Quick Cinnamon Roll Icing without Cream Cheese

Quick Cinnamon roll icing - nailed it!!. Not too thin, not too thick, just right. It is so good that you can eat it spoonful; literally!!

And the best part?? It's made without cream cheese and gets done under 5 mins.

What is Cinnamon Roll Icing made of?

Cinnamon roll icing is a sweet, thick, sugary frosting that is spread on cinnamon rolls once baked while it is still warm. It's made from icing sugar (also called confectioner's sugar), butter, milk, and vanilla. The icing covers the top of the rolls and can be used on homemade or store-bought rolls.

What kind of icing is used for cinnamon rolls

This is a very subjective question and the answer depends on personal taste. Some people prefer thick cinnamon roll icing like this recipe. Others prefer a flowy consistency like a sugar glaze (don't worry I will definitely be sharing how you can use this same recipe to make a sugary glaze consistency). No matter what the consistency is two major types of icing is generally used - Butter based or Cream Cheese based.

In this recipe, we will be looking at butter-based frosting which is similar to buttercream frosting except for the method of preparation.

Btw this recipe works to suit all your needs; use it to frost a cookie or drizzle on cakes, cupcakes, and muffins!

I have used it along with our easy cinnamon rolls recipe. Btw it's an eggless recipe and still yields such soft cinnamon rolls that you won't believe it has no eggs in it.

Ingredient Substitutions & Tips

• 1/3 cup Butter - use softened or room temperature butter so that it is easy to whip it. Cold or melted butter won't work.
• 1 - 1.5 cups Icing Sugar- this recipe can be suited to one's needs. The amount of icing sugar can be adjusted to suit personal preference. You can also grind granulated sugar to make powdered sugar and then use it in the recipe. Except for brown sugar, you can make any type of sugar to work for this recipe. Using brown sugar would change the color of the frosting which is why it is not advisable to use it.
• 2 tsp Vanilla - Any other flavor of choice can also be used. If you want a pure white coloured frosting then try and use clear vanilla extract.
• 3 tsp Milk - Use more or less depending on the thickness desired. I recommend using full-fat milk but any plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc can be used though it can impart its own flavor to the icing.
• Cinnamon Rolls - Fresh or Store-bought any would work.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

By the way, I have heard that it's a family tradition to bake classic cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. Is this true? Please let me know in the comments.

Storage Instructions:

You can store it at room temperature in an airtight container for a couple of hours away from direct sunlight. But since it has milk it is recommended to store it in the refrigerator.

In the Fridge:

If you have leftover frosting or if you want to make it ahead of time then the best way to store the cinnamon roll icing is in the refrigerator.

Transfer the leftovers to an air-tight container and store them for 7 days.

When ready to use let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours till it is soft to spread.

In the Freezer:

To store in the freezer simply transfer to a zip lock bag and store for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours before using.

Bakers' Tips

• The recipe can be easily doubled. Use a stand mixer for making larger quantities or use a large bowl for mixing if using a hand-held electric mixer.
• Use only butter and not margarine or shortening for best results. Also, prefer using unsalted butter just
• I recommend using full-fat milk for a rich and creamy outcome. That being said you can use any type of milk even plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, etc or even water can also be used. Please note it might not be as rich as ones made with full-fat milk.
• Using warm milk just slightly warm to the touch would help to dissolve the icing sugar a bit and you would have a really smooth frosting.
• Use almond extract for a different flavor profile or add lemon or orange zest for a citrusy kick.
• Make sure that all the ingredients are at room temperature so that it gets blended well easily. This is also the key to making frosting quickly.
• If you do not have icing sugar just powder your granulated sugar, sieve, and then use it in the recipe. Since we apply the icing on top of warm rolls, the sugar will dissolve slightly and you won't feel the grittiness of it.
• To make a thick cinnamon roll icing, use more sugar and less milk.
• To make a runny, sugar glaze kind of icing, use more milk and blend till you get the desired consistency.

Different types of icing for cinnamon rolls

A cinnamon roll is a type of Danish pastry made with yeast-leavened dough that is rolled into a spiral and baked.

Cinnamon rolls are often topped with icing or frosting which can be flavored in many different ways.

The two most common are butter and cream cheese frosting.

But there are other popular choices in terms of flavours that include chocolate, orange, peanut butter, or even caramel, or in terms of the ease of making it.

Here are a few ideas for you:

• Two ingredient cinnamon roll icing - Just use 1/2 cup Icing Sugar and 2 tsp Lemon Juice. Mix together and add it on top of warm rolls similar to eggless royal icing. Such an easy recipe to follow right?
• Cream cheese icing - A classic frosting recipe that so many of you prefer with delicious cinnamon rolls.
• Frosting recipe without butter - A sweetened vanilla frosting that is lighter in terms of texture due to the addition of whipped cream making it a classic whipped cinnamon roll icing recipe.
• Cinnamon Roll Icing without milk - Use water instead of milk in our recipe. the resultant won't be as rich or creamy but nevertheless would taste good.
• Pillsbury cinnamon roll icing recipe - I would only be fair to say that this recipe is a copycat version of the Pillsbury ones as they too use buttercream-based icing along with their cinnamon rolls.
• Cinnamon roll icing with granulated sugar - Though you cannot use granulated sugar as it is in the recipe what you can do is simply pulse it in the mixer till powdery and then sieve and continue with the recipe.
• Flavor profile - The easiest way to amp up any icing is by changing the flavor profile. A few options would be to use simple lemon or orange zest, peanut butter, chocolate, caramel, brown butter, etc.

Let me know which of the frosting recipes you prefer to use on your naked cinnamon roll. Isn't it magical how such simple ingredients come together to create a family favorite recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Recpe

1. Eggless Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
2. Stiff Cream Cheese Frosting
3. Cinnamon Roll Glaze

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