Cream Cheese Frosting recipe that is incredibly creamy, tangy in just the right way, and strong enough to swirl, pipe, or spread without losing its shape.
When I had my bakery, this is the frosting that probably got more attention than some of the cakes - it really is special. Cream cheese frosting is an essential recipe to have in your baking repertoire and goes with so many desserts, all year round.
In this recipe, I'll show you how to make perfect cream cheese frosting in three easy steps! I've been using this easy recipe for years in all of my favorite cakes and baked goods, and now I'm finally sharing it with all of you Bonni Bakers.
Over the years, I've perfected a frosting that balances sweet and tangy just right, enhancing a hearty bake without ever overpowering it. This recipe will teach you how to get the creamiest frosting that still holds its shape, as well as how to use it to its full potential with loads of serving suggestions.
Get ready to meet your new favorite frosting!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Ingredients for Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
- How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- How To Thicken Cream Cheese Frosting
- Best Cream Cheese Frosting Tips
- How to Use Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese Icing Recipe Variations
- Storing Cream Cheese Frosting
- FAQs
- Cream Cheese Dessert Recipes
- Recipe
Why You'll Love This Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- A smooth and sturdy frosting that will hold its shape.
- The perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
- Full of expert tips and suggestions on how to use your frosting in the best way.
Ingredients for Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
There are only 4 simple ingredients in this easy frosting recipe, but it's really important that you choose the right ones to achieve the velvety texture we want.
I usually don't love powdered sugar-based frostings (like American buttercream frosting) but this cream cheese frosting is an exception!
- Cream Cheese - The key ingredient! Use a block of good quality cream cheese rather than the spreadable kind in a tub to get a nice, thick frosting. Make sure it is full-fat cream cheese, as low-fat cream cheese will really loosen the sturdy structure of the frosting and risk being runny.
- Butter - Unsalted butter with a high fat content gives the best results, as it means you can control the amount of salt going into the frosting.
- Powdered Sugar - Also known as icing sugar, the powdery texture will blend nicely with the other ingredients, giving the frosting a light and fluffy texture.
- Vanilla - A high-quality pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste will round out the tanginess and enhance the overall flavor of the cream cheese icing.
Make sure the butter and cream cheese are both at room temperature so they can blend together smoothly.
See the recipe card for quantities and the full recipe.
Recommended Equipment
- Stand Mixer - with paddle attachment. You can also use an electric hand mixer.
- Fine mesh sieve
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
With just 3 easy steps, this is the best cream cheese frosting recipe that will take your bakes to another level. Check out the section below to learn how to make the most of your cream cheese frosting.
Be sure to use room temperature cream cheese and butter to achieve a smooth frosting.
Cream Dairy
Place the cream cheese and butter (both at room temperature) into the bowl of a stand mixer, and beat together until smooth and creamy.
You can also use a handheld electric mixer.
Sift Sugar
Add the vanilla and a pinch of salt to the cream cheese and butter mixture, then sift in the powdered sugar - this is important to avoid lumps.
You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar you add to control the consistency of the frosting - more sugar = thicker frosting.
Beat
Start the mixer on low speed to avoid a powdered sugar cloud, then gradually increase the speed.
For a luscious, spreadable frosting, beat on medium speed just until combined.
For a sturdier, pipeable cream cheese frosting, beat on high speed to incorporate a little air until you have a thick and smooth cream cheese frosting.
How To Thicken Cream Cheese Frosting
There are many variables that can affect the consistency of your frosting, such as room temperature, brand of ingredients, etc. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help get the perfect consistency of cream cheese frosting:
Liquid - First of all, some brands of cream cheese contain excess liquid in the packaging - too much liquid can make your frosting runny so if you see this, make sure you drain off excess liquid before using the cream cheese.
Extra Powdered Sugar - You can make this frosting recipe thicker or runnier depending on how much confectioners' sugar you add to it. I recommend slowly adding cups of the powdered sugar as you go, so you can bring it to the consistency you want. If you add too much and it gets too thick, you can add a splash of milk to loosen it up again.
Of course, adding more sugar will make a sweeter frosting, so if you need to thicken it a little without making it too sweet, you can also add a few tablespoons of cornstarch.
Best Cream Cheese Frosting Tips
Ingredient temperature - it is vital that your cream cheese and butter are both at room temperature before beginning. Using cold cream cheese or butter will mean that they can't cream together smoothly, and you'll be left with lumps of unmixed dairy in your frosting - and nobody wants that!
Sift Sugar - Equally, it's important to sift your powdered sugar so that you don't have any clumps of sugar in the frosting.
Right ingredients - As mentioned above, it's important to use a block of full-fat cream cheese - not the spreadable kind and not low-fat as these will probably not be thick enough and you'll have a runny frosting.
How to Use Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese frosting is wonderfully versatile because it complements so many classic bakes. I especially love using it in the fall and winter because it's one of the best frostings to pair with cozy, warming flavors. Here are some ideas for the best ways to use your frosting:
Cakes - Its sturdy texture means you can pipe or spread this frosting onto a layer cake without worrying about it slipping out of the cake layers or losing its shape. It goes beautifully on top of earthy cakes like chai cake, pumpkin cake, and carrot cake, whilst also balancing out the sweetness of desserts like my strawberry cake and red velvet cake.
