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This warm spiced cinnamon buttercream is perfect for the holidays! It’s silky smooth and so easy to make. It’s also been tested with both dairy or dairy free ingredients and works wonderfully both ways.

Overhead view of a banana cake spread with swirled cinnamon spiced buttercream and decorated with fresh banana slices, on parchment paper with a linen cloth and overripe banana in the background

If you’re anything like me, you probably really start to crave warm and cozy flavors in the fall, which means pretty much anything spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg!

I originally created this spiced frosting to spread on top of my eggless banana cake, but quickly discovered that it tastes amazing on all kinds of different desserts!

What Desserts to Pair with Cinnamon Spiced Frosting

Ingredient Notes

  • Butter: every time I test buttercream recipes, I always prefer the version that uses salted butter over unsalted butter, as buttercream can otherwise be quite sweet. You can use either. Dairy free works too!
  • Nutmeg: nutmeg is optional but when I tested this recipe, I found it to be even better with both nutmeg and cinnamon (a match made in heaven, in my opinion) rather than just cinnamon alone.
Fluffy cinnamon spiced buttercream whipped to a smooth, creamy warm beige color in a stand mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, on a light blue tile surface

Recipe Developer Tips

  • If the cinnamon frosting seems too thick, add a little bit of milk (regular or vegan) or cream, around 1-2 Tablespoons at a time.
  • If you are piping this buttercream onto cupcakes, you don’t want it to be too thick but you do want it to be thick enough! If it needs a little thickening up, you can add a couple more tablespoons of powdered sugar at a time until the consistency is perfect for your needs!

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If you make this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

Baking FAQ

These are the topics I’m asked about most frequently:

You can get these answers and more in my frequently asked questions post!

Overhead view of a banana cake spread with swirled cinnamon spiced buttercream and decorated with fresh banana slices, on parchment paper with a linen cloth and overripe banana in the background
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5 Minute Cinnamon Spiced Buttercream

Gabby Kislanko
This warm spiced cinnamon buttercream is perfect for the holidays! It's silky smooth, easy to make, and goes with cakes, cupcakes, and cookies!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • ¾ cup (158 g) butter, softened, (regular or vegan)
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1¾-2 cup (210 g) powdered sugar (icing sugar)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a standing mixer or handheld mixer, beat butter, vanilla extract, and spices.
  • Slowly add in ¼ cup of powdered sugar at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • If the buttercream is too thick, you can add ½ tablespoon of milk of choice at a time, thinning it out as much as you'd like. If buttercream is too thin, add in more powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time.
  • Use it to frost your favorite cakes and cupcakes!

Equipment

Handheld or Standing Mixer
Handheld or Standing Mixer
Mixing Bowl

Notes

This recipe makes enough frosting for a single layer 8×8 or 9×9 cake or 12 cupcakes. Adjust quantities as needed for larger cakes or more cupcakes.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
Buttercream can be store in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge then mix it up using a handheld or standing mixer before using it.
Calories: 1467kcal, Carbohydrates: 122g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 110g, Saturated Fat: 28g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 30g, Monounsaturated Fat: 44g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1098mg, Potassium: 61mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 118g, Vitamin A: 6478IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.2mg
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The calorie information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.