How to Make the Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE:My easy yet incredible Cream CheeseFrosting recipeis truly the king of all frostings because it has the best of both worlds! The perfectly saltytastefrom cream cheese, subtle sweetness from the sugar, and luscious creaminess from the butter make it thebest recipeyou’ll ever need and love!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was updated and improved on 3/31/2023, to include definition, additional notes for ingredients and step-by-step instructions, and answers to the most frequently asked questions and Pro Chef Tips.

Add a slather of it anywhere and I think you will agree it improves anycake, dessert or even breads like myBest-Ever Cinnamon Rolls. Learning how to make this recipe is a must for you Bold Bakers — spread it on classics like myBest-EverCarrot Cake,3 Layer MicrowaveRed Velvet Cake, CrazyCupcakes(Red VelvetCupcakes),Red Velvet Donutsand the most recentMicrowaveCarrot CakeBowl!

Table of Contents

• What is Cream Cheese Frosting?
• Tools You Need
• Ingredients You Need
• How to Make the Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting
• How to Store Cream Cheese Frosting
• Can I freeze cream cheese frosting?
• What desserts go well with Cream Cheese Frosting?
• FAQs
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Use This Recipe With These Desserts

What is Cream Cheese Frosting?

Cream cheese frosting is considered to be a lighter variant ofbuttercream frostingfor decorating or filling baked goods. Besidessoftened butter, cream cheese is the mainingredientand both are creamed withpowdered sugaruntil light and fluffy then flavored withvanilla extract. Compared to butter having 80% of milk fat, cream cheese contains only 33%-45% milkfat so cream cheese adds lightness to aclassic cream cheese frosting.

• Mixer(stand mixer/hand mixerwith thewhisk attachment,or a hand whisk)
• Measuring cupsand measuring spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula

Ingredients You Need

• Powdered sugar:It’s very important to siftpowdered sugar:

1) Sifting powdered sugar aerates it to incorporate extra air into the frosting for a light result.

2) Siftingpowdered sugarwill remove any lumps to ensure a smooth frostingconsistency.

• Cream cheese:

1) Use brick-syle / American-style FIRM cream cheese instead of tub-style/European-style SPREADABLE cream cheese. This will help to avoid an overly soft runny result. Make your own using my Easiest Cream Cheese Recipeif needed.

2)Full-fat cream cheesewill yield a richer and thicker result than reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese.

3) Make sure your cream is naturally softened atroom temperature(between 70°-76°F/20°-24°C) for an easy mixing and lump-free result.

• Butter:

1) Either salted butter or unsalted butter will work. I always use salted butter unless specified otherwise because salt enhances flavors. You can make butter using my How to Make Homemade Butterrecipe.

2) Make sure your butter is atroom temperature: when you push the butter and it makes an indent, but your finger doesn’t easily squish right through. Perfectlysoftened butterwill not only contribute to a thorough mixing without separating the fat to cause an oily frosting but also help with a smooth creamy frosting.

• Vanilla extract:Vanilla extractenhancesflavorsin baking! Try my recipe ofHomemadeExtracts, you will save money and never run out!

How to Make The Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting

Besides being absolutely delicious, this recipe is incredibly simple to make.

1. Creaming to Incorporate Air:In onebowl, use thestand mixerorhand mixerwith aWHISK attachment(not apaddle attachment!) to cream butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy. This will incorporate air into the mixture and build an aerated structure to hold sugar without being weighed down.
2. Combine sugar:Then, add in your SIFTEDpowdered sugarand a dash of vanilla for smooth and creamy bliss. Sugar will coat air bubbles to stabilize the frosting. Reducing sugar will lead to a flatter thinner result.
3. Result:Once youringredientshave been combined, you’ll discover rich, thick and perfectly balanced frosting. This frosting is light inflavorfrom the soft and tangy cream cheese and is complimentary for any dessert.

How to Store

Homemade Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting can be covered and stored in an airtight container in thefridgefor up to 4 days.

