Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

This is an easy and delicious Cream Cheese Frosting, made with simple ingredients like butter, cream cheese, confectioner sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. It goes great on Red velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Spice Cake, or even many cookies. Homemade frosting is so fresh and delicious.

Cream cheese frosting is one of the most traditional, popular, and very classic frostings used in the baking world. It is my go-to frosting for many of my recipes for cupcakes, cream-filled cookies, and even some jar desserts.

This frosting is rich, creamy, and smooth so you can spread it easily on any baked goods. You can pipe or even dye it and decorate your cakes or any other desserts to make it look beautiful.

This frosting has its own unique personality with a balanced sweetness, creamy texture, and tanginess from cream cheese making it a very versatile frosting. I even love to add a dollop to my fruits and it makes fantastic party food.

What is a cream cheese frosting?

Cream cheese frosting is a simple and quick frosting made with cream cheese, butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.

How to make Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a simple recipe with few ingredients, so let's get to know the ingredients.

Ingredients for the frosting recipe

Cream Cheese - Use full-fat room temperature cream cheese for this recipe. Do not compromise in this for best results. Especially do not use the cream cheese that you get in the tub that is of spreadable consistency.

Butter - You will need unsalted butter at room temperature so that it mixes easily to make the frosting. The butter should be just right at room temperature and not extra soft. To check for the right consistency press a finger onto it and it should make a slight indent and not a big dent or leave too much residue on your finger.

Confectioner's Sugar - Confectioner's sugar is powdered sugar with some cornstarch in it. You will have to sift it so that it breaks any lumps in the sugar.

Vanilla Extract - Use original good quality vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla.

Salt - regular table salt is fine.

Step-by-step instructions for Cream Cheese Frosting

Take a bowl for a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and add room temperature unsalted butter and cream cheese to it.

Beat the unsalted butter and cream cheese for a couple of minutes to make it soft and light and both blend together.

Add vanilla extract and salt and beat it together.

Sift the powdered confectioner's sugar in a big bowl.

Add the powdered sugar the butter and cream cheese ½ cup at a time and keep mixing at a very low speed. Mixing at a high speed will spill the sugar out of the bowl.

Keep adding sugar in small batches till everything is well combined.

If you are looking for a less sweet frosting skip ½ cup of sugar.

If you are looking for stiff peek frosting keep adding more sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time. Just remember the more sugar you add more sweet the Cream Cheese Frosting will be.

Pro Tips for the Cream Cheese Frosting

• Use full fat block of cream cheese and not the spreadable one that comes in the tubs.

• Use room temperature unsalted butter and not a butter that is to soft otherwise the frosting will turn out too soft and you will not be able to frost with it.

• For piping consistency you might need to add more confectioner's sugar as it has cornstarch and that will thicken the frosting.

• Do not over mix the cream cheese frosting it will turn too loose.

Also check out some other recipes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can you make the cream cheese frosting thicker?

You can make the cream cheese frosting thicker by adding more powdered sugar. Add 2 tablespoons at a time till you get the desired consistency.

Should the cream cheese frosting be refrigerated?

This frosting is packed with dairy, hence it is important that you refrigerate it. Refrigerate the frosting or the product frosted with cream cheese frosting in an air-tight container. Get the frosting to room temperature before serving or frosting the food. If you need to pipe it then you do not need to get it down to room temperature before frosting. or piping.

Can you pipe with cream cheese frosting?

Yes, you can pipe and decorate with cream cheese frosting but this frosting is a little soft and will be difficult for a layered cake. If you want to use it for layered cake then you need to add more confectioner's sugar to the frosting and it will thicken enough to use.

Can I add cornstarch to make the frosting thick?

Yes, you can. Though traditionally cornstarch is not added to the recipe it is indirectly part of the recipe since it is part of the confectioner's sugar. I like to use cornstarch when I want to thicken the frosting without making it too sweet. But be careful and only add 1 tablespoon at a time and keep tasting the frosting before adding more.

What goes well with Cream Cheese Frosting?

Red velvet cake or red velvet cupcakes are my favorite combination with cream cheese frosting. It also goes well with carrot cake, pumpkin spice cake, red velvet cookies, cream cheese cookies, and much more.

Can you color the cream cheese frosting?

Yes, you can color the cream cheese frosting. But only use gel food color as you don't want to add any more liquid to the recipe. Gel food coloring gives the right color with minimum usage.

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?

DO DROP A COMMENT IF YOU HAVE TRIED THE RECIPE. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DO DROP A COMMENT BELOW. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP.

Post a photo on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram with #prajakta_food_lab, you can even pin it on Pinterest with the tag #p3foodlab.