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The Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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This homemade cream cheese frosting recipe is easy to make, slightly sweet, tangy, and will quickly become your new favorite frosting! It pipes beautifully and holds its shape – you're going to be putting this frosting on everything (especially red velvet cupcakes).

Whipped cream cheese frosting in a clear mixing bowl

For a less tangy option, try my mascarpone whipped cream or the cannoli frosting on these pistachio cupcakes.

I know, I know – you've probably seen plenty of recipes out there titled “The BEST cream cheese frosting”. And I know I might be a little biased here, but… this is actually the best one.

Every time I put this on something and give it to my husband, he talks about how much he loves it. Every single time. I could probably give him three different baked goods in the same day with this piled on top, and he'd tell me every. single. time.

Thankfully, it's a quick and easy recipe with four simple ingredients, and I might actually do that one of these days.

What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing?

This can be confusing because so many people use the terms “frosting” and “icing” interchangeably! They actually are two different things.

  • Frosting is thick and fluffy, and is most often used to frost cakes. It can also be used as a filling in between the cake layers of a layer cake.
  • Icing is thin and glossy, and is most often used to ice cookies. It can also be used as a decorative element on cakes.

That said, in the context of cream cheese, cream cheese frosting is used to frost cakes and cupcakes, and cream cheese icing is often used on cinnamon rolls and other pastries.

Ingredients for cream cheese frosting in small bowls on a white counter

Key Ingredients

  • Cream cheese – Because, you know, cream cheese frosting. Room temperature blocks of cream cheese, not the spreadable kind you use on bagels.
  • Unsalted butter – Adds structure and flavor to the frosting. And make sure it's room temperature butter! If you're not sure what that means, check out this post about what it is and why it's important.
  • Clear vanilla extract – I use clear vanilla extract in my frosting since it doesn't add any color to it – but you could always use pure vanilla extract. Just note that it will add a bit of color and darken your frosting a tad.
  • Powdered sugar – Adds sweetness and structure to the frosting, and can be scaled up or down based on your personal preference for sweetness.
  • White food gel paste (optional) – This is totally optional, and purely a personal preference. I like to add Bright White food gel paste to my cream cheese frosting to eliminate a little of the yellowish hue that naturally comes with butter-based frostings.

What type of cream cheese is best for frosting?

I always use a regular full-fat cream cheese brick, and I opt for a high-quality name brand, like Philadelphia. Some off-brands have a very odd texture that is less than appealing – and since cream cheese is the star of this recipe, you want the best quality you can get.

You do NOT want to use spreadable cream cheese, like what you would use for bagels.

Do I have to use clear vanilla extract?

Not at all! I use the clear because it doesn't add any color to the frosting – but you could always use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for an even deeper flavor. Just note that it will add a bit of color and darken your frosting a tad.

AmeriColor Bright White gel food paste on a white counter

What is white food gel?

White food gel, like AmeriColor Bright White Gel Paste Food Color, can be used to bring out more vivid colors in your baked goods and frostings.

In the case of this cream cheese frosting, I use it to reduce some of the yellow hue that naturally comes from a frosting using butter. There's nothing wrong with how it looks naturally, sometimes I just prefer it to be a more bright white to contrast with the cupcakes or cake it sits upon!

Is gel food coloring the same as paste?

Gel food coloring and gel paste food coloring serve the same purpose, but gel paste is thicker and more concentrated. Gel paste allows you to use less of the product for the same effect.

It's not as important for a thick frosting recipe like this – but when you're working with something thinner and more delicate like royal icing or meringue, you don't want to use too much liquid food dye as it could add too much liquid and thin out your batter or icing.

How to make cream cheese frosting

Butter and cream cheese beaten together in a clear mixing bowl

Step 1: Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer to cream together the cream cheese and butter.

Powdered sugar being added to cream cheese mixture while a hand mixer runs on low speed

Step 2: With the electric mixer running on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar until it's incorporated and well combined.

Cream cheese frosting being whipped with a hand mixer

Step 3: Add vanilla extract and beat on high speed for a few seconds to combine.

White food gel paste being dropped into a bowl of cream cheese frosting

Step 4: If desired, add a few drops of Bright White food gel paste and beat again to combine. Continue adding gel a couple of drops at a time until the desired level of white is reached.

Red velvet cupcakes being frosted with white piped cream cheese frosting

Buttercream vs. cream cheese frosting

If you've ever wondered what the difference is between buttercream frosting and cream cheese frosting, it's actually right there in the names!

