Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

This makes the Best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe! Perfect for frosting carrot cake, red velvet cake, and piping onto cupcakes! Smooth, creamy and delicious!

Cream Cheese Frosting is my all-time favorite frosting! It is perfect for frosting desserts like hummingbird cake,red velvet cake, carrot cake, cupcakes, and so much more. Fluffy, creamy, and delicious this is the frosting recipe you’ll definitely want to use again and again.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (1)

This Cream Cheese Frosting is sturdy, can be easily piped for decorating cakes and cupcakes, and can be colored with food dyes similar to buttercream frosting, and did I mention it is delicious?

How to Make the Best Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2)

This frosting comes together quickly, but there are a few tips to make sure that you make the best cream cheese frosting possible.

Cream Cheese

  • Use full-fat cream cheese.
  • Do not use low-fat, reduced-fat, or cream cheese spread.
  • Make sure it is fully softened so that your frosting is lump-free and creamy.

Butter

  • Make sure it is fully softened, so that your frosting is as creamy as possible.
  • I use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of Kosher salt, if desired.

Resource: How to Soften Butter (the same method can be used for cream cheese.)

Confectioner’s Sugar

  • Sift so that your sugar is clump-free. This will make for the creamiest and prettiest frosting as well as reduce the incidence of any problems if you choose to pipe your frosting.
  • Add sugar gradually. I like to incorporate my sugar 1/2 cup at a time at the lowest speed possible until just combined. This prevents the confectioner’s sugar from creating a sugar cloud in my kitchen and makes sure that the ingredients are well combined.
  • Go high. After each cup of sugar has been added to your frosting, turn the speed of your mixer to the high setting for about 10 seconds to make your frosting as light and fluffy as possible.

Vanilla Extract

Use the best available to you. The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of this frosting and by using the best available to you, you can prevent any flavors that may detract from your frosting. I prefer to use my homemade vanilla extract or a really good store-bought.

Resource: How to Make Vanilla Extract

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (3)

How Much Cream Cheese Frosting Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe yields just the right amount of frosting to generously frost 36 cupcakes or a 8 to 9-inch 3-layer cake.

This recipe works well to half or double depending on the amount of frosting that you need.

Does Cream Cheese Frosting Have to Be Refrigerated?

Desserts topped with this frosting do require refrigeration. You’ll want to store a cake or cupcakes, etc in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can You Make Ahead Cream Cheese Frosting?

Cream Cheese Frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days, but can not be frozen as it will ruin the consistency of the frosting.

To use the frosting, remove it from the refrigerator and incorporated a tablespoon of heavy cream to the frosting with an electric mixer to return it to aspreadable consistency.

Can This Cream Cheese Frosting Be Used for Piping?

Yes, absolutely! This frosting spreads and pipes beautifully. It is sturdy and holds it shape well if you choose to pipe it onto cakes or cupcakes.

Can You Make This Frosting Thinner?

If you need a thinner frosting, you can add heavy cream a tablespoon at a time to thin it to your desired consistency.

Can You Make This Cream Cheese Frosting Thicker?

If you need a thicker frosting, you can add confectioner’s sugar a tablespoon at a time to thicken it to your desired consistency.

Here’s my Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. It’s a classic that everyone loves!

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (4)

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Cream Cheese Frosting

Robyn Stone

5 from 41 votes

This makes the Best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe! Perfect for frosting carrot cake, red velvet cake, and piping onto cupcakes! Smooth, creamy, and delicious!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 36 cupcakes or (1) 8″ or 9″ layered cake

Ingredients

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages (452 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) butter, softened
  • 3 cups (340 g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 g) vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine softened cream cheese and butter with a stand or electric mixer until well-combined and creamy, about 3 minutes. Make sure that the mixture is free of any lumps.

  • Add confectioner's sugar, 1/2 a cup at a time. After each cup has been incorporated, turn the mixer onto the highest speed setting and for about 10 seconds to lighten the frosting.

  • Add in vanilla and beat until well-blended, light, and fluffy.

  • Use to frost cakes or cupcakes that have been cooled completely. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Use only full fat block cream cheese. Do not use cream cheese in tub.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 23mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (5)

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2011.

Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Cake, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Dessert Recipes, Easter Recipes, Essentials, Frosting / Icing, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Mother’s Day Recipes, No Bake, No Cook Recipes, Recipes, Shower Recipes, Simple Recipes, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

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Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cream cheese frosting made of? ›

Delicious cream cheese frosting made using just butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar.

