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.

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FAQs

Is there a difference between cream cheese icing and cream cheese frosting? ›

Frosting is thick and fluffy and is typically used to coat inner and outer layers of a dessert. Icing is much thinner and often glossier, and is often used as a glaze.

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 icing? ›

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

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

Cream cheese frosting

Pros: Terrific as a cupcake frosting or cake filling. Many people also feel it's the perfect icing for red velvet cake. Cons: The addition of cream cheese makes this a much softer frosting than AMBC.

How to make store bought cream cheese frosting fluffy? ›

Always begin by scraping the frosting into a mixing bowl and stirring vigorously or mixing with a mixer until smooth and creamy. This simple step of incorporating air into a can of dense store-bought frosting will make it fluffy and enhance the flavor. It may be all you need to do.

Do you have to refrigerate cream cheese frosting? ›

Yes, cream cheese frosting needs to be refrigerated because it is prone to spoiling. However, cream cheese frosting can last up to two hours at room temperature, so you don't have to worry about eating cold cake.

Why does my cream cheese frosting taste weird? ›

Identifying the Causes: What Makes Cream Cheese Frosting Sour: Factors like inferior quality cream cheese, using ingredients past their prime, and an imbalance in acidity can lead to a sour frosting. Opting for premium cream cheese and fine-tuning the acidic components can be effective in avoiding that sour flavor.

What makes cream cheese frosting runny? ›

If you do over mix, the water in the cream cheese starts to separate out, and it makes the frosting really loose. Stop mixing when it looks like this, and then it's ready to use on your cakes and cupcakes.

How to make store-bought cream cheese frosting taste like homemade? ›

For a (16-ounce) tub of frosting, anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of crunchy additions will do the trick. Toasted nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips or chunks, halvah, and toffee will all add a fun new dimension of flavor. Stir in chopped up canned pineapple or fresh berries for an extra fruity kick.

What is the secret ingredient that will improve your frosting? ›

But, there are ways to make it more interesting; one such way is to hit it with a shot of vinegar. Don't worry, the icing won't taste sour or like vinegar at all, but the acid will help balance out the sweetness, making it taste more pleasant. Even better, it will make the icing stronger and more durable.

How to thicken up cream cheese frosting? ›

If your frosting is runnier than you'd like, you have a few options for how to thicken it.
  1. Add more powdered sugar. Beat in a tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. ...
  2. Stick it in the fridge. The frosting will firm up as it chills.

Is cream cheese frosting better with butter or heavy cream? ›

the BEST cream cheese frosting uses heavy cream instead of butter – trust me on this, it's a game-changer 🤯🙌 the heavy cream makes the frosting lighter & fluffier, and it also gives it structure & stability, so you don't have to add huge amounts of powdered sugar ✨️ #creamcheesefrosting #creamcheese #frosting # ...

How to improve Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting? ›

How to make Duncan Hines frosting taste homemade - Quora. Whip the frosting with half a block of cream cheese and an extra cup of powdered sugar and a few drops of the appropriate flavoring extract. If you're using chocolate, add cocoa powder. If you want a richer buttery flavor add a few tablespoons of butter as well.

What's the difference between cream cheese frosting and icing? ›

Frosting is the thickest of the bunch, thanks to (usually) employing something creamy in the makeup—such as butter, whipping cream, or cream cheese. Icing generally uses cream or egg whites as a thickener, but tends to be more liquid when applied and hardens as it dries.

Is there a difference between icing and frosting? ›

Frosting is the thickest of these confections and is ideal for spreading or piping on cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Icing is a little thinner than frosting and is often poured or piped over coffee cakes, pound cakes, doughnuts and cookies—and it usually hardens when it dries.

Do you use icing or frosting on cupcakes? ›

Because frosting holds its shape and is opaque in color, you'll see it often used and called for when you are decorating cakes and cupcakes. Another trait that sets frosting apart from icing is that it is always whipped, and unlike icing, its main ingredient is fat, such as butter or cream.

Can you add cream cheese to canned cream cheese frosting? ›

Try adding 8 oz. cream cheese and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to one 16 oz. can of frosting. The addition of cream cheese will give your frosting a creamier, richer flavor.

What is better cream frosting? ›

Bettercreme is Rich's perfectly sweet whipped icing™. Fluffy, fun and full of possibilities. Because in this dynamic world of baking and decorating, you need a whipped icing that fuels your creativity. DISCOVER BETTERCREME IN YOUR REGION.

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