Cinnamon Roll Icing

Amethyst · September 28, 2025, 2:48pm

Cinnamon Roll Icing

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Add powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract to a bowl.
Whisk together until combined. If needed, add extra powdered sugar or milk to adjust the thickness of the icing.

Notes:

How to make icing thicker? Add a little extra powdered sugar and reduce the milk.

How to make icing thinner? Add a little extra milk to the mixture.

How to get rid of lumps? This is an optional step, but to help reduce lumps, sift the powdered sugar before mixing.

For richer flavor, use whole milk or half and half.

If you want a pure white color, use clear vanilla extract.

Can you leave out the butter? Yes, you can leave out the butter. This will make it more of a glaze rather than a frosting.

Can you make icing without milk? Yes, you can substitute milk with water or a dairy-free option.

Variations:

This icing recipe is a blank canvas for flavor. Here are a few ways to make it your own:

Flavor: Want to change up the flavors? Try substituting milk with a flavored coffee creamer or even eggnog. Orange or lemon juice also works well for a citrus flavor.

You can also substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract or a splash of maple syrup.

Color: Add a dash of color by using a few drops of food coloring. You could also stir in some colorful sprinkles for funfetti icing.

How to store leftover icing for cinnamon rolls:

Store: If you have leftover frosting or want to make it ahead of time, store the cinnamon roll icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last about 2 weeks.

Reheat: This doesn’t have to be reheated. You can leave it out at room temperature for 30 minutes to make it easier to spread, or if you want, microwave it for about 5 seconds.

Common questions: Can I double this cinnamon roll icing recipe?

This recipe is enough to cover about 12 large cinnamon rolls. It’s easy to double this recipe if you have a large crowd, or even cut the recipe in half if you just want it for a few rolls.

Do you put cinnamon roll icing on before or after baking cinnamon rolls?
Icing should be spread on the rolls after they have finished baking. I recommend letting the cinnamon rolls cool at least 5 minutes before putting on the icing so that it doesn’t melt and run off the rolls.

Do you put icing on cinnamon rolls while they’re hot?

It’s best to let cinnamon rolls cool for about 5 minutes before adding icing.

Can you make cinnamon roll icing without milk?

Yes, you can make this icing recipe without milk, but understand the flavor may differ. You can substitute with water, heavy cream, half and half, or even a flavored coffee creamer.

Nutritional Facts:

Recipe courtesy of Food Lovin Family.com