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CinnamonRollsRecipe.com

Coffee Icing

A smooth, pourable coffee icing built on strong brewed espresso, giving cinnamon rolls a grown-up mocha-adjacent bite.

A cinnamon roll beside coffee, finished with a coffee icing.
Sweetness
medium
Tanginess
none
Consistency
pourable
Prep time
7 min
Makes
~0.75 cups

The quick answer

Dissolve instant espresso in a splash of hot water, then whisk it into powdered sugar with melted butter and a pinch of salt until pourable. Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls and let it set to a glossy coffee sheen.

For anyone who takes their cinnamon roll with a cup of coffee, this icing folds the two together. Strong brewed espresso dissolves into a powdered sugar base, loosened with a little butter for gloss and body, to make a pourable icing with a real coffee edge — bittersweet, aromatic, and just sweet enough. It cuts through the richness of the dough the way a good espresso does, and it comes together with a whisk in under ten minutes. Pour it over warm rolls and let it set to a soft, mocha-colored sheen.

Not sure which icing to use? See the complete cinnamon roll icing guide — the simple base recipe, the sugar-to-liquid ratio, and how to choose between glaze, cream cheese, maple, and dairy-free.

Ingredients

  • instant espresso powder1 tbsp
  • hot water1 tbsp (15 g)
  • unsalted butter, melted1 tbsp (14 g)
  • powdered sugar1.25 cup (150 g)
  • fine saltpinch

Instructions

  1. 1Dissolve the espresso powder in the hot water and stir until no granules remain; let it cool slightly.
  2. 2In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter into the sifted powdered sugar with a pinch of salt.
  3. 3Whisk in the dissolved espresso a little at a time until the icing is smooth, glossy, and pours in a slow ribbon.
  4. 4Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls and let it set for a few minutes into a soft mocha-colored sheen.

Apply, adjust & store

Best applied when
rolls are warm, about 10 minutes out of the oven
Storage
Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days; the coffee flavor deepens overnight. Bring to room temperature and whisk before using. Iced rolls hold, covered, for up to 2 days.
Consistency adjustments
For a thicker icing that stays on top, add powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. For a thinner drizzle, add a few more drops of espresso or water.

Food safety: this frosting contains dairy. Refrigerate leftover frosting, and refrigerate frosted rolls after a couple of hours at room temperature. Bring back to room temperature before serving.

Cinnamon rolls to pair