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    Home » Cream Cheese Frosting

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Feb 23, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This is the best cream cheese frosting recipe. It's made with 5 ingredients 5 minutes with the perfect ratio of cream cheese to butter, flavored with vanilla and sweetened with powdered sugar. Delicious served on top of cinnamon rolls, banana cake, pumpkin cake, and so much more.

    Cream Cheese Frosting piped onto a cake

    Frosting is my favorite component of cake, and cream cheese frosting is my all-time favorite frosting flavor (followed closely by chocolate buttercream and peanut butter frosting).

    There's something about the sweet, buttery tangy flavor that keeps me coming back for more. So, over the years I have created the perfect cream cheese frosting recipe.

    This recipe for the best cream cheese frosting is made with 5 ingredients 5 minutes. It has the perfect ratio of cream cheese to butter, is flavored with vanilla and sweetened with powdered sugar.

    It's delicious served on top of cinnamon rolls, banana cake, pumpkin cake, as a filling for chocolate cake or yellow cake, and so much more.

    Cream Cheese Frosting in a bowl with a beater

    Cream cheese frosting Ingredients & Substitutions

    • Full-fat cream cheese. Lighter cream cheese or dairy-free cream cheese can be used if necessary, but full-fat yields the best results.
    • Salted butter. unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
    • Vanilla extract. the seeds of 1 vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste can replace the extract.
    • Fine sea salt: just a pinch of salt takes this recipe up a notch, I don't recommend omitting it.
    • Powdered sugar. You can make your own refined-sugar free powdered sugar.
    ingredients in this Cream Cheese Frosting recipe

    How to make cream cheese frosting

    This recipe comes together in a flash and is pretty simple to make. As always, we'll walk through the process together, and don't forget to watch the video.

    Begin by beating the butter until light and fluffy, either In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer. I always prefer to beat the butter alone first to ensure there are no lumps in the frosting.

    two photos showing How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting - beating butter

    Next, add the room temperature cream cheese and beat until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.

    two photos showing How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting - beating cream cheese into butter

    Then, add the vanilla and sea salt and beat until combined.

    two photos showing How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting - beating vanilla and salt into butter cream cheese mixture

    Next, it's time to add the powdered sugar. I prefer to do so 1 cup at a time, beating thoroughly after every addition until 4 cups has been used. This prevents the powdered sugar from flying out of the bowl and making a mess.

    For a firmer frosting, add more powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

    two photos showing How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting - adding powdered sugar

    Serve

    Once you've reached the desired consistency, use it to frost your favorite cakes, cupcakes, brownies etc. Here are some suggestions:

    • Cakes. This cream cheese frosting is a great topper or filling for any cake, try this chocolate cake, yellow cake, banana cake, pumpkin cake, healthy carrot cake, zucchini cake, etc.
    • Cupcakes. Use it to top these chocolate cupcakes or vanilla cupcakes!
    • Cinnamon rolls. Cream cheese frosting is the best when used on warm gooey cinnamon rolls (in my opinion), or pumpkin cinnamon rolls!
    • Brownies. I really love spreading this cream cheese frosting recipe on top of homemade brownies, zucchini brownies, pumpkin brownies, etc.
    Cream Cheese Frosting being spread onto a 2-layer cake

    Store/freeze

    Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature before using - do not microwave.

    This recipe makes quite a bit of cream cheese frosting, but I almost always make the full batch and freeze half of it for another day (so it's ready for cinnamon rolls, banana cake, etc.).

    Cream Cheese Frosting in a bowl

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing?

    Frosting is thicker and can be used to pipe decorations onto cakes. Icing is thinner (it usually contains milk to thin it out) and is used more like a glaze.

    How do you get cream cheese frosting to set?

    Once you have it spread or piped onto your favorite baked goods, chill the frosting in the refrigerator to set.

    How do you stiffen runny frosting?

    To make a firmer frosting, add more powdered sugar. If your ingredients are too warm and contributing to the frosting being runny, refrigerate it until it firms up.

    Will cream cheese frosting harden in the fridge?

    Yes, the butter in this recipe helps it harden well when chilled in the refrigerator.

    a cake decorated with Cream Cheese Frosting rosettes

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

    Laura
    This is the best cream cheese frosting recipe. It's made with 5 ingredients 5 minutes with the perfect ratio of cream cheese to butter, flavored with vanilla and sweetened with powdered sugar. Delicious served on top of cinnamon rolls, banana cake, pumpkin cake, and so much more.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course condiment, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 Servings
    Calories 282 kcal

    Equipment

    • KitchenAid Mixer
    • hand mixer
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • piping bag
    • Wilton 1M tip
    • large coupler

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
    • 1 cup salted butter softened
    • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • Pinch sea salt
    • 4 ½ to 5 cups powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    • In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy.
    • Add cream cheese and beat until mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
    • Then, add the vanilla and sea salt and beat until combined.
    • Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating thoroughly after every addition until 4 cups has been used.
    • For a firmer frosting, add more powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
    • Use to frost your favorite cake, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, etc.

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Full-fat cream cheese. Lighter cream cheese or dairy-free cream cheese can be used if necessary, but full-fat yields the best results.
    • Salted butter. unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
    • Vanilla extract. the seeds of 1 vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste can replace the extract.
    • Fine sea salt: just a pinch of salt takes this recipe up a notch, I don't recommend omitting it.
    • Powdered sugar. You can make your own refined-sugar free powdered sugar.

    Store/freeze

    Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature before using - do not microwave.
    This recipe makes quite a bit of cream cheese frosting, but I almost always make the full batch and freeze half of it for another day (so it's ready for cinnamon rolls, banana cake, etc.).

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2TBSCalories: 282kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 1gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 147mgPotassium: 24mgSugar: 34gVitamin A: 545IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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