In 10 minutes, you can make homemade cinnamon roll frosting using basic ingredients. It’s smooth, creamy, and free of cream cheese, as well as rich with vanilla and butter. Sometimes referred to as “cinnamon bun frosting.”
Cinnamon Rolls is one of those pastries that truly go over the top because of the sticky creamy icing that’s drizzled on top. It’s tantalizing and wonderful, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself devouring spoonfuls of it.

How to make cinnamon roll icing recipe from scratch without cream cheese?
- Mix ingredients – This includes powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, milk. These should be combined until they are smooth and creamy.
- Assemble – With a spatula, spread the glaze over the heated rolls.
How do you make icing without butter (Cinnamon roll glaze)?
Anything without butter would be considered a glaze and that’s simply made by mixing together milk, powdered sugar and extract until it’s thick but can be poured rather than being spread over the rolls. It should have the consistency of corn syrup.
Variations for cinnamon roll frosting
Cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls- Instead of the frosting listed below, use my Best Cream Cheese Frosting. Spread it on warm rolls so that it melts a bit.
Add sprinkles – This will result in a multicolored funfetti icing, which is ideal for children’s birthday celebrations.
Use it on other baked goods – Examples include rolls, muffins, cookies, brownies, bars, cakes, and cupcakes.
Add food coloring- To make the icing whatever color you choose, use liquid food coloring or gel colors.
Try other flavors – The classic flavor is obviously vanilla but feel free to play around with other extracts such as almond, lemon, coconut, or orange. You may also use orange, lemon, and lime zests.
Add chocolate – For a touch of chocolate, add some cocoa powder or small chocolate chips.
Add Oreos – To make a cookie and cream taste, coarsely crush some Oreos and incorporate them into the icing.
Add nuts- Mix in roughly chopped pecans for a nutty flavor.
Storage
Refrigerate – Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Freeze- For up to a month in a well sealed container. When you are ready to enjoy it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 30-40 minutes.
Tips and Techniques
Do you heat up this icing? No. Just spread it on hot rolls. The warmth from the rolls will make the icing ooey gooey.
How to make icing thicker? Reduce the quantity of milk and add extra powdered sugar.
How to make frosting thinner? Add extra milk as needed to get the required consistency.
Use unsalted butter – This keeps the frosting from being overly salty.
Use full fat milk – Despite the modest quantity used, full fat milk guarantees that the icing has maximum richness and creaminess.
Don’t replace butter with margarine or shortening – This is because butter provides a lot of flavor and depth that the other two components lack.
How to know frosting is ready? When you scoop icing onto your spatula and it retains its form without spilling, it’s ready.
Use clear vanilla extract- Because it keeps the icing pure white rather than a “off-white” hue.
Can you make dairy free icing without milk? Sure, you may use whatever dairy-free vegan milk you like, including almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, and oat milk.
All ingredients should be at room temperature – Because they blend together smoothly and evenly.
Sift powdered sugar – This is optional, but I strongly suggest it since it eliminates any lumps and clumps, resulting in the smoothest icing imaginable.
More Frosting Recipes
- Sugar Cookie Frosting
- Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Marshmallow Frosting
- Peanut Butter Frosting
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Homemade Cinnamon Roll Icing
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
In 10 minutes, you can make homemade cinnamon roll frosting using basic ingredients. It’s made without cream cheese and loaded with vanilla & butter.
Yield: 2 cups
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter, Unsalted, Room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract (use clear extract to avoid discolouration)
- 2-3 tbsp Whole milk , Or heavy cream
- Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and milk in a medium-sized mixing basin until smooth and creamy.
- Spread on top of heated rolls. Some of the glaze with get absorbed and some of it will set on top. Enjoy!
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it before using it on baked products.
1128kcal, 181g carbs, 1g protein, 47g fat, 29g saturated fat, 124mg cholesterol, 416mg sodium, 20mg potassium, 177g sugar, 1418IU vitamin A, 31mg calcium, 1mg iron