Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe (2024)

Silky smooth icing is nice, but Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe has crunchy little crystals of brown sugar throughout it making it reminiscent of snickerdoodle cookies. Use Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Buttercream Frosting Recipe on my now-classic Snickerdoodle Cake, white cake, or carrot cake for an indulgent touch!

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe (1)

What is it about a cake that makes you go back for more? If you’re like most people, it’s the frosting. My husband is one of the only people I know who actually scrapes frosting OFF of cakes and eats the cake only. Mostly.

I say mostly because the frosting (or icing, depending on your geography) you see in that picture above is one of the only ones he eats with enthusiasm. We’re talking about Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe, folks. You’re looking at something that is quite possibly the most indulgent frosting that can possibly be made. It makes a seriously abundant amount: enough to frost a large layer cake QUITE generously or a double batch of cupcakes or a bunch of cookies and still have a couple of spoons full left for snitching to boot.

This isn’t your average buttercream, and it makes me wonder if that’s why my husband loves it so. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe is flecked with crunchy little bits of brown sugar and is fragrant with sweet cinnamon making it a stand-out in the frosting/icing/what-have-you field. It absolutely belongs on my now-classic Snickerdoodle Cake, but it’s also beyond perfect on white cake and makes a unique and welcome change from the norm when used to frost a carrot cake. Maybe ‘crunchy sugar bits’ and ‘frosting’ aren’t normally something that would be thought of as a great pairing, but once you’ve tried it, I think you’ll agree; it’s just so darned good.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe (2)

Cook’s Notes:

  • Admittedly, this makes an ENORMOUS amount of Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe. If you’re planning on making my Snickerdoodle Cake, you’re not going to want to reduce the recipe, but if you’re making cupcakes or cookies or a single layer cake, you may find that halving the recipe will still give you plenty. Honest-to-Pete, though, the worst case scenario is having extra buttercream on hand. I don’t know about you, but I am almost always glad to have buttercream around.
  • There is a range given in the recipe for the confectioner’s sugar. This is because not everyone likes their buttercream the same thickness. If you prefer a more easily spreadable frosting, you’ll probably want to go closer to the 8 cup mark. Want it thicker and more architectural? Add closer to 9 cups.
  • While here in the US, half and half is abundant, I understand that it isn’t as widely available internationally. If you’re wondering what to substitute because half and half isn’t available in your market, mix together light cream and whole milk in equal parts. Tada!

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe (3)

Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Rate Recipe

Rebecca Lindamood

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Silky smooth icing is nice, but Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe has crunchy little crystals of brown sugar throughout it making it reminiscent of snickerdoodle cookies. Use Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Buttercream Frosting Recipe on my now-classic Snickerdoodle Cake, white cake, or carrot cake for an indulgent touch!

Ingredients

  • 4 and 1/2 sticks butter or 1 pound, 2 ounces by weight, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 8-9 cups confectioner's sugar powdered
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of half and half plus more if needed

Instructions

To Make the Buttercream:

  • Beat together the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until fluffy and pale in colour.

  • Add 6 cups of the confectioner's sugar and the vanilla extract and beat, starting on low and moving up to high, until it is fully incorporated.

  • Scrape down the bowl and add the half and half. Beat to incorporate again.

  • Add another 2 cups of the confectioner's sugar and beat, starting on low and moving up to high, until fully incorporated. Check the consistency of the buttercream. If it needs to be thicker, add the remaining confectioner's sugar. If it is too thick, add more half and half a teaspoon at a time, beating after each addition, until it reaches the consistency you like. Store unused portions of the buttercream in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 65gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 8mgPotassium: 24mgSugar: 64gVitamin A: 30IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

did you make this recipe?

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Reader Interactions

    Comments + Reviews

    Reader's Thoughts...

  1. Melissa Ann Cooper says

    This icing is amaaaaazing, as is the snickerdoodle cake. My kids loved it so much that they even had it as their wedding cake (along with chocolate, chocolate chip cake)

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      That makes me so very happy, Melissa Ann! I’m so touched they loved it enough for their wedding!

      Reply

  2. Chloe says

    Hi Rebecca! I was wondering how many cups of frosting this recipe makes?

    Reply

  3. Sarah Held says

    I make this frosting all the time. It is amazing! It is my most requested recipe.

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you love it, Sarah!!!