Brownies - The tanginess of this frosting pairs perfectly with the richness of brownies. I love using it to top my viral red velvet brownies and fudgy chocolate brownies.
Cupcakes - Add a gorgeous swirl of cream cheese frosting to some cozy cupcakes - try it with pumpkin spice cupcakes, banana cupcakes, carrot cake cupcakes, and chocolate cupcakes.
Cookies - Sandwich together your favorite cookies with a generous spread of this cream cheese frosting. The flavors will pair nicely with red velvet cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, and brown butter pecan cookies.
Quick Breads - I think my favorite way to use cream cheese frosting is with any type of quick bread - it makes a simple dessert a lot more special. Try frosting banana bread, pumpkin bread, or lemon loaf with this tasty topping.
Cream Cheese Icing Recipe Variations
There are lots of ways to spice up your cream cheese frosting (literally) - have a go at some of these variations next time.
Cream Cheese Glaze - This tastes very similar to this cream cheese frosting recipe, but the consistency is a lot runnier and more glossy. Cream cheese glaze is perfect to drizzle on cinnamon rolls, cinnamon roll muffins, and pumpkin bundt cake, or for dunking some pumpkin spice donuts.
Brown Butter Frosting - This little tweak makes a huge difference! If you've followed my recipes for a while, you'll know I am brown butter's biggest fan. It adds so much depth of flavor, providing a caramel and nutty taste. Brown butter cream cheese frosting is slightly darker in color, and deeper in flavor - great for all things toasty, like my banana cupcakes and chai cake.
Spiced Frosting - Adding in a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or chai will make this frosting even more festive! Plus, it will add some lovely little specks for an authentic look. I used cinnamon cream cheese frosting on my Pumpkin Cake recipe, and it's divine!
Citrus - Mixing in some orange or lemon juice (and/or zest) to your cream cheese frosting will transform it into a tangy sensation! It will make citrus desserts like lemon loaf cake and chocolate orange cake taste even better.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - Just when you thought frosting couldn't get any better - try adding some melted chocolate to your frosting after the powdered sugar for a decadent twist on the classic.
Storing Cream Cheese Frosting
Your cream cheese frosting is best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and should be consumed within 5 days. Let it come up to room temperature and rewhip before use to bring back the creamy texture.
I would recommend frosting your baked goods at the time you intend to serve them. However, if you have pre-frosted your dessert, it will need to be stored in the fridge as the cream cheese contains dairy. Make sure you store any baked goods in an airtight container, as storing a cake-like dessert in the fridge can dry it out.
FAQs
A full-fat block of cream cheese is best for cream cheese frosting because it has less water, more richness, and creates a creamy frosting that holds its shape. Avoid using a tub of spreadable cream cheese, as it tends to be too watery.
Firstly, a runny cream cheese frosting often occurs if you're using a low-fat cream cheese. This type of cream cheese contains extra water and less fat, resulting in a thinner frosting that won't hold its shape. A full-fat block is always the best option. Also, some brands of cream cheese may contain some excess liquid in the packaging. If you see this, make sure you drain off any liquid before using the cream cheese.
Secondly, the ingredients may be too warm. This recipe calls for room temperature butter and cream cheese, but they should not be warm - this could make the frosting too warm and at risk of melting.
If your frosting is too soft, you can also add a little extra powdered sugar to thicken it to the desired consistency.
Ideally, this frosting works best with a block of cream cheese. If you can only find cream cheese in a tub, you may need to add more powdered sugar to your frosting to make it firm enough to frost your baked goods. Make sure you drain off any excess liquid in the cream cheese before using.
Yes, you can make cream cheese frosting without a mixer - it just requires a little bit more work. You can use a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon to beat all the ingredients together. Just make sure you beat vigorously enough to make everything smooth and creamy.
Cream Cheese Dessert Recipes
If you love this vanilla cream cheese frosting, here are a few other frostings and toppings you might want to try next time!
Recipe
Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese 227g* (room temperature)
- 1 stick Unsalted Butter 113g (room temperature)
- 4-6 cups Powdered Sugar 480g*
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Salt
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with paddle attachment
Instructions
- Cream together the room temperature cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.8 oz (227 g) Cream Cheese, 1 stick (113 g) Unsalted Butter
- Add the vanilla and a pinch of salt, then sift in the powdered sugar. You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar to adapt the frosting to your desired consistency. Add more sugar for a thicker frosting or less sugar for a runnier one. You may want to add the powdered sugar gradually until it is the right consistency for you.1 teaspoon (1 tbsp) Vanilla Extract, 1 pinch Salt, 4-6 cups (480 g) Powdered Sugar
- Start the mixer on low speed to avoid a cloud of powdered sugar, then gradually increase the speed. For a soft, spreadable frosting, beat on medium speed just until combined and smooth. For a slightly thicker, more pipeable frosting, beat for a few minutes on high speed to incorporate a little bit of air - until thick and smooth.
Mariana V.
How can this frosting be used?