This easy cream cheese frosting recipe comes together in a matter of minutes and is a delicious way to top cake and cupcakes. It’s a recipe that you definitely want to have in your recipe box.
Cream Cheese Frosting is almost always a great choice for topping cakes, cupcakes, and even cinnamon rolls. Homemade cream cheese frosting is easy to make and so much better than store-bought frosting.
How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting
For this super easy sweet frosting, you need the following ingredients:
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ stick butter softened
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract or milk for a lighter frosting
- 32 ounces powdered sugar
You start by creaming butter and cream cheese. If you have a stand mixer, use it. It’s the best way to get butter nice and light and creamy. If you don’t have a stand mixer but do have a handheld, use it. It’s the next best thing. Have neither? It’s going to take some good old-fashioned elbow grease to get the butter and cream cheese creamed.
Tip: Use softened butter and softened cream cheese. I like to take butter and cream cheese out of the refrigerator and let it sit on my kitchen counter for about 30 minutes or even up to 1 hour to soften.
Once you do have them creamed together, it’s time to add powdered sugar.
At this stage, it’s helpful to add the vanilla flavoring, too. If the frosting is too “wet,” add a little more powdered sugar. Too dry? Add 1 tablespoon of milk.
Be sure to whip this frosting for 4-5 minutes to help it become as light and creamy as possible.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- Mixer
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ stick butter softened
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract or milk for a lighter frosting
- 32 ounces powdered sugar
Instructions
- Cream together cream cheese and butter.
- Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla. Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk if mixture is too thick.
- Whip the frosting at HIGH speed for 4-5 minutes or until it is light and fluffy.
Video
Nutrition
Cream Cheese Frosting Variations
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting – Combine 2 cups of chopped strawberries and 3 tablespoons of water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool. Follow the directions above, adding and mixing in the cooled strawberry mixture after step 1 has been completed. Follow the remaining directions. This recipe is ideal for a sheet cake and not cupcakes.
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting – Use only 8 ounces of cream cheese and add 1 cup of creamy peanut butter in step 1. Follow the remaining directions.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting – Double the amount of butter to 2 sticks in step 1. Add 1 cup of natural cocoa powder to step 2.
Coconut Cream Cheese – Add ½ cup of coconut milk in step 2. For even more coconut flavor, add 1 teaspoon of coconut flavoring.
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