Velvety, thick, and wonderfully tangy, this homemade Cream Cheese Frosting is perfect for all your cinnamon roll recipes. It’s made with cream cheese, butter, just a little powdered sugar, and vanilla whipped into a fluffy texture. Use it on warm, gooey cinnamon rolls for a slightly, tangy flavor that’s not too sweet.
Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting Made in 5 Minutes
Cream cheese frosting takes homemade cinnamon rolls to a whole new level. It’s not as sweet as a traditional powdered sugar glaze that you see on a Cinnabon. Instead it has a tangy rich flavor that’s not overly sweet and won’t compete with the sweet gooey filling of your cinnamon roll.
I’m not a fan of the powdered sugar glaze that you see on most cinnamon rolls. It just adds sugar to what is already a pretty sweet roll. Instead, this cream cheese frosting is rich and creamy, similar to a traditional cream cheese cake frosting but there is only a half a cup of powdered sugar. (Cream Cheese frosting typically has about four cups of powdered sugar.)
By cutting back on the sugar, you get a buttery cream cheese taste that goes perfectly without whatever your filling might be. Try it spread on traditional homemade cinnamon rolls or some apple cinnamon rolls.
Making cream cheese frosting is super easy and only takes 5 minutes.
Spread it over warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls.
If you find yourself without cream cheese, you can still make a creamy buttercream frosting that is fantastic on cinnamon rolls.
Why It Works
- Quick: You only need 5 minutes to make this tangy cream cheese frosting recipe.
- Not too Sweet: Much less sugar than traditional frosting.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can make the frosting ahead of time, store it in the fridge or freezer, and pull it when you need it.
You Only Need The Basics
- Cream cheese: You’ll need block-style cream cheese. Don’t use the kind that comes in a tub, as it won’t mix properly.
- Butter: Unsalted butter adds a rich flavor and texture.
- Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this finely ground sugar helps sweeten and thicken the frosting.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a depth of flavor to the frosting.
Cinnamon Roll Frosting Instructions
Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Keep mixing until the frosting is creamy and lump-free.
Troubleshooting and Tips
- Room temperature: Both the cream cheese and butter should be at room temperature in order to become creamy and fluffy. If you forget to set them out, you can learn how to soften cream cheese and soften butter quickly.
- Mix: You can also use a hand mixer and a large mixing bowl to make the frosting. You can even just use elbow grease and mix it with a wooden spoon.
- Cream cheese icing: You can add a splash of milk to thin out the frosting to make it more of a glaze.
- Lemon juice: To get a little citrus, add a splash of fresh lemon juice when you add the sugar and vanilla.
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temp
- ½ cup butter room temp
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl and mx with an electric mixer until combined. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. If it is too thick, add a little milk, too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Notes
- You can make this more like a glaze by adding milk.
- This will stay fresh in the freezer for 3 months.
