The Best Cream Cheese Frosting

Oh this cream cheese frosting, it’s so creamy, smooth and incredible! This isn’t just any frosting; it’s the kind that converts even the staunchest skeptics into passionate fans. Smooth, lusciously rich, and with just the right amount of sweetness, this cream cheese frosting recipe is a game changer for your dessert repertoire.

Why Cream Cheese Frosting is a Dessert Game Changer

This frosting offers a tantalizing balance of flavors. Its unique taste and texture come from the blend of cream cheese and butter, enhanced by the sweetness of powdered sugar and the subtle hint of vanilla. Unlike traditional buttercream, which can be overly sweet for some palates, cream cheese frosting brings a slight tanginess that cuts through the sweetness, creating a more balanced and irresistible topping for a variety of desserts.

What is in Cream Cheese Frosting?

Cream cheese

The star of the show, cream cheese, adds creaminess and a slight tang. Its texture and fat content are crucial for a smooth, spreadable frosting.

Unsalted butter

Butter introduces richness and helps stabilize the frosting. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content, ensuring the perfect balance of flavors.

Powdered sugar

Powdered sugar is just finely ground granulated sugar. It dissolves easily, ensuring a smooth texture without grittiness. It also stabilizes & thickens the frosting, thanks to its small amount of cornstarch.

Vanilla extract

 A touch of vanilla enhances the overall flavor, adding depth and warmth. Always make sure to use real extract over imitation vanilla for the right flavor.

3 Tips for the Perfect Frosting

• Ensure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for smooth blending.
• Gradually add the powdered sugar to prevent clumping and achieve a silky consistency.
• Whip the frosting at medium-high speed to incorporate air, making it light and fluffy.

How do you store cream cheese frosting?

The powdered sugar helps preserve the frosting when you add dairy into it like cream cheese. The FDA recommends not leaving cream cheese desserts out for longer than 2 hours. Personally, we have left it out for as long as 2 days when frosted on a cake & have been fine. Our house is always set at a cool 67 degrees though.

This frosting can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. For freezing, place it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

What is Should I use this frosting for?

This frosting is incredibly versatile, perfect for slathering on cakes, piping onto cupcakes, or even sandwiching between cookies. The tangy cream cheese flavor complements a variety of desserts, from rich chocolate cakes to spicy carrot cakes.

Recommended Equipment

• You need a standing mixer so that you can cream your frosting properly. You want to aerate it enough that it becomes light, fluffy & spreadable
• A rubber spatula makes scrapping the sides of the bowl down while mixing so much easier

Recipes You May Love

• Carrot Cake
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Sugar Cookie Frosting