  • Buttercream frosting is a combination of butter and powdered sugar. It's known for its sweet flavor.
  • Cream cheese frosting replaces half of the butter with cream cheese, and is also combined with powdered sugar. This has a less sweet flavor, with more of a tang.

How to stiffen cream cheese frosting

The last thing I want to do is add additional sugar to my frosting if I can help it – I worked so hard to get the flavor and level of sweetness that I wanted! But what's a girl to do when the icing isn't quite stiff enough to pipe onto those delicious cupcakes I just made?

Great news! All you need to do is put the cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. The frosting will thicken as it cools in the fridge and the consistency will become thicker.

If you find that didn't help enough, you can add 1 tablespoon of meringue powder to the frosting and whip it to combine. This should help stabilize it as well.

How to use cream cheese frosting for cake decorating

You can use cream cheese frosting the same ways you would use a buttercream frosting!

You can use an icing spatula to frost a sheet cake or layer cake, and/or transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your favorite piping tip and decorate it that way.

Carrot cake, red velvet cake, and pumpkin cake are some of the classics that are the perfect complement to cream cheese frosting.

Here are some of my favorites recipes to pair with this frosting (and some of them aren't cake):

Storage Tips

Your best bet is to store leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To freeze, the frosting can be stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Bring it to room temperature and re-whip before using to frost baked goods.

Cup full of cream cheese frosting with red velvet cupcakes in the background

Helpful Tips

  • Chill your mixing bowl in the fridge or freezer. This is something I started doing with my mascarpone whipped cream, and now I do it with every frosting I make. It helps keep the temperature down as you whip the frosting, which helps stabilize it.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl. By using a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as you mix the frosting, you're ensuring that all the ingredients are well combined and you won't have random streaks of butter or cream cheese that were left behind on the top sides of the bowl.
  • Use unsalted butter. To be perfectly honest, I never use salted butter for anything – but especially so for my frosting recipes. I want to be able to control the sweetness of my frosting 100%, and using salted butter could add an undesired saltiness to the frosting that you might have trouble correcting with powdered sugar.

FAQs

How to store cream cheese frosting

Your best bet is to store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This applies to the frosting on or off of a baked good.

How long does cream cheese frosting last in the fridge?

Cream cheese frosting will last up to 5 days in the fridge.

How to freeze cream cheese frosting

The frosting can be stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Bring it to room temperature and re-whip before using to frost baked goods.

How to stiffen cream cheese frosting

All you need to do is put the cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. The frosting will thicken as it cools in the fridge and the consistency will become thicker. If you find that didn't help enough, you can add 1 tablespoon of meringue powder to the frosting and whip it to combine. This should help stabilize it as well.

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The Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

5 from 4 votes
This homemade cream cheese frosting recipe is easy to make, slightly sweet, tangy, and will quickly become your new favorite frosting! It pipes beautifully and holds its shape – you're going to be putting this frosting on everything.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 24 cupcakes' worth (4 cups of frosting)

Ingredients
 

Instructions

  • In a large bowl using an electric hand or stand mixer, combine cream cheese and butter and beat on medium high speed until smooth.
    8 ounces cream cheese (block, not spread)
    8 ounces unsalted butter
  • Add vanilla extract. Now reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add powdered sugar. Turn up the speed to high and beat until frosting forms stiff peaks.
    2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
    4 cups confectionersโ€™ sugar (powdered sugar)
  • Taste test – if you want it sweeter, add more powdered sugar. If you want less cream cheese flavor and more vanilla, add a little more vanilla extract.
  • If you want to color the frosting, now's the time to do it. I recommend using soft gel paste food coloring as it doesn't thin out your frosting the way normal food coloring gel does.
    Add a drop of color at a time and beat well until you reach the desired color. If you want to do multiple colors, just divide out your frosting into different bowls and beat the desired color into each individually.
    If you're using white food gel paste, start with three drops, beat well, then add more if desired.
    Bright White food gel paste
  • For best results, place the frosting in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before frosting your baked goods. This allows it to cool down and thicken, which allows for easier piping and spreading. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Storage: Store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This applies to the frosting on or off of a baked good.
Freezing: The frosting can be stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Bring it to room temperature and re-whip before using to frost baked goods.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 16mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 363IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.02mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

The provided nutrition information is generated by an automatic API and does not take variations across specific brands into account. This information is provided as a general guideline and should not be treated as official calculations. Learn more here.

Recipe created by Leslie Kiszka
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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