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There’s nothing like a luscious Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls. I’m talking about the kind of frosting that, when slathered on soft, warmly spiced rolls, makes you close your eyes and savor the moment. This fluffy, velvety frosting provides just the right amount of buttery sweet tanginess to make them complete.
It’s hard to believe that a frosting this good could be so easy to make. You’ll need just one bowl, 5 simple ingredients, a mixer and 5 minutes of your time to make this creamy frosting. That’s it. No fancy techniques, no obscure ingredients you’ll use once and then forget about in the back of your pantry.
What an easy recipe, and it was delicious!! I made cinnamon rolls and this was the best frosting ever for the rolls. I will be making this my favorite frosting for sure!
Patty
Table of Contents
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: The star of the show here, providing tangy richness. Full fat is best (more on that in the tips below.
- Butter: salted or unsalted – if using unsalted butter, add ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt or to your taste.
- Powdered Sugar: For best results, use fresh powdered sugar. Older sugar can absorb odors and moisture, affecting the frosting’s texture and taste.
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract is the only way to go here as it’s a major flavor component of the frosting.
- Kosher Salt: Its larger grains dissolve evenly.
Why do cinnamon rolls need a different style of cream cheese frosting?
Many cream cheese frosting recipes are thick enough to stand a spoon in and so sweet they’ll make your teeth ache. But for homemade cinnamon rolls you want a light, fluffy frosting that’s easy to spread and isn’t overly sweet. It’s the ideal finishing touch for warm cinnamon rolls, whether you’re treating yourself on a rare quiet Sunday morning or impressing the in-laws with minimal effort (don’t worry, I won’t tell them how easy it was).
6 Recipe Tips
- Sift the sugar: For the smoothest cream cheese frosting, be sure to sift the powdered sugar before adding to the other ingredients. This step is especially important if you are using powdered sugar that you’ve had on hand for a while. If you’re short on time, you can also whisk the powdered sugar well in a mixing bowl to break up any clumps.
- Use an electric mixer: For the fluffiest frosting, use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer instead of mixing by hand.
- Room temperature ingredients: Make sure to let the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature (not cold or too warm) before you begin. This will make the frosting come together quickly with a texture that’s perfectly light, smooth and creamy.
- Full-fat cream cheese: For the best texture and richest flavor, use full-fat cream cheese that comes in a foil wrapped brick instead of low-fat or spreadable cream cheese that comes in a tub. The higher fat content of full-fat cream cheese not only makes it more flavorful, it helps to preserve its texture when whipped with the other ingredients. Using spreadable cream cheese could result in runny cream cheese frosting.
- Unsalted butter: If you are using unsalted butter, you will have better control over the flavor of your cream cheese frosting. I like to add ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt when I use unsalted butter, but you can adjust the amount of salt as you see fit.
- Troubleshooting Tip: If the frosting is looser than you want, refrigerate to firm it up.
More Easy Frosting Recipes
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting For Cinnamon Rolls
Make this fluffy cream cheese frosting by adding cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt into a mixing bowl.
With a handheld mixer or stand mixer with a paddle or whisk attachment, combine the ingredients by mixing for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy. (Be careful not to overmix the frosting, or it will become runny and drip off the sides of the cinnamon rolls.) Slather on warm Brioche Cinnamon Rolls or your favorite recipe.
Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls
Video
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature (recipe note)
- 6 tablespoons butter room temperature (recipe note)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 168g
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl with a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle or whisk attachment, beat the softened cream cheese and butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
- Spread frosting generously over warm cinnamon rolls and serve.
Notes
- You want your cream cheese and butter to be at room temperature, but not warm, which can create an overly soft texture. If your frosting is too soft, refrigerate to firm it up enough for spreading (~15 to 30 minutes should do it).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I used to be a crew leader at cinnabon and couldn’t remember the frosting recipe, taste just like it.
Thank you so much,I may just eat the frosting lol jk;) My fiance is picky he enjoys this as well.😁😁
I love to hear this, Theresa!! Thank you for coming back to let me know!
Your welcome, thank you for the recipe. Tastes so much better,then,the other frosting recipes,I’ve tried.
This is bookmarked and ready for a cinnamon roll-obssesed family member. YUM! 🙂 ~Valentina
Fantastic! Thank you, Valentina!
What an easy recipe, and it was delicious!! I made cinnamon rolls and this was the best frosting ever for the rolls. I will be making this my favorite frosting for sure!
I love to hear this, Patty! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know.
I’m with Angie – that’s one of the best (if not the best!) part of cinnamon rolls 🙂 Loving the fact it’s lighter and less sweet.
Thanks, Ben! I agree completely.
One of the best part of cinnamon rolls 🙂
I agree!