Cream cheese frosting is my #1 favorite frosting for cakes, cupcakes, quick breads, and more. In fact, it’s the most common frosting used in my kitchen. I use it on everything from pumpkin cake and carrot cake cupcakes to banana cake, red velvet cake, and more.
It’s smooth, creamy, and spreads onto baked goods with ease. Its flavor is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy and you only need 5 ingredients total!
Cream cheese frosting will be thin and runny if you’re not careful about the type of cream cheese you use. Make sure you use an 8 ounce block of full fat cream cheese, not low fat cream cheese and not cream cheese spread sold in a tub. Save cream cheese spread for bagels and low fat cream cheese for cooking.
The #1 reason bakers end up with runny frosting is because they’re accidentally using cream cheese spread instead of a block. There’s a HUGE difference! For the best, thickest, and most successful frosting, use the blocks of real cream cheese.
Cream cheese frosting is difficult to pipe because it’s so creamy. However, I learned a little trick a few years ago and feel free to borrow it. Cream cheese frosting will hold its decorative piped shape if you refrigerate it prior to piping. Fit your piping bag with a piping tip, fill your bag with the frosting, then refrigerate it for 20-30 minutes before piping.
However, don’t expect it to be as sturdy as buttercream. Cream cheese isn’t super stable, so save intricate piped designs for vanilla buttercream. Instead, stick with a basic round tip.
Simply add these ingredients to the recipe below.
It tastes phenomenal with spiced cakes and cupcakes, but don’t limit yourself. This stuff is so versatile! Here’s plenty of recipe inspiration for your next batch:
For taller layer cakes, I usually add a little milk, extra cream cheese, and extra confectioners’ sugar to produce more volume. My carrot cake and red velvet cake recipes show this higher ratio of frosting. And sometimes I add extra butter for a stronger, more buttercream-like frosting. My lemon layer cake and coconut cake show the buttercream variation.
.tasty-recipes-image {
float: right; }
.tasty-recipes-yield-scale {
border: 1px solid #979599;
border-radius: 2px;
color: #979599;
margin-left: 3px;
padding: 0 4px;
font-size: 0.7rem; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container {
float: right;
padding: 0 0 1rem; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container .tasty-recipes-scale-label {
text-transform: uppercase;
font-size: 0.6rem;
color: #979599; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button {
background: transparent;
border: 1px solid #979599;
border-radius: 2px;
color: #979599;
margin-left: 5px;
padding: 2px 4px; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button.tasty-recipes-scale-button-active {
color: #353547;
border-color: #353547; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button:focus {
outline: none; }
.tasty-recipes-print-button {
background-color: #666677;
display: inline-block;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
padding-top: 0.5em;
padding-bottom: 0.5em;
text-decoration: none; }
a.tasty-recipes-print-button {
color: #fff; }
a.tasty-recipes-print-button:hover {
color: #fff; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment {
display: -webkit-box;
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
-webkit-box-pack: space-evenly;
justify-content: space-evenly; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment > h3 {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 100%; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 50%;
padding: 1.5rem 1rem;
text-align: center; }
@media screen and (min-width: 500px) {
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 33%; } }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p {
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 1em;
margin-bottom: 0; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p a {
color: initial; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card span {
font-size: 0.9em; }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-10 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 10% 0%, 10% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 10% 0%, 10% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-20 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 20% 0%, 20% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 20% 0%, 20% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-30 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 30% 0%, 30% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 30% 0%, 30% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-40 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 40% 0%, 40% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 40% 0%, 40% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-50 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 50% 0%, 50% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 50% 0%, 50% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-60 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 60% 0%, 60% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 60% 0%, 60% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-70 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 70% 0%, 70% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 70% 0%, 70% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-80 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 80% 0%, 80% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 80% 0%, 80% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-90 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 90% 0%, 90% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 90% 0%, 90% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul:after {
display: block;
content: ‘ ‘;
clear: both; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition li {
float: left;
margin-right: 1em; }
.tasty-recipes-plug {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 1em;
display: -webkit-box;
display: flex;
-webkit-box-align: center;
align-items: center;
-webkit-box-pack: center;
justify-content: center; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a {
text-decoration: none;
box-shadow: none; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a img {
width: 150px;
height: auto;
margin: 5px 0 0 8px;
display: inline-block; }
@media print {
.tasty-recipes-no-print,
.tasty-recipes-no-print * {
display: none !important; } }
.tasty-recipes {
margin-bottom: 4em;
max-width: 700px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
}
.tasty-recipes.tasty-recipes-has-plug {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-plug {
margin-bottom: 4em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-button {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-image-shim {
height: 69.5px;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding-top: 2em;
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header.tasty-recipes-has-image {
padding-top: 0px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
float: none;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
float: left;
margin-right: 16px;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image img {
float: none;
height: 150px;
width: 150px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-header-content {
min-height: 215px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
margin-bottom: 0;
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
clear: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
border: 1px solid #eee;
background-color: #eee;
margin-bottom: 0;
margin-top: 1em;
margin-right: -2em;
margin-left: -2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer a {
text-decoration: none;
border: none;
display: inherit;
box-shadow: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer a:hover {
text-decoration: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars {
font-size: 18px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span {
margin-right: 2px;
margin-left: 2px;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span:first-child {
margin-left: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-label {
color: #B7BBC6;
font-size: .6875em;
margin-top: 1em;
position: absolute;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars .post-ratings {
font-size: 10px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars .post-ratings .tasty-recipes-cf-ratings-label {
margin-top: 0;
line-height: 1;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details {
margin-top: 1.5em;
color: #606060;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding-left: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
display: inline-block;
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0;
margin-right: .5em;
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: 1em;
line-height: 1.8em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
height: 1em;
margin-top: .4em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
font-size: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .tasty-recipes-label {
margin-right: .125em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
vertical-align: top;
margin-right: .2em;
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details {
padding-left: 166px;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content {
