This is the BEST cinnamon roll icing, made with only five ingredients including vanilla and cream cheese. This perfectly creamy and rich frosting is easy, ready in 10 minutes, and will turn ordinary cinnamon rolls into the ULTIMATE breakfast.
Looking for another dessert to wow the family? Try Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites, Cream Cheese Lemon Crumb Cake, and Salted Caramel Stuffed Double Chocolate Cookies.
This is it. The ultimate, best ever, perfect in every way, cinnamon roll icing to end all cinnamon roll icings. Step aside Cinnabon.
I’ve been making this scrumptious icing for a few years now. It’s rich, creamy, silky smooth, and just the right texture and spreadable thickness. It’s so amazing I’ve even used it for cakes, cookies, brownies and bars, and for dipping everything you can imagine.
Even though I am this icing’s number one fan, I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ve had people make cinnamon rolls and phone in a special order of this icing because they love it so much. So I’ve whipped up a batch, or even a double or triple batch, to bring with me to brunches, ready to spread on someone else’s fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls.
So maybe half of the reason I’m sharing this cream cheese cinnamon roll icing recipe with you is to put myself out of a job and be able to bring nothing but my hungry belly to the next brunch.
Pretty sure all of those people who asked me to make this frosting for them never would have guessed it only requires 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes. That’s it. So what makes it so much better than other icing recipes? One very important step sets it apart. Browning the butter.
All you have to do is melt the butter on the stove (a lot of recipes will call for softened butter, but melting the butter is key here) and after it’s melted, stir it a few extra minutes over medium heat until the color darkens from light yellow to a golden yellow. That browned butter combined with the cream cheese and vanilla is what makes this icing so utterly perfect.
What people are saying about this Best Cinnamon Roll Icing
“This is one of the best recipes for icing! It has a great flavor for pastries, especially cinnamon rolls!” – Alicia
“You are right….this is the best! Thank you for sharing!” – Jen
“Usually I’m not a fan of icing but this one was delicious!” – Brittany
“The absolute best icing ever! Im never make any other recipe!” – Meg
Best Cinnamon Roll Icing
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4-10 tablespoons milk, as needed
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Once butter is melted, continue to whisk over medium heat until butter turns from yellow to a golden color. Remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl cream together butter, cream cheese for 2-3 minutes until very fluffy and creamy.
- Mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time, adding 1-2 tablespoons of milk after each addition of powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated, mix in vanilla and more milk (1 tablespoon at a time) until icing is a smooth spreadable consistency.
- Spread immediately on cinnamon rolls, or store chilled in airtight container up to five days.
Catherine
This icing looks delicious! I have been craving cinnamon rolls lately – I’ll have to make some and use this icing! Mmm!
Jen
You are right….this is the best! Thank you for sharing!
Beth
Have you ever frozen the icing? I’m making a ton of cinnamon rolls for a fundraiser, and they will need to go in the freezer.
George
Way too much powdered sugar in my opinion. Would be a perfect recipe with only 1 – 1 1/2 cups. Other than that great recipe!
Ida
Your recips look great but there are way too many adds to sift through to get to them.
Ciffy
Adblocker is your friend
CarolYn
Sweet rolls and frosting are wonderful. I cannot print recipe from my ipad.
Tiffany
Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Merijn
HEy, i have a question. Does this icing tastes like cheese? Sorry if I’m being dumb.
Tiffany
I does not! It is definitely not intended to, that’s for sure!
Brittany English
Usually I’m not a fan of icing but this one was delicious!
Tiffany
So happy that you loved it!! I have to tame myself when wanting to lick the bowl! 😉
Allie
The only issue with this recipe is it doesn’t say what to to with the melted butter. Does it go into the frosting at some point?
Tiffany
Hi Allie- in step 2 it tells you to cream it together with the cream cheese! Then continue on with that in step 3. Hopefully this helps you! 🙂
Alicia
This is one of the best recipes for icing! it has a great flavorfor pastries, especially cinnamon rolls! I do agree with george, it dosen’t need that much powdered sugar. I feel you want to taste the BUTTERY PLUS sugar taste.
TerEsa
Cant wait to try it! My daughters are making peach cinnamon rolls for the fair, im wondering if they could mix some pureed peaches or Small diced or maybe even peaCh juice in the glaze? What do you think?
Tiffany
Hi Teresa- I think that should work! I haven’t done it myself, so I’d love to hear how it turns out!!
Dawn
Could tHis be used on monkey bread?
Tiffany
Absolutely! Sounds DELICIOUS to me!
Shannon
My Frosting is always gritty. Whats wrong?
Tiffany
Your frosting shouldn’t be gritty if you are using powdered sugar… make sure that you mix it on high for a few minutes to ensure that it’s not gritty and becomes fluffy and smooth! I’ve made this numerous times and never had it end up gritty!
anna
hello .
if i don’t use a mixer it doesn’t come out well.please help me
Tiffany
Hi Anna- I am not completely sure I understand what you mean…. a mixer is definitely recommended for this recipe!
Rebekah
The directions were perfect, everything turned out well, the icing itself is simply to sugary for my personal taste. I was looking for a butter cream recIpe that is more rich than sweet (like cinnabon) but this is not it. I will be on the lookout for aomwthing different next Christmas.
Tiffany
Rebekah- thanks for your feedback!
Meg lazaro
The absolute best icing ever! Im never make any other recipe!
Tiffany
Super excited to hear that you love this icing recipe, Meg! Thanks for your feedback!!
Joyce
I’m wondering if this icing harden’s a little bit I want to drizzle it on Rice krispie treats but I don’t want them to stay gooey I wanted to harden
Tiffany
Hi Joyce- it doesn’t harden completely! However, I wouldn’t describe it as gooey either!
Flori
this icing is fantastic!! I love the brown butter flavor in this!! I thought it was weird pOuring melted butter in the cream cheese but it didNt curdle and Came out great! Totally making this again! Thank you for sharing!
Tiffany
Way to stick to the recipe even with your doubts, haha! 😉 I am super excited to hear that you enjoyed this icing so much! Thanks for your feedback, Flori!
yoori
what milk shall i use? it is powdered or liquid? thanks!
Tiffany
liquid milk!
Tracy
How do you store the cinnamon rolls since this icing has cream cheese in it? Do they need to be refrigerated Or can they be left out on the counter fir a day or two?
Tiffany
Store chilled in airtight container up to five days.