Cinnamon Roll Icing Recipe

A cinnamon roll isn’t complete without a cinnamon roll glaze on top! And today I’ll show you how to make two quick and easy cinnamon roll icings – with cream cheese and without! 

 

I’m pretty sure there’s not better than a warm, ooey gooey cinnamon roll fresh from the oven on Christmas morning. With the soft dough, brown sugar cinnamon mixture on the inside, and we can’t forget about the cinnamon roll glaze slathered on top.

Personally I think the cinnamon roll icing is the best part. Because a naked cinnamon roll is just no way to eat one.

Now my favorite recipe for a cinnamon roll icing is made with cream cheese, like on my classic cinnamon roll recipe.

But I’m also going to show you how to make a quick and easy cinnamon roll glaze without cream cheese that I use on my sourdough cinnamon rolls or my quick 1 hour cinnamon rolls. Just in case you don’t have any on hand or don’t prefer it. 

Both are made with simple ingredients and absolutely delicious!

Perfect For Warm Cinnamon Rolls!

• Quick and easy! – The glaze doesn’t take a lot of time to mix up! Both glazes come together in just minutes so you can start enjoying your cinnamon rolls now!
• Perfect amount of sweetness – Both glazes are made with vanilla and powdered sugar and pair beautifully with any homemade cinnamon roll recipe.
• Can make ahead of time – You can prepare the glaze the day before and cover the bowl in plastic wrap and store in the fridge so it’s ready to use the next morning. Before you use it, you may need to thin it out with a bit of milk and let sit at room temperature.

See Also:

• Make the best chocolate frosting with this Chocolate Italian meringue buttercream!
• Oreo frosting is a perfect frosting for your vanilla and chocolate cupcakes that all Oreo lovers are going to swoon over!
• Calling all peanut butter lovers with this peanut butter cream cheese frosting perfect for cakes and cupcakes!

What is cinnamon roll icing made of?

Here are the ingredients (for the full recipe and amounts scroll to the bottom for the recipe card).

• Cream Cheese – Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature. Use full fat brick style cream cheese for the best texture. If you’re making a cinnamon roll icing without cream cheese then you won’t need this ingredient.
• Butter – I like to use unsalted butter, but salted butter can also be used. Cream cheese icing will use softened butter. A cinnamon roll glaze without cream cheese will use melted butter. 
• Confectioners sugar – Or known as powdered sugar or icing sugar. You an always make your own powdered sugar in a food processor!
• Vanilla – I recommend using pure vanilla since this is a no bake recipe and you will taste it, but imitation will work in a pinch.
• Milk – You can use any type of milk for this recipe. You will add just enough to thin out the consistency. The amount of milk you use will vary based on preference. (not shown in picture below and can be an optional ingredient based on preference of thickness)

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Icing With Cream Cheese

1. Beat cream cheese and butter. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, like an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of your stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed, for about 2 minutes until smooth and combined.
2. Add sugar. Add in the confectioners sugar, about a ½ cup at a time and mix on low speed until combined.
3. Add vanilla. Then beat in vanilla extract until combined. Beat on medium-high speed for about an extra 1-2 minutes until fluffy and light in texture.
4. Add a little bit of milk. You can add 1-2 Tablespoons of milk depending on how thick you want your glaze and your personal preference.
5. Ice rolls. Spread the cinnamon rolls with the cream cheese icing. I like to ice the rolls while they are still slightly warm so the icing melts on top of the rolls a bit.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Glaze Without Cream Cheese

1.  In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and milk. 
2. You can adjust the consistency by adding a little more milk, or more sugar. 
3. Then spread the glaze on top of the warm cinnamon rolls (I like to do this while they are still a bit warm).

Recipe Variations

• Use non dairy milk – If you want you can swap out the regular milk and use a plant-based milk like almond milk or coconut milk. 
• Make vegan – You can swap regular cream cheese and use vegan cream cheese, and use vegan butter sticks, and a plant based milk 
• Use heavy whipping cream – For a really decadent frosting you can swap out the milk and use heavy whipping cream.
• Skip the milk entirely! For a really thick cream cheese frosting I like to skip the milk altogether.
• Add a pinch of salt – If the frosting is too sweet for you, add a pinch of salt. 

Recipe Tips

• Use softened cream cheese if using. If your cream cheese is cold your icing will come out all lumpy and that’s no good!
• Add milk sparingly. You only want enough to make it so you can drizzle on top. So add a tablespoon and mix and add a little bit more if you want.
• Use good quality vanilla. Since this is a no bake recipe, I do recommend using quality pure vanilla because it will make a big difference in taste!

Recipe FAQs

More Recipes To Try

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