This cinnamon roll icing is perfect for anyone who's not a fan of cream cheese frosting. You'll love the drizzly consistency and cozy vanilla flavor! Pair it with my delicious Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls.
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Tips & Ingredient Notes
This is just an overview, click here to jump down to the full recipe card for the recipe amounts and condensed recipe instructions.
- Unsalted Butter: You'll need to use unsalted butter for this recipe. Let it soften on the countertop a bit before you start the frosting.
- Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners' sugar!
- Vanilla extract: Real vanilla extract tastes best, but imitation works too.
- Milk: Just a splash to get the right consistency.
- Salt: The secret ingredient to balance all the sweetness.
- Cinnamon rolls: Of course, you'll also need cinnamon rolls for pairing with this cinnamon roll icing! Use my Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls or your own favorite recipe.
PS. If you like cream cheese, my cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls is even tastier than this quick glaze!
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Icing Without Cream Cheese:
Print this recipe! Click here to jump down to full recipe card for the condensed, printable recipe.
- Let ¼ cup of butter sit at room temperature until it softens (or just pop it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until slightly softened).
- Place the butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and a ⅛ teaspoon of salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy, about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Add 2 to 4 tablespoons of milk, beating in a tablespoon at a time until the cinnamon roll icing reaches your desired consistency.
- Drizzle the icing onto semi-cooled cinnamon rolls, or use it however you like!
Ingredient Substitutions & Tips
Here are some variations to try:
- Make it without milk. You can make cinnamon roll icing with water, but it just won't be quite as creamy. You can also make cinnamon roll icing without milk by using non-dairy milk like oat or almond.
- Make it without butter. For cinnamon roll icing without butter, mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Note that it will be thinner and more translucent on the rolls.
- Make it with cream cheese. Looking for a traditional cream cheese cinnamon roll icing recipe? You can click over to my easy cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls to find out how to make cinnamon roll icing with cream cheese. For a thinner cinnamon roll icing with cream cheese, add milk to the recipe.
- Make less. If you want a light glaze for cinnamon rolls, make half of the recipe below.
Storing: Store this icing in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Let it come to room temperature before you use it, then stir. You may need to add a bit of milk to reactivate it.
Freezing: You can freeze cinnamon roll icing for 2 to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are some alternative toppings for cinnamon rolls?
Powdered sugar, a drizzle of honey, whipped cream, fresh berries, chocolate drizzle, or caramel sauce are all delicious toppings for cinnamon rolls if you don't want to use frosting.
How long should you wait before icing cinnamon rolls?
Your cinnamon rolls should still be warm when you drizzle them with this simple cinnamon roll icing, but you should let them cool for at least 10-15 minutes to keep it from melting completely.
Do you put icing on cinnamon rolls before baking?
No. Cinnamon rolls are baked first, then the icing is added.
Cinnamon Roll Icing (without cream cheese!)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened i.e. ½ stick
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-4 tablespoons milk add 1 tablespoon at a time until it's the consistency you want
- Pinch of salt
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- Add softened unsalted butter (¼ cup, i.e. ½ stick), powdered sugar (2 cups), vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), and a pinch of salt to a medium-sized bowl.
- Use a hand or stand mixer to mix until combined (about 30-60 seconds). Add milk one tablespoon at a time (2-4 tablespoons) until it's the consistency you desire.
- Pour over slightly cooled cinnamon rolls and enjoy!
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Danielle
Oops I forgot to rate my review - 5 Star for this household :)
Danielle
Made Your cinnamon bun frosting recipe, It turned out great! No complaints from anyone (Actually there wasn't much talking at all happening at all haha)- that's how I new it was a score! Was also super quick and easy to prepare and work with lastly i shall add that I love how this recipe is easily substituted if desired or need be !
Great Recipe Will Make Again Thanks ! :)
Melissa
Yay, so glad it seemed like everyone loved the recipe so much! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Danielle! I really appreciate it!
PJ
So easy to make! So delicious!
Robin Palin
Easy. Tasty. Excellent. It will be my go to icing recipe from now on.
Melissa
So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Robin! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Angela Izzard
I made this and really liked it.
It is now my go to for cinnamon buns 😋
Melissa
So glad you loved them, Angela!
Sophia
I made some other cinnamon rolls and I hated the icing included in the recipe. It was super sweet and too runny for my liking. I stumbled upon this while trying to salvage what I had made. I added the butter and salt and WOW what a difference! Thank you so much for sharing, I will be saving this for my next batch of cinnamon rolls! 😋
Melissa
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Sophia! and I'm glad you could salvage your cinnamon rolls! :)
Fad
V good
Adaya Bender
Very easy to make and tastes very good!!
Mary
Just what I was looking for! My family doesn’t like the cream cheese version, I like fluffy icing. I substituted mike for cream🥰
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Mary! I really appreciate it!
Fajar Khilji
Really good
Dawn S
I've made this a few times to go on top of cinnamon rolls, and it's easy, consistent and tastes great! We have a dairy allergy in the family and it works well with dairy alternatives.
Melissa
Awesome to know it worked with the dairy-free alternatives you used. Thank you for leaving a review, Dawn!
Emma
I have made this recipe a few times for donuts and cinnamon rolls and it is delicious each time! My husband is lactose intolerant so this recipe made with almond milk is fantastic for his needs and everyone else enjoys it too.
Melissa
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe and it worked with the almond milk substitute! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Emma!
Patricia
Made the icing!
SUZANNE
VERY GOOD
Ashley Gatson
I changed the milk to 6 tbsp, but we like to pour ours on. But other than that, I kept it the same. Great taste!!!!
Esmeralda Lopez
I Made This I Only Used A Tablespoon Of Milk. To Me It Was Not To Thick Or Thin I Used A Whisk Instead. The Flavor Was Awesome 🤗
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Esmeralda!
amna
Amazing!
Patti
Love it …super easy
Cri
Great
Melissa
Thank you for leaving a review!
Mark
Came out perfect I made it for cinnamon raisin bagels my kid's loved it
Melissa
So glad that you and your kids loved this Mark!