In this recipe, we’ll teach you how to make some of the best cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls. This is not your average icing. Think of it as more of a high-quality frosting like you would expect to get from an upscale bakery.
Extra-Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Thinking of delicious extra-fluffy cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting? We’ve got you covered.
This is a recipe we’ve been asked for over and over. And as a bonus, we’ve included our sweet dough recipe for cinnamon rolls too.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to get started. . .
Electric mixer with paddle attachment, you can also mix by hand
Baking pan, for cinnamon rolls
Rolling pin, for cinnamon rolls
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
For the frosting, you’ll need the following ingredients. . .
vanilla extract
cream cheese
butter
buttermilk
salt
powdered sugar
Cinnamon Roll Dough
For the sweet dough, you’ll need these ingredients. . .
milk
sugar
salt
yeast
eggs
shortening
all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Roll Filling
For the cinnamon roll filling, you’ll need these items. . .
brown sugar
butter
cinnamon
Frosting and Assembly
Be sure your cinnamon rolls are completely cooled before adding the frosting. To speed up the cooling process you can place the pan in the refrigerator, after it has started to cool.
Be careful to not place a piping hot glass pan in a cold location as this could cause it to shatter.
Preparation
Use our step-by-step instructions below in the recipe card to prepare some of the most delicious cinnamon rolls you’ve tasted.
Why do cinnamon rolls need a different style of cream cheese frosting?
We believe that the absolute best cinnamon rolls traditionally use a better grade cream cheese frosting for these reasons. Our recipe is a light, fluffy, easy to spread recipe, and it isn’t overly sweet.
Recipe Tips
Here are our recipe tips for making this delicious cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls.
Use an electric hand mixer for fluffy frosting. We recommend using an electric hand mixer or electric stand mixer for creating fluffy frosting. This will allow you to achieve a whipped effect.
Butter and cream cheese at room temperature. Using butter and cream cheese that are warmed to room temperature will allow you to create a lighter frosting. It makes it easier to whip the frosting.
Use full fat cream cheese in a brick. You’ll want to use full fat cream cheese for this recipe. The kind that comes in the brick works best and gives the best flavor.
10 Minute Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls
Even though this frosting tastes like you’ve slaved over it for hours, it’s one of those that can be pulled together in about 10 minutes.
The key is, however, to plan ahead so that you can have your butter and cream cheese at room temperature by the time you’re ready to use it.
Ingredients in Cream Cheese Frosting
You will need the following ingredients to make this delicious cream cheese frosting recipe.
vanilla extract
cream cheese
unsalted butter
buttermilk
salt
powdered sugar
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting For Cinnamon Rolls
Following are our step by step instructions for how to make cinnamon roll frosting.
Frosting Ingredients
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup butter, room temp
2 tablespoons buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
Frosting Directions
Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and butter using a paddle attachment. Mix until smooth.
Add buttermilk, salt, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until combined.
Spread over completely cooled cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Why is it important to have room temperature cream cheese?
Using room temperature cream cheese is the key to this recipe because it will allow the texture of your frosting to be light and fluffy.
Using cold cream cheese will cause the mixture to stay dense. And if you’re in a pinch, we don’t recommend microwaving your cream cheese to soften it. This can potentially make it too warm and cause your frosting to melt.
How to Avoid Grainy Frosting
Graining frosting can potentially happen when the sugar doesn’t get mixed in well enough and the butter and cream cheese are too cold.
To fix frosting that’s too grainy, allow it to sit and rest, then mix again. Add more moisture, a little at a time if needed.
Can Cream Cheese Frosting Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, cream cheese frosting can be made ahead of time. Be sure to store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. Then let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes and rewhip it before serving.
Made This Recipe and Love It?
Please submit a 5 star review using the comments box below.
A Note on Salt and Oven Temperature
Both the salt and the oven temperature for this recipe can be adjusted as needed. If you’re on a low sodium diet, perhaps you’d rather use a salt substitute, decrease the salt, or eliminate the salt completely.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
We think you’ll love this cream cheese icing for cinnamon roll recipe because it’s light, fluffy, and isn’t too sweet.
You know those frostings that feel like the sugar overpowers you. Not this one. Yes, it’s sweet, but it’s not likely to throw you into a sugar coma.
Cream Cheese Icing is NOT Just for Cinnamon Rolls
If you’re thinking this cream cheese icing is so delicious, we’d say we agree with you. And it doesn’t just have to be used on cinnamon rolls.
You can also use it on cookies, sweet breads, cupcakes, cakes, and anything else until your heart’s content. It just might be your new favorite frosting.
