Light and fluffy cream cheese frosting is the perfect icing on any dessert!
Cream cheese and butter are sweetened with powdered sugar and vanilla for a rich frosting.
Spread it over cakes, muffins, and other baked goodies.
Our Favorite Frosting
This homemade cream cheese frosting recipe is delicious over carrot cake or cinnamon rolls.
- Easy peasy – it takes just a few minutes to make.
- Cream cheese frosting is made with basic ingredients you likely have on hand.
- Make it ahead. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, or 2 months in the freezer.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream Cheese – Use any brand of full-fat cream cheese in the block form, not spreadable cream cheese in tubs. Reduced-fat cream cheese is not recommended as it can produce a runny frosting.
Butter – For baking and sweet recipes, I prefer to use unsalted sticks of butter and add a pinch of salt. If you do have salted butter, it will still work – skip the salt in the recipe.
Vanilla – Although it’s a bit pricey, real vanilla extract gives the best flavor. Imitation vanilla extract does work if it’s what you have on hand.
Powdered sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar, powdered sugar contains a little cornstarch to prevent caking and makes for a smooth frosting.
Make Your Own Powdered Sugar
If you’re out of powdered sugar, you can make your own with granulated sugar. In a blender or food processor, blend a ratio of 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch on high until it is fluffy and powdered. Measure the sugar for your recipe after it is powdered.
Variations – Add or substitute lemon juice and zest for the vanilla to give your frosting more tang. For a runnier icing, add a few drops of water.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
This is an easy recipe that comes together in minutes!
- Using a hand mixer, combine room-temperature cream cheese and butter, per the recipe below.
- Mix in the vanilla and salt.
- Add the sugar a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as you mix until fluffy. Do not over-mix.
Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Holly’s Tips
- Use room temperature cream cheese and butter.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in a zippered bag with the air pressed out. Thaw to room temperature before using.
- To change the consistency for drizzling, add water, a few drops at a time, while mixing.
Our Favorite Frostings
These frosting recipes are perfect to top a cupcake, cookies or your favorite layered cake!
Nutella Frosting
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Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
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Chocolate Ganache Frosting
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Fresh Lemon Buttercream Frosting
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Did you make this Cream Cheese Frosting? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
4.99 from 95 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting
This rich cream cheese frosting is easy to make with a tangy vanilla flavor.
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 5 minutes minutes
Servings 2.5 cups
Author Holly Nilsson
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 to 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Combine cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Mix in vanilla (or lemon juice and lemon zest if using).
Add in salt and powdered sugar a bit at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Continue beating on medium speed until fluffy. Do not overmix.
Store up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- This frosting cannot be piped with a piping bag, it is a soft frosting.
- To avoid a runny frosting, do not overmix.
- Use a stand mixer with either a whisk attachment or a handheld mixer, scraping the sides as needed.
- To make a thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar. A thinner frostingcan be made with a touch of milk or water (1 teaspoon at a time).
- Ensure baked goods are thoroughly cooled before spreading frosting to prevent it from melting.
*Nutrition information is for 1 tablespoon of frosting. This recipe makes about 2 ½ cups of frosting.
Frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let it soften at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before using.
4.99 from 95 votes
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 34 | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 8mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.01mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Categories:
Desserts, Recipes
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About the author
Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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