Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe has only 4 simple ingredients making it super easy to make homemade frosting. Give this recipe a try for a quick and easy frosting that is decadent and amazing.
You can make homemade cream cheese frosting with ONLY 4 ingredients. Not only is this recipe so easy but you know exactly what goes into the frosting
Store bought frosting is loaded with so many ingredients and hard to pronounce words. You will taste the difference and absolutely love it! You will be amazed when you try it.
I have been making homemade frosting for years including Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting, Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting, and Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe.
If you love cream cheese flavor, try Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe and Cream Cheese Glaze.
What's in this post: Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Why we love this recipe
Cream cheese frosting texture is sturdy, it can be colored, and it is pipeable. Cream cheese frosting is versatile which is one of the reasons we love it so much.
Each bite is so delicious and the best cream cheese frosting recipe.
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese
- Unsalted Butter
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
Scroll to the bottom of the post and get the complete ingredient list.
How to make cream cheese frosting
Step 1. In a large bowl beat the butter and cream cheese. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
Step 2. Slowly add the Powdered Sugar until desired consistency. Mix until well combined and smooth. Finally, add the vanilla and combine.
How to use Cream Cheese Frosting
The possibilities are endless but here are some of our favorites.
- Lemon Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Cookies or Cake. This frosting is amazing sandwiched between 2 cookies. It makes the perfect cookie treat.
- Carrot Cakes Cupcakes Recipe
- Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Lemon Cake
- Chocolate Cake
- Quick and Easy Strawberry Cake Recipe
- Banana Bread– Banana Cake would also be yummy.
- Spice Cake
Tips for making Cream Cheese Icing
- Smaller Amount – This recipe makes a large amount. It is for a layered cake or a large number of cupcakes. You can cut the recipe in half if needed for a smaller amount.
- Use a stand Mixer – Also, you certainly can use a hand mixer but we love our electric mixer. It gets a ton of use and to this day is such a good investment.
- Full Fat Cream Cheese – When making this cream cheese frosting, use the full-fat cream cheese option. Do not use the cream cheese spread. Using the wrong cream cheese can cause your frosting to be runny.
- Unsalted Butter – We prefer to use unsalted butter. This way if you wanted to add in salt, you can control how much you add.
- Room Temperature Ingredients – When making this recipe, make sure to use cream cheese and butter that is at room temp. It blends better and doesn’t have lumps.
- Make it Chocolate – If you need Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting, add in about ½ cup of cocoa to the ingredients.
FAQs
Yes, this is the perfect frosting to use your piping tools with. We recommend sifting your powdered sugar before mixing it with the cream cheese and butter. Powdered sugar can clump which doesn’t allow it to get through the piping tips.
We recommend putting the refrigerator for about 30 minutes prior to putting in the pipping bag. It will hold it shape better.
If you find that your cream cheese frosting is to thin, you can add in more powdered sugar. We recommend adding in about a tablespoon at a time.
If you want to add in some flavoring to your frosting, these are some of our favorites:
Pumpkin Flavoring – If you love the pumpkin flavor, add in ½ teaspoon to your frosting mix.
Lemon Flavoring – We love anything lemon and lemon frosting is so yummy. Add in 1 teaspoon extract to your frosting.
Coconut – If you love coconut, then add in 1 teaspoon of coconut extract.
Yes, store leftovers in the fridge up to 3-4 days in a covered airtight container.
Yes! Since cream cheese frosting has such a high fat content, it is suitable to freeze. Just make sure to freeze in an airtight container.
Try more easy frosting recipes
- Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Keto Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
- Raspberry Frosting
- Cookie Dough Frosting
- Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and star recipe rating once you do.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar sifted (may not to add up to 8 cups)
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract (if using more cups of powdered sugar, may use up to 2 tsps)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add cream cheese, and beat until smooth
- Add in butter, an beat butter until smooth
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing in between each addition
- Beat until smooth
- Beat in vanilla until smooth
- Frost cupcakes or cake
- Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in a covered container
I used this icing on my red velvet cake last weekend, and it was delicious!