Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
This Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is the icing on the cake and then some! It’s smooth and creamy, with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor. It’s perfect for cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more, and it’s ready in minutes!
I’m probably a minority on this, but frosting is normally my least favorite part about cakes and cupcakes because it’s far too sweet.
Cream cheese frosting, on the other hand, has been my all time favorite for years because the tangy flavor of the cream cheese typically balances out the sweetness beautifully.
I love making it from scratch so that I control the sweetness, and it’s been a game changer for my hummingbird cupcakes and more.
This particular recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor, it’s lusciously smooth and creamy, and I could eat it by the spoonful.
This is one frosting that I love just as much as the cake. 🙂
Table of contents
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This vanilla cream cheese frosting is so smooth and creamy, with the perfect amount of sweetness to let the tangy flavor of the cream cheese shine through.
- It’s ready in about 10 minutes, and includes just a few ingredients.
- It can be made up to a few days in advance.
- This frosting is extremely versatile! Use it to frost cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more, and change it up with your favorite flavorings.
Recipe ingredients
This is a basic cream cheese frosting recipe that includes just a few ingredients. It can be changed up numerous ways with extracts, spices, chocolate chips as outlined in the ingredient notes below.
Ingredient notes
- Cream cheese. You’ll need 8 ounces of cream cheese for this recipe. Be sure that it’s softened to room temperature as cold cream cheese will result in a lumpy frosting.
- Butter. Softened butter is also used in this recipe. The butter adds creaminess, richness and provides depth of flavor to the frosting.
- Powdered sugar. Provides sweetness, a light, fluffy texture, and volume to the frosting. I don’t recommend substituting it with a different type of sweetener as powdered sugar dissolves much more quickly than granulated sugar, which results a silky smooth texture. It also includes cornstarch, which provides stability to the frosting.
- Milk. Adds richness and thins the frosting out to spreadable consistency. Use whatever type of milk that you have on hand. Heavy cream or half and half works as well! If you intend to pipe the cream cheese frosting, omit the milk for a nice, thick pipe-able frosting.
- Vanilla extract. Adds depth of flavor. Substitute with your favorite extract, citrus zest, cinnamon, alcohol, chocolate and more to change things up!
- Salt. A pinch of salt is a must to offset the sweetness of the frosting.
How to make cream cheese frosting
This easy cream cheese frosting comes together in about 10 minutes with a few simple ingredients.
Pro tip: Be sure that the cream cheese is softened to room temperature as cold cream cheese will result in a lumpy frosting.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar, milk (if using), vanilla and salt, and beat on low just until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Increase the speed to medium high and beat for 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
FAQs
Be sure to soften your cream cheese to room temperature before using it to prepare this cream cheese frosting. Cold, hard cream cheese is impossible to cream properly, and will result in lumpy, gritty cream cheese frosting.
Room temperature cream cheese, on the other hand, will beat up perfectly smooth and creamy to provide the perfect texture in your frosting.
Butter helps create a smooth, airy texture to cream cheese frosting, and adds incredible depth of flavor. It’s the perfect complement to the tangy flavor of the cream cheese.
This cream cheese frosting recipe includes 8 ounces of cream cheese and 3 ounces of butter, which provides just the right balance of rich, tangy flavor.
Of course the biggest reason that powdered sugar is used in this cream cheese frosting recipe is to provide sweetness, however it definitely doesn’t stop there.
The number one reason that powdered sugar is used in frosting is because it dissolves quickly, which means you’ll have a smooth, creamy texture and no gritty crystals.
The air trapped within the powdered sugar crystals also provides volume, which contributes to a light, fluffy texture and added stability.
Lastly, powdered sugar includes cornstarch, which also adds stability to the frosting and makes it perfect for piping.
Omit the milk to make thick cream cheese frosting that’s perfect to pipe onto cakes, cupcakes and so much more.
This cream cheese frosting recipe can be made completely in advance and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Before using it, allow it to soften at room temperature so that it will be much easier to pipe or spread.
Serving suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to use this easy cream cheese frosting. See below for some tasty ideas!
- Cream cheese frosting is a must for red velvet cupcakes and carrot cake by Spend with Pennies.
- It’s the perfect topping for pumpkin cookies by Two Peas and Their Pod.
- Use it as a filling for red velvet macarons or sandwich cookies.
- Thin it out with a bit more milk to create a cream cheese glaze for hummingbird cake or carrot muffins.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Be sure that the cream cheese is completely room temperature. If it’s cold, you will have lumps in your frosting.
- If you’re planning to pipe the frosting, do not add milk or half and half as the frosting may not be thick enough.
- Cream cheese frosting may be prepared a few days in advance. Allow it to soften at room temperature before icing or frosting your cakes.
- Change things up! Add citrus zest, a bit of alcohol, a teaspoon of cinnamon or your favorite spices, or melted chocolate or cocoa powder for a delicious twist.
More cream cheese recipes you’ll love:
- American flag no bake cheesecake
- Black bottom cupcakes
- Chocolate peanut butter pie
- Red velvet brownies
- Mini no bake cheesecakes
- Pumpkin cheesecake
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened; will take 1-2 hours to soften at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar add more as desired for a thicker, sweeter frosting
- 2 tablespoons milk omit if you're piping the frosting; see notes
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt omit if using salted butter
Instructions
- Place the softened cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl and beat on medium high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.8 ounces cream cheese, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add the powdered sugar, milk (if using), vanilla, and pinch of salt, and beat on low until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Beat on medium high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.3 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcakes and enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: Be sure that the cream cheese is completely room temperature. If it’s cold, you will have lumps in your frosting.
- If you’re planning to pipe the frosting, do not add milk or half and half as the frosting may not be thick enough.
- Cream cheese frosting may be prepared a few days in advance. Allow it to come to room temperature before icing or frosting your cakes.
- Change things up! Add citrus zest, a bit of alcohol, a teaspoon of cinnamon or your favorite spices, or melted chocolate or cocoa powder for a delicious twist.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