You will find this recipeis super easy to work withandbeautiful. This light, fluffy, and shiny frosting is absolutely convenient as it can be kept in therefrigeratoruntil ready for use.

Can you Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?

You can freeze cream cheese frosting for up to 3 weeks.

• I like to vacuum-seal extra frosting and freeze it! You can always transfer your frosting to an air-tight container and pop it in the freezer.
• To use from frozen, allow the frosting to thaw in thefridgeuntil it’s soft. After thawing just give the frosting a good whip up with aspatulathen use as directed in my recipes.

What desserts go well with Cream Cheese Frosting?

I can think of endless ways to use this frosting.

• CAKE:Cream Cheese Frosting goes well with cakes such as myspice cake Best-EverCarrot Cake,

or3 Layer MicrowaveRed Velvet Cake.

Especially my NEWMicrowaveCarrot CakeBowl!

• BREAD:Cream Cheese elevates bread such as myBest Ever Banana Breador even yeast bread like myBest-Ever Cinnamon Rolls.

• CUPCAKE:Cream cheese frosting is a must for manycupcakessuch as myUltra-MoistCarrot CakeorRed VelvetCupcakes.

So if you’re like me, you must give this frosting a go!

FAQs

1. What to do if my cream cheese frosting runny? Why is my cream cheese frosting runny?

• First, make sure you use cream cheese blocks / sticks instead of spreadable ones from the tub which has more otheringredientsto affect the result. You can also make your own at home using my Easiest Cream Cheese Recipe.
• Second, make sure your cream cheese and (especially) butter are atroom temperature. This will make the whipping much easier without overdoing it to separate the fat, leading to a runny texture.
• Third, cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy before adding in sugar. This will build up a structure to hold the sugar otherwise sugar will weigh down the mixture and make it runny.

2. Why is my cream cheese frosting grainy?

• First, you need powdered / icing sugar that is fine enough to achieve a smooth result.
• Second, make sure to whipROOM TEMPERATUREcream cheese and butter until pale in color and light in texture to have a structure to hold the added sugar, otherwise, it would get grainy or collapse.
• Third, siftpowdered sugarto remove any lumps.
• Last but not least, slowly add inpowdered sugarwhich will help the sugar be distributed evenly.

3. How much frosting does this recipe yield? How much do I need?

This recipe yields 3-31/2 cups of frosting.

You can use this recipe to decorate two dozen standard-size cupcakes or one 8-inch cake.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

Adjust its Consistency:

• If your frosting is too thin, add 2tablespoonsofpowdered sugarat a time and mix atmedium speeduntil it gets to a desiredconsistency.
• If your frosting is too thick, add 1tablespoonof milk or cream at a time and mix atmedium speeduntil it gets to a desiredconsistency.

Reduce its Sweetness:

I do not recommend cutting back on sugar in Cream Cheese Frosting.

• Because sugar is vital in incorporating air into and stabilizing the structure of cream cheese frosting. Whensugaris beaten into the light and fluffy cream cheese and butter, it dissolves in the film on the surface of the air bubbles. This sugary syrup film prevents the bubbles from drying out and tightening up too fast.
• Cutting back on sugar by ¼ less is the farthest you can go.
• Another trickto reduce the sweetness is to add in a splash oflemon juiceor ¼ tsp ofsalt.

Make it Chocolateflavor:

To makeChocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, sift 1 cup of unsweetenedcocoa powderwithpowdered sugartogether, then proceed per this recipe add this mixture to the lightly creamed cheese and butter mixture.

Use This Recipe With These Desserts!

• MicrowaveCarrot Cake
• Carrot Bundt Cake (With Cheesecake Filling)
• Carrot CakeDonuts
• Red Velvet Pancakes
• Carrot CakePancakes

IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was updated and improved on 3/31/2023, to include definition, additional notes for ingredients and step-by-step instructions, and answers to the most frequently asked questions and Pro Chef Tips.

Don’t forget to followBigger Bolder Baking on Pinterest!

Ingredients

Instructions