea says

    October 23, 2020 at 12:40 pm

    Where should I preserve the cinnamon rolls after I put the icing over them?

    Reply
    • Karli Bitner says

      November 4, 2020 at 9:14 am

      You can store your cinnamon rolls at room temperature in an air tight container.

      Reply
  8. Jason says

    November 30, 2020 at 12:38 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing! Very easy and fast recipe. Big hit at family breakst

    Reply

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This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope youโ€™ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house.

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