Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (With Video)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Servings:

12

Yield:

2 cups

All you need to make decorvow's cream cheese frosting are four ingredients and 10 minutes. This quick and easy recipe is our go-to. It starts with a package of cream cheese and adds in butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. We use equal parts butter and cream cheese, plus enough confectioners' sugar to sweeten them into a whipped frosting. The cream cheese is a shortcut to creaminess and adds a delicate tang to balance the sweetness of the sugar. This smooth frosting works so well on red velvet cake, carrot cake, pumpkin cake, and all kinds of cupcakes.

Use Room Temperature Ingredients

The key to cream cheese frosting is the cream cheese. Be sure to use a good quality block cream cheese. The other important factor is the temperature of the ingredients. Let the cream cheese and the butter come to room temperature before you start mixing them together—allow about 30 minutes for this. You'll know when they are ready by testing for softness: Press your finger into the butter and the side of the cream cheese package. Your finger should leave an indent.

Mixing the Frosting

You can make this easy recipe by hand or with an electric mixer, but don't overbeat the butter and cream cheese, and be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl periodically to ensure the mixture blends well.

Our Favorite Ways to Use Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese frosting is a versatile, not-too-sweet frosting that works well on a variety of desserts from tall layer cakes to cupcakes and quick breads. It's particularly good with spiced cakes. Try it when you make:

Carrot Cake
Hummingbird cake
Red Velvet Cake
Pumpkin Bars
Banana cake or cupcakes

This recipe makes enough frosting to coat a 9-inch single layer cake, standard sheet cake, or 12 to 15 cupcakes. If you're making a layer cake or a large batch of cupcakes, we suggest doubling the recipe.

Spread don't pipe: If there is a downside to cream cheese frosting, it's that it is softer than buttercream and so is harder to pipe. We recommend spreading it on a cake rather than piping it.

Directions

Rachel Marek

Soften cream cheese:

Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese.

Rachel Marek
Add butter:

Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended.

Rachel Marek
Sift confectioners' sugar and add vanilla:

Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

Rachel Marek

Rachel Marek

As an alternative to sifting the confectioners' sugar, you can whisk the sugar to aerate it and remove any clumps prior to adding it to the cream cheese and butter.

Storing

Cream cheese frosting will last for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature and then beat until smooth again before using the frosting.

Freezing

You can freeze cream cheese frosting for up to 1 month, but we do no recommend this as freezing changes the texture and you may find the frosting is more grainy after it has been defrosted.

Flavoring and Coloring Cream Cheese Frosting

Like with buttercream, cream cheese frosting can be flavored with extracts, citrus zest and juice, spices, and/or freeze-dried fruit. After beating in the sugar, add your desired flavoring, tasting as you go until you're happy with the amount. Some of our favorite additions include lemon zest and juice, freeze-dried raspberries, and passion fruit juice.

Coloring

You can also tint your frosting with food coloring, if desired. We prefer using gel food coloring, rather than the liquid-based kind; the color is more vibrant, and you don't need to add as much dye.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my cream cheese frosting runny?

Runny cream cheese frosting is usually caused by using the wrong type of cream cheese. Be sure to use a block of full-fat cream cheese, not low-fat or whipped cream cheese spread for the frosting. To thicken up cream cheese frosting that is too runny, try adding a little more confectioners' sugar.
Why is my cream cheese frosting gluey?

Cream cheese frosting with a gluey texture is most often a result of overbeating the cream cheese. To avoid this issue. soften the cream cheese but do not whip it before adding the butter. Then, whip the cream cheese and butter together just until smooth.
Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes, cream cheese frosting should always be refrigerated because cream cheese requires refrigeration. Cream cheese frosting should not be out of the refrigerator for more than two hours (which includes the time spent making the frosting). If you need a frosting that doesn't require refrigeration, consider our simple vanilla buttercream, which can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.

5 More Frosting Recipes to Try

Updated by

Victoria Spencer

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