padding-top: 0.1em;
background: #f9f9f9;
color: #606060;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
margin-top: 1.25em;
margin-bottom: 1.25em;
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons:after {
content: ” “;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap {
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons a {
text-transform: uppercase;
text-align: center;
display: block;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
font-size: 1em;
line-height: 1.375em;
font-weight: bold;
padding-top: 7px;
padding-bottom: 7px;
margin-top: 0;
border: 1px solid #aaaaaa;;
border-radius: 0;
text-decoration: none;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons .button:hover {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 3px solid #aaaaaa;
color: #aaaaaa;
opacity: 1;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content a img {
box-shadow: none;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons a:hover {
background-color: #979599;
text-decoration: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img {
vertical-align: top;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-print,
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-pinterest {
height: 1.25em;
margin-right: .375em;
margin-bottom: 0;
background: none;
display: inline-block;
box-shadow: none;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap {
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:nth-child(2) {
padding-top: 1em;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 450px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:first-child {
width: 50%;
padding-right: 5px;
float: left;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:last-child {
width: 50%;
padding-left: 5px;
float: right;
padding-top: 0;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
padding-left: 166px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content {
position: relative;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
position: absolute;
top: 155px;
width: 150px;
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-label {
display: block;
position: static;
margin-top: 0;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content h3 {
color: initial;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content h4 {
font-size: 1em;
padding-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
margin-top: 1.5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content hr {
background-color: #eee;
border: 1px solid #eee;
margin-top: 1em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords {
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description p {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin-left: 0;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li {
margin-bottom: .625em;
list-style-type: none;
position: relative;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li:before {
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: .5em;
width: .5em;
display: block;
content: ” “;
left: -1.25em;
top: .375em;
position: absolute;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol {
counter-reset:li;
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol > li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol > li {
list-style-type: none;
position: relative;
margin-bottom: 1em;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol > li:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol > li:before {
content:counter(li);
counter-increment: li;
position: absolute;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: -1.25em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: .1875em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li li {
margin-top: 0.625em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li ol {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol {
margin-left: 0;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-equipment {
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipe-video-embed ~ .tasty-recipes-equipment {
padding-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-nutrition {
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol {
counter-reset:li;
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul {
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
padding-left: 1.5625em;
padding-right: 1.5625em;
padding-top: 1.25em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
position: relative;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
list-style-type: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
padding-left: 2.5em;
margin-left: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li:before {
content: “i”;
display: block;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.3em;
width: 1.3em;
font-size: .75em;
line-height: 1.3em;
text-align: center;
color: #FFF;
position: absolute;
left: 1.167em;
top: 2.1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol > li:before {
content:counter(li);
counter-increment: li;
position: absolute;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: 2em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: 2.3em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:last-child {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords {
margin-top: 1em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords p {
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: 0.7em;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox {
text-align: center;
margin: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox iframe {
width: 100%;
display: block;
margin: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul li {
float: none;
line-height: 2em;
list-style-type: none;
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0.833em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer {
background-color: #fff;
padding-top: 1.5625em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
padding-left: 2.5em;
padding-right: 2.5em;
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer .tasty-recipes-footer-content {
display: inline-block;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
width: 65px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
font-size: 1.25em;
line-height: 2.25em;
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .125em;
padding: 0;
line-height: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: .75em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p a {
text-decoration: underline;
box-shadow: none;
border-bottom: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer:after {
content: ” “;
display: block;
clear:both;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer {
text-align: center;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
float: left;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3,
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-left: 90px;
clear: none;
text-align: left;
}
}
.clearfix:after {
clear: both;
content: ” “;
display: table;
}
/* Print view styles */
.tasty-recipes-print-view {
font-size: 11px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-print-button {
display: inline-block;
}
.tasty-recipes-print {
padding:0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content {
background: #fff;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes {
margin-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header {
background-color: inherit;
color: inherit;
padding-bottom: 0;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
transform: none;
float: left;
margin-right: 16px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-header-content {
min-height: 150px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print.tasty-recipes-has-image .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
margin-top: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
color: inherit;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
position: initial;
text-align: left;
width: unset;
top: unset;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span {
color: #000;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul {
padding: 0;
clear: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
line-height: 1.8em;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-source-link {
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
margin-top: 1rem;
padding-top: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:before,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li:before {
top: 0.1em;
}
Description
Homemade cream cheese frosting is super creamy, soft, smooth, and tangy. It’s so easy to make and the uses are endless!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (224g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar, plus an extra 1/4 cup if needed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar (I add it).
- Cover and store leftover frosting for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting for a few seconds so it’s creamy again.
Notes
- Quantity: This recipe is enough to frost 12-18 cupcakes or one 9×13 quarter sheet cake. 1.5x the recipe for a double layer cake or add extra cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and a splash of milk or cream as shown in my carrot cake and red velvet cake recipes. (Doubling the recipe would be far too much.)
- Chocolate: Here is my chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe.
Keywords: cream cheese frosting