      Reply

  4. Brittany says

    Would you recommend using salted butter or unsalted butter? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      Hi Brittany- I always recommend unsalted unless otherwise specified. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Risa says

    Can the excess frosting be frozen to use at a later date?

    Reply

  6. Deborah Lagutaris says

    I wonder how it would taste if you used browned butter…

    Reply

    • Leslie says

      That sounds like a great idea! Did you happen to try it?

      Reply

      • Robin Casarez says

        Tried it! It was even more amazing made with the brown butter! I also used brown butter in the accompanying snicker doodle cake. Heavenly!

        Reply

  7. I Just Made This name so I could ask a question. Why are you still reading this? says

    Do I have to use whole milk?

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      No. You can definitely adjust it if you wish, but I have not tested it with other milks or dairy products, so proceed at your own risk. 😀 If you DO try it and you want to stop back in and let us know what you substituted and how it worked for you, I’d be grateful!

      Reply

  8. Cake lover says

    This is too much batter for 2 9 inch round. Next time i will use 3 pans to keep from getting the crusty edges.

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      This is the recipe for the frosting. Are you sure you commented in the right place?

      Reply

  9. frances says

    i made the snickerdoodle cake as a dozen cupcakes and a hefty 8 inch round, so halved the frosting and still had plenty. probably could have done 1/3, if i felt like doing that math. i also subbed cream cheese for half the butter to help both cut the sweetness and keep the shape of the final product when piped. it didn’t taste very cinnamon-y to me, so i ended up using 3 teaspoons (yes in a half batch, so 1 tsp more than the full calls for). my husband said he could really taste it then, but it wasn’t overloaded, which worked as i was presenting these as cinnamon toast crunch cupcakes. lovely and easy.

    Reply

  10. Charisse says

    I’m planning to make the snicker doodle cake for my daughter’s first birthday. But I live in hot and humid tropical Singapore. Do you think the buttercream will hold up or melt away in the heat?
    If I modify it and do it the Swiss meringue style, Issit advisable to still add the half and half?

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      Hmmmmmmm. I think the buttercream would suffer a bit in super heat and humidity. As for modifying it Swiss meringue style, I haven’t tested it so anything I’d suggest would be guessing! I’d love to know how you end up doing it, though! Please check in after the party and let me now how it went!

      Reply

  11. Annie says

    Looking forward to making this buttercream, it sounds amazing! When you say “more architectural” do you mean for decorating purposes? I’m ideally hoping for an icing with a little bit of a “crust” to it for a design I’m doing on a cake and I want to make sure I’m as close to that as possible!

    Reply

    • Rebecca says

      I would say this gets a bit of a crust to it! Of course, if this is going on a cake for a special occasion or an event, I HIGHLY ADVISE giving it a trial run ahead of time. You could frost a batch of cookies, just to be sure. I’d never suggest trying a recipe you’ve never tried before for an event!

      Reply

  12. crystal says

    is there a substiture for half and half- do we have to use it? i live in the UK so there arent many half and half products…

    Reply

    • crystal says

      never mind after i just finished writing my comment i found your answer to it x

      Reply

      • Rebecca says

        I’m glad you found it!! 😀

        Reply

  13. Skye says

    My husband tends to cut off most of the icing from the cake/cupcake he’s about to eat and he ends up giving it to me. So I’m torn here, do I introduce him to this icing so he can stop doing that clearly wrong behavior, even though I will then get less icing?

    Reply

  14. Bri | Bites of Bri says

    This looks delicious! Having extra icing is the worst thing ever…only for my skinny jeans.

    Reply

  15. pamela says

    this is seriously the best.frosting.ever.

    Reply

  16. cheri says

    This looks like an amazing frosting, never had anything like this before. Beautiful.

    Reply

  17. tanya says

    I can honestly say I’ve never scraped frosting off my cake! I love the crunchy bits in this frosting. It really sounds lovely!

    Reply

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between buttercream and frosting? ›

The best way to distinguish frosting from buttercream is through the ingredients. While both contain powdered sugar, fat, flavouring and sometimes milk or water, frosting does not contain any butter whatsoever. Instead, frosting is usually made with shortening or cream cheese.

