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Honey Glaze

A glossy, pourable honey glaze that drips into warm cinnamon rolls with floral sweetness and a delicate golden shine.

A cinnamon roll with a glossy honey glaze melting into the swirls.
Sweetness
high
Tanginess
none
Consistency
pourable
Prep time
6 min
Makes
~0.75 cups

The quick answer

Warm honey with a little melted butter and milk, then whisk in powdered sugar until it ribbons off the whisk. Drizzle over hot cinnamon rolls so the glaze soaks in and sets to a soft shine.

When you want the swirls to shine through instead of hiding under a blanket of frosting, this honey glaze is the answer. Warm honey thinned with a touch of milk and butter becomes a translucent, pourable coat that soaks into the top of each roll and sets to a soft gloss. It leans floral and mellow rather than sharply sweet, and it needs nothing more than a whisk and a small saucepan. Drizzle it while the rolls are hot and it wicks straight into the seams.

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

  • honey0.33 cup (113 g)
  • unsalted butter2 tbsp (28 g)
  • whole milk1 tbsp (15 g)
  • powdered sugar0.75 cup (90 g)
  • fine saltpinch

Instructions

  1. 1In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the honey and butter together until the butter melts and the mixture is fluid, about 2 minutes. Do not let it boil.
  2. 2Remove from the heat and whisk in the milk and a pinch of salt.
  3. 3Add the powdered sugar and whisk until completely smooth and glossy; the glaze should ribbon off the whisk and settle back into itself within a few seconds.
  4. 4Drizzle over hot cinnamon rolls while everything is warm, letting the glaze run into the swirls before it sets.

Apply, adjust & store

Best applied when
rolls are hot, straight from the oven, so the glaze soaks in
Storage
Best used fresh. Leftover glaze keeps in an airtight jar at room temperature up to 3 days; re-warm gently and whisk before using. Glazed rolls hold well, covered, at room temperature for 2 days.
Consistency adjustments
For a thicker glaze that sits on top, whisk in more powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. For a thinner drizzle, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time.

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