Storage and Reuse for Cream Cheese Icing
Refrigerator. This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It should be kept in an airtight container.
Freezer. We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as the results are not as good as when it’s fresh.
The Perfect Cinnamon Roll Icing
We believe you’ll save this as one of the perfect cinnamon roll icing recipes. It’s delicious and quite straightforward to make. It makes an excellent topping for your cinnamon rolls!
Nutrition Facts
Following are the nutrition facts based on our frosting recipe above. Please note that nutrition information can vary according to the brand of ingredients, so be sure to calculate nutrition facts based on the ingredients you intend to use.
Calories 226
Total Fat 17.2g
Saturated Fat 10.8g
Cholesterol 49mg
Sodium 194mg
Total Carbohydrate 16.8g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 1.9g
Calcium 25mg
Iron 0mg
Potassium 36mg
Why I Love This Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls
There are several reasons why we love this cream cheese frosting recipe for cinnamon rolls and we believe you will too. It’s tried and true, cinnamon rolls need frosting, it’s easy, and the most important aspect is it tastes good.
Be sure to follow our tips & ingredient notes when making this recipe.
Other Brunch Recipes
Here are some other brunch recipes you’ll enjoy.
Ultimate Wildberry Pancakes
Tasty Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes
Cinnamon Swirl French Toast
Double Dip French Toast
Blueberry Morning Cereal Easy Baked
Flavor Variations for Cream Cheese Frosting
There are many potential flavor variations for cream cheese frosting. Here are some ideas if you’re looking for a way to mix things up.
Coffee. Add a bit of brewed coffee to the mix for a subtle coffee flavor.
Maple. Use a bit of maple syrup in your cream cheese frosting to give it a subtle maple flavor.
Brown butter. If you like the flavor of delicious brown butter, we recommend creating some and adding it to your frosting recipe.
Maple Frosting or Vanilla Frosting
Maple frosting or vanilla frosting, that is the question. What flavor will you try first. Check out our other flavor variation recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Following are frequently asked questions related to cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
How many rolls does this recipe frost?
The number of cinnamon rolls this recipe frosts varies depending on the size of cinnamon rolls being frosted. We estimate this recipe frosts up to 12 cinnamon rolls, depending on the thickness of the frosting.
How do you make cinnamon roll icing without using cream cheese?
There are a few different ways you can make cinnamon roll icing without using cream cheese. The simplest way to do so is to use powdered sugar and mix in a small amount of milk, stirring until it’s smooth. The thicker you can make it, the better.
Do cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?
Yes, if stored longer than 2 hours cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated. Because the frosting contains dairy, it should be stored at 40F degrees or less for food safety reasons.
Can I freeze cream cheese frosting?
Yes, you can freeze it, but it’s best fresh. We don’t recommend freezing it, but if you choose to, you’ll want to transfer it to a zipped freezer bag and place it in the freezer for up to two months.
Can I make cinnamon roll icing without cream cheese?
Yes, it’s possible to make cinnamon roll frosting without using cream cheese.
What is the frosting on cinnamon rolls made of?
Frosting on cinnamon rolls can vary. Some recipes are plain simple icing of powdered sugar and milk, while others use more of a whipped buttercream style, and cream cheese frostings are also popular with cinnamon rolls.
Other Cinnamon Roll Ideas:
How to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls
Copycat Bojangles Cinnamon Biscuit Recipe
Copycat Panera Bread Cinnamon Roll
Copycat McDonald’s Cinnamon Melts
Save to Pinterest:
Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- electric mixer
- Baking pan
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
Frosting Ingredients
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese room temp
- 1/2 cup butter room temp
- 2 tbsp buttermilk
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
Sweet Dough
- 2 cups lukewarm milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp yeast
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup soft shortening
- 7 cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Roll Filling
- 1/2 cup soft butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
Instructions
Frosting
- Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and butter using a paddle attachment. Mix until smooth.
- Add buttermilk, salt, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until combined.
- Spread over completely cooled cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Sweet Dough
- Mix together lukewarm milk, sugar and salt.
- Crumble yeast into mixture and stir until fully dissolved.
- Add eggs, shortening and flour and mix until fully incorporated. The flour should be added in 2 additions to make it easier to handle.
- Cover dough and place it in a warm location and let rise until double in size.
Cinnamon Roll Filling
- Roll dough out on a flat surface and spread softened butter.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Roll cinnamon rolls and let rise until light.
- Bake at 350F degrees for 20-30 minutes until the center is done.
Notes
Nutrition
For more posts like this one, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