What is the trick to buttercream frosting? ›

6 Secrets for Perfect Buttercream
  1. Use the right powdered sugar the right way. ...
  2. Beat, beat, beat the butter! ...
  3. You can use cream OR milk, just use the right amount. ...
  4. Adjust the sugar to your preference. ...
  5. Never add too much liquid to your buttercream. ...
  6. Prevent your buttercream from melting on a hot or humid day.
Jan 15, 2018

What is the most difficult buttercream to make? ›

Italian meringue buttercream is the most difficult to make but is worth it as it is the most stable of all buttercreams. In order to make Italian meringue buttercream you have to cook sugar to turn into sugar syrup, then stream the hot syrup into the egg white as they are whipped.

Can you use brown sugar instead of icing sugar? ›

These are interchangeable, except when cake decorating. Cornflour in icing sugar mixture holds moisture which can allow mould to grow on your decorations, so use pure icing sugar. Brown sugar is refined white sugar with molasses added back to it.

What is the most stable buttercream for cake decorating? ›

Italian Meringue Buttercream

This gives a super stable meringue because the sugar syrup is cooked to such a high temperature that it causes the sugar syrup to solidify slightly within the whipped meringue.

What brand of butter is best for buttercream icing? ›

Its fat content is at 85% and since it's not cultured or added with additives, its overall light hue…all of this help it to raise on top. Kerrygold, Organic Valley, and other European styles unsalted butter are great to the taste of buttercream too.

Should I use a whisk or paddle for buttercream? ›

Be sure to use the flat paddle attachment on your stand mixer. Using a whisk attachment will cause air bubbles to form. If your buttercream has been sitting for an extended period, you will need to re-mix on your mixer's lowest setting for a minute or two, or mix by hand with a rubber spatula for a few minutes.

Should you whip buttercream frosting? ›

Whip the buttercream until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Hint: After the first stage of mixing, the whipped buttercream will look like frosting. Keep mixing to incorporate more air to make it fluffy and light.

What is the best buttercream to cover a cake? ›

5 Best Types of Buttercream for Cakes
  1. Swiss Meringue Buttercream. This is the Queen of Frosting. ...
  2. Ganache Frosting. Nothing works as hard as chocolate ganache to make a cake into a showstopper. ...
  3. Italian Meringue Buttercream. ...
  4. Ermine Buttercream. ...
  5. American Frosting.

What buttercream do professional bakers use? ›

Swiss meringue buttercream is probably the most standard buttercream for pastry professionals. It is incredibly smooth, making it an extremely popular choice for icing cakes. Compared to American buttercream, it has a much stronger butter flavor, but is considerably less sweet.

What does Russian buttercream taste like? ›

Taste the frosting - it should be buttery and sweet with a slight caramel milk flavor from the condensed milk. If you want it sweeter, you can add a bit more milk. It will probably need salt, so add that here too as well as the optional vanilla.

Which frosting is best for beginners? ›

In terms of ease, buttercream is the best frosting to use as it's easy to make and relatively easy to spread.

What happens if I use all brown sugar instead of white sugar? ›

So, if your recipe calls for one cup of white sugar, swap one cup of brown sugar. The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods. You'll likely notice a more robust flavor, and the finished baked goods' color may also be darker.

What is brown sugar glaze made of? ›

directions. Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoons dry or prepared mustard, 1/8 tsp cinnamon and 3 tablespoons dry sherry (optional), 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.

What is sweeter buttercream or frosting? ›

Whipped frosting is not only a little less sweet than buttercream, but its texture is much lighter and airier. If you prefer a fluffier mouthfeel, there are plenty of opportunities to use whipped frosting on your desserts, like for a homemade birthday cake or simple cakes, such as a classic pound cake or a butter cake.

Why is buttercream frosting better? ›

A mixture of butter, shortening, confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract produces a taste and texture loved by all. Additionally, this buttercream can be made quickly, making it the perfect frosting choice if you're on a time crunch.

Is buttercream thicker than frosting? ›

Buttercream has a rich, buttery taste and a denser texture, making it ideal for decorating and piping intricate designs. Frosting, on the other hand, is lighter and fluffier, making it suitable for spreading over cakes and cupcakes.

What kind of icing is best for decorating cakes? ›

Royal icing is one of the best icings for decorating cakes. Mixing together powdered sugar, egg whites, and meringue powder or liquid provides a consistency relative to pancake batter. This makes it easy to pour into pastry bags to fulfill your decorating dreams.

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