This is my family favorite BEST cream cheese frosting recipe! It goes great on Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and just about any other flavor cake or cupcake you can imagine. I’ve been making this cream cheese icing for years!
If I had things my way, every cake and every cupcake would be be buried beneath a mountain of cream cheese frosting.
Not buttercream — Never rarely buttercream — always and only cream cheese. For someone with such a rampant sweet tooth, it’s alarming the number of times I’ve turned down a slice of cake or a sky-high frosted cupcake because the buttercream just makes my teeth hurt (OK full disclosure I have a buttercream recipe coming up on the blog next month, and it’s delicious, but cream cheese frosting will always win over my heart, even over my favorite chocolate frosting).
While buttercream frostings are usually too sweet, cream cheese frosting I could eat with a spoon, and this recipe is every bit as versatile as buttercream — it’s sturdy, pipe-able, can be dyed, and, most importantly, it’s delicious.
Tips for Making Cream Cheese Icing:
- Make sure that you are using full-fat brick cream cheese, not low fat or spreadable cream cheese (which is usually sold in a tub rather than in brick form).
- I always like to use unsalted butter and add a dash of salt so that I have complete control over the flavor of the frosting. However, if you only have salted butter on hand then just omit the salt called for in the recipe.
- Make sure you allow your cream cheese and your butter to soften before making your frosting! Softening the butter and cream cheese ensure that your ingredients will combine well and be lump free.
- If you intend to pipe your frosting, I recommend sifting your powdered sugar before mixing it into your butter/cream cheese mixture, as small lumps of sugar can clog up your piping tips, especially if you’re using a smaller tip.
Can cream cheese frosting be used for piping?
- Yes! Especially with this recipe because it is nice and thick. Now, this frosting (as with most) is prone to melting in hot weather, but it pipes nicely and as you can see in the photos it holds its shape neatly as well.
How do I make my cream cheese frosting thicker?
- What I love about this recipe is that it already makes a nice thick frosting, but if needed you can add more powdered sugar to make your cream cheese frosting even thicker. I recommend adding about 2 Tablespoons at a time until the desired thickness is reached. Alternatively you can add cornstarch… see more on that below.
Can I add cornstarch to my cream cheese frosting?
- Yup! While this recipe does not call for it, if you need a particularly stiff frosting or are looking to make your frosting thicker without making it sweeter, you can add cornstarch (in fact, I use this technique for my carrot cake cookies). I don’t recommend adding more than a few Tablespoons, so start with just one Tablespoon at a time until desired thickness is reached.
Alright, while (in my humble opinion) cream cheese frosting goes great with everything, there are certain cakes and cupcakes that complement it particularly well. Wednesday I’ll be sharing one of my favorite cupcakes with you — the exact cupcakes seen in the photos above.
Can you guess what flavor they are???
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter softened (113g)
- 8 oz cream cheese softened (brick-style, not spreadable) (226g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar* (500g)
Instructions
- Combine butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or you may use an electric mixer) and beat until creamy, well-combined, and lump-free.
- Add vanilla extract and salt and stir well to combine.
- With mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.
- Use to frost completely cooled cake or cupcakes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Megan
What should we add if we would like to make the frosting thinner?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Megan! If you’d like the frosting thinner you can try beating in milk or cream 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is the right consistency. I hope that helps! 🙂
Ashley McIntosh
Does this have more of a sweet flavor or the tang of cream cheese? I’m looking for a less sweet recipe.
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Ashley! I think that the Cream Cheese Frosting is a perfect blend, not overly sweet, but sweet enough. If you want more of a tangy cream cheese frosting, start with ½ cup powdered sugar then, add more as you go until you get the desired taste that isn’t too sweet for your taste buds. Enjoy! 🙂
Erin T
Used this recipe for my sons first birthday cupcakes! I got so many compliments on it. Turned out great! I made 22 cupcakes, and had the perfect amount to generously pipe them!
Sam
I am so happy to hear this! Thank you for letting me know how the cream cheese frosting turned out for you, Erin, I appreciate it!
Sherry
I’ve used this before so now I am going to make a pineapple cake and used this icing I love it and does all my family and friends thanks for sharing
Sam
You’re very welcome, Sherry! I’m so glad to hear the cream cheese frosting has been such a hit! 🙂
Keziah
Could I add maple syrup and cinnamon to this recipe? I don’t usually bake, wondering if the syrup would make it watery, would I use less sugar if i used MS? I want to use it for a carrot cake xx
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Keziah! Yes, you can. I recommend adding in 2 TBS of Maple syrup in to start. Then, gradually add more in to achieve your desired flavor. Depending on the consistency of the Cream Cheese Frosting, you may