Why add butter to cream cheese frosting? ›

An equal ratio of butter to cream cheese yields a super smooth, spreadable frosting, while still maintaining the distinctive tangy flavor.

What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese buttercream? ›

Buttercream and cream cheese frosting have some ingredients in common -- powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and butter -- but buttercream is also made with heavy cream or milk while cream cheese frosting contains, obviously, cream cheese.

What thickens cream cheese frosting? ›

Powdered sugar – Aka confectioner's sugar. It thickens and sweetens the frosting. Make homemade powdered sugar, or use store-bought.

Why does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

At room temperature, cream cheese frosting only lasts two hours, which is why it needs to be refrigerated if you don't want to waste leftovers. Cream cheese frosting will usually last in the refrigerator for up to a week, which gives you plenty of time to use it on various baked goods.

What are the pros and cons of cream cheese frosting? ›

Cream Cheese Frosting Is Perfect For Spiced Cakes And Breads

It's also, of course, the perfect frosting and filling for your red velvet cupcakes and cakes. However, its softer consistency can make it less stable and more difficult to work with when it comes to piping.

How to make can cream cheese frosting better? ›

How to Upgrade Store-Bought Frosting
  1. Cream cheese. Beat in 8 ounces of room temperature plain or flavored cream cheese. ...
  2. Whipped cream. Mix equal parts freshly whipped cream and frosting. ...
  3. Butter. ...
  4. Peanut butter or other nut butter. ...
  5. Nutella. ...
  6. Cookie butter. ...
  7. Jam, preserves, or marmalade. ...
  8. Lemon curd.
Feb 14, 2024

How to stop cream cheese frosting from going runny? ›

How to thicken cream cheese frosting. If the consistency is too thin or runny you can put the frosting mixture in the fridge for up to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.If it's still too thin, take out some of the runny mixture and beat in some more cream cheese.

Should butter be cold when making frosting? ›

Starting with cold butter.

Cold ingredients can also leave buttercream with a curdled or chunky consistency. Follow this tip: Always start with room-temperature ingredients — especially when it comes to the butter. Take it out of the fridge 30 to 60 minutes before getting started to bring it to room temperature.

Why do people like cream cheese icing? ›

Homemade cream cheese frosting is super creamy, soft, smooth, and tangy. It's so easy to make and the uses are endless!

Which is better for you butter or cream cheese? ›

Cream cheese is healthier than butter; at 2 Tablespoons, the calorie count is just 98, there are only 10 grams of fat, and you do get a tiny bit of protein (less than 2 grams). The real trick here is not guesstimating – it's easy to smear 2 Tablespoons on each half and then you've made it just as bad for you as butter.

Does cream cheese frosting taste like buttercream? ›

I'm usually a classic vanilla buttercream gal, but I'm finding more and more that cream cheese frosting is what I'm craving on my cakes and cupcakes. It's like traditional buttercream, but with a delicious sweet and tangy flavor, and a lot more elegance.

Can you whip cream cheese frosting too much? ›

No lumps in cream cheese.

While you can over-whip the frosting after you add the heavy cream, you cannot over-mix the 1st 3 ingredients in the recipe. Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract together for as long as you need to rid all of the cream cheese lumps.

How to make store bought cream cheese frosting more fluffy? ›

Whip it good.

Canned frosting has a tendency to be on the denser side, but the solution to this textural dilemma is simple. Dump your canned frosting into a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer or into the bowl of an electric mixer and whip it up.

What are two ways to prevent lumps when making cream cheese frosting? ›

Adding soft butter to the cold cream cheese minimizes lumps in your finished frosting. Powdered Sugar- MY OPINION: Cream cheese frostings have too much sugar. Add powdered sugar to the level of sweetness you want.

What is cream cheese made of? ›

How Is Cream Cheese Made? Lactic acid is added to pasteurized milk and cream, which lowers the mixture's pH and causes it to form curds. When the curds are heated and stabilizers are added, it becomes cream cheese. Cream cheese does not require aging and is meant to be used relatively quickly.

What is homemade frosting made of? ›

In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time.

What is cream icing made of? ›

The main ingredient while making icing is Sugar which is mixed with water, milk, or cream as per the recipe. The icing can also be flavored with Vanilla or Lemon Juice and then the mixture is poured over warm baked goods.

References

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