The base recipe of a cinnamon roll is, of course, important. But you could easily argue (and my husband would support you), that the choice of icing is equally crucial. Will it be a basic royal icing glaze that allows the cinnamon to shine? Will you use a chunky cream cheese frosting, per family tradition? Or would you like to use something that meets in the middle, with a mix of breakfast-y flavors and a light but robust texture? If the latter sounds appealing, keep reading to find out how to make my dad’s favorite – a maple coffee glaze, perfect for cinnamon rolls.

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Maple coffee glaze covers a cinnamon roll and drips over its edges onto a white plate. The plate rests on a dark surface.

Ingredients

You need a few basic breakfast and pantry ingredients for this cinnamon roll icing: brewed coffee, butter, half-and-half (or milk, or cream — any will work), maple syurp, and powdered sugar.

For a more profound coffee flavor, stir about a teaspoon of instant coffee granules into your brewed coffee. Because so little is used in this recipe, a more concentrated coffee essence will make the flavor pop.

How to make maple coffee glaze

Start by melting your butter in a microwave safe bowl. Allow it to cool briefly before stirring in the coffee and half-and-half.

Whisk in powdered sugar; make sure you mix it thoroughly, to eliminate all lumps. Once the powdered sugar is mixed in, add the maple syrup. The finished glaze will be tan in color and opaque; it will be thin, but will coat the back of a spoon.

Spread the glaze over cooled cinnamon rolls. I know, it’s tempting to spread it on while the rolls are still hot, but doing so will cause the maple coffee glaze to melt into the dough. The rolls will be extra sweet, but the average person won’t be able to tell that any cinnamon roll icing was ever applied. Patience, as ever, is key in this recipe.

A cinnamon roll dripping with a tan maple coffee glaze sits on a white plate against a dark background.

I hope you enjoy this maple coffee glaze! Did you use it as cinnamon roll icing, or did you use it for something more creative…like, perhaps, chocolate waffle cookies? If you tried it at home, please tag @WhiskAverseBaking on social media or leave a message in the comments below. You can also click “Pin Recipe” to save this gem for later.