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Cream Cheese Frosting
Homemade cream cheese frosting is perfect on top of cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Rich and creamy, it’s just the right thing to top any baked treat!
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Cream cheese frosting is a yummy homemade frosting that is creamy, rich, and tangy! This simple frosting recipe is the perfect texture to add to cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and all of your delightfully delicious confections.
Strawberry cream cheese frosting is a fruity variation on this creamy recipe, while Cool Whip frosting is a lighter and fluffier homemade frosting you can try.
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
You will need:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Substitutions and Additions
CREAM CHEESE: Be sure to use full-fat cream cheese in the block for this easy recipe. You do not want to use the spreadable cream cheese in a tub or fat-free cream cheese as they will give you a looser frosting that is not the intended taste or the right consistency.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
PRO TIP: The beauty of this easy cream cheese frosting is that you can make it in advance and store it in the freezer until the day you are ready to use it.
STEP ONE: You can make your frosting by adding the room-temperature cream cheese block and the room temperature unsalted butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
STEP TWO: Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat together the cream cheese and unsalted butter for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
PRO TIP: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t end up with lumps in your creamy frosting.
STEP THREE: Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the butter and cream cheese and beat until fully incorporated.
STEP FOUR: Add the sifted powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed. Continue to add the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until all the powdered sugar has been added and your cream cheese frosting is thick and smooth.
PRO TIP: If your frosting is a little too loose for your preference, then you can add additional powdered sugar, but I would start with just a ¼ cup at a time until you reach your desired thickness. If it is too stiff, you can loosen it up by adding a little extra heavy cream to it. I would start with just a splash (about 1 teaspoon), then mix it, and if that does not get you to your desired consistency, you can add an additional teaspoon.
How to Serve Cream Cheese Frosting
Fluffy and delicious cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to your favorite cupcakes and cakes. Carrot cake, red velvet cake, and pumpkin cookies are traditional choices for cream cheese frosting, but this frosting recipe is just the right thing to top any dessert you are making from scratch. The tangy cream cheese flavor is the perfect balance of flavors and just the right thing to frost all kinds of treats.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: You will not want any frosted baked goods to stay at room temperature for more than 1 to 2 hours due to the cream cheese in the frosting. You can store this frosting for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I would allow the frosting to come back to room temperature after being in the refrigerator to make the cream cheese frosting more enjoyable.
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze the homemade frosting for up to 1 month until you are ready to use it on top of cakes or cupcakes.
Cream cheese frosting is just the right thing to top any dessert you are making from scratch. This simple homemade frosting takes less than 5 minutes to make and is perfect on top of cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Homemade goods are even better when they are smothered in this creamy, rich, and delicious frosting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make this basic cream cheese frosting ahead of time?
This homemade cream cheese frosting freezes really well and can be kept in the freezer for up to one month, ready to use when you are.
Can I use low-fat cream cheese?
We would recommend sticking with full-fat cream cheese for this recipe. A low-fat or fat-free version will not give you the creamy and thick consistency you want.
Can I save leftover frosting?
This classic cream cheese frosting can be kept in the fridge for up to three days or up to a month in the freezer.
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Cream Cheese Frosting
Homemade cream cheese frosting is perfect on top of cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Rich and creamy, it’s just the right thing to top any baked treat!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- You can make your frosting by adding the room-temperature cream cheese block and the room temperature unsalted butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat together the cream cheese and unsalted butter for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
- Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the butter and cream cheese and beat until fully incorporated.
- Add the sifted powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed. Continue to add the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until all the powdered sugar has been added and your cream cheese frosting is thick and smooth.
Notes
If your frosting is a little too loose for your preference, then you can add additional powdered sugar, but I would start with just a ¼ cup at a time until you reach your desired thickness. If it is too stiff, you can loosen it up by adding a little extra heavy cream to it. I would start with just a splash (about 1 teaspoon), then mix it, and if that does not get you to your desired consistency, you can add an additional teaspoon.
The beauty of this easy cream cheese frosting is that you can make it in advance and store it in the freezer until the day you are ready to use it.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t end up with lumps in your creamy frosting.
I like to pipe my frosting for my cupcakes. To do so, you can place a large piping tip (I like to use a Wilton 2A tip) into a large piping bag, or a heavy-duty zip-top bag with a corner snipped off of it, then transfer the cream cheese frosting into the piping bag. The cream cheese frosting pipes a little easier if you allow it to firm up just a little bit by placing it in the fridge for about 15 to 20 minutes before decorating your cupcakes. Be sure that your cupcakes are completely cool before frosting them, or your frosting will just melt right off the top of your cupcakes.
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