Sweet and tangy, this quick and easy-to-make Classic Cream Cheese Frosting comes together with just four basic ingredients, and it’s delicious on all kinds of sweet treats.
This is a staple recipe; one that I think everyone should have. It’s a go to recipe for all kinds of desserts, complementing, and maybe even making some things better!
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The best frosting
It’s fluffy, stable, creamy, and tangy. And, it’s perfect for piping onto cupcakes and for decorating cakes.
This Frosting is probably the best part of any cake, cupcake, or cookie as far as I’m concerned.
It’s my favorite. I love it, and you’ve seen me use it on my Pumpkin Spice Cake with Apple Butter Cream Cheese Frosting and on my Zucchini Cookies.
Adjusting the basic recipe
Flavoring add-ins
This Frosting doesn’t need any other flavors, but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up a bit. You can also customize the flavoring of your cream cheese frosting.
I added apple butter to mine in that Pumpkin Spice Cake. You could add caramel. Or, even try a little extract like lemon, eggnog, or peppermint.
Just about any jam could be added to cream cheese frosting, like blueberry jam or strawberry jam.
Try making your frosting flavored by adding chocolate or cocoa, strawberries, caramel, lemon juice or lemon extract, maple syrup, coconut and coconut extract, orange, crushed Oreos, blueberries, pineapple, oh the options are almost endless.
Sweetness level
Adjust the sweetness of the frosting, if you like, by increasing or decreasing the powdered sugar.
Thick or thin
If you want a cream cheese icing drizzle, thin the recipe with some milk or cream until you have a thick syrup-like consistency.
Lighter and fluffy frosting
The longer you whip the frosting, the lighter and fluffier it will become. It will also lighten in color.
Thicker frosting
Add more powdered sugar to make the frosting thicker. This will make the icing sweeter as well. You can also add meringue powder or cornstarch to thicken the frosting.
Recipe tips
Use full fat cream cheese rather than low fat. The fat in the cream cheese adds flavor and richness to the frosting.
And make sure that the cream cheese and the butter are at room temperature when you start to mix them to make the frosting.
Refrigerate the frosting
Frost the cake or cookies, then store them in the fridge. Also, store any leftover frosting in the fridge.
For best flavor, allow the frosted dessert to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
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Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Cream cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature and cut into small cubes
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature, and cut into small cubes (1 stick)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat until smooth. Add the butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until just combined.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
I am not a big fan of frosting EXCEPT for cream cheese frosting! It is just so perfect and delicious and go so well with everything! Why have it any other way when you can have cream cheese frosting!!!
Cream cheese frosting is the best! This would be amazing on everything!
I can’t think of anything better than cream cheese frosting! It goes on so many desserts but I really just want to eat it with a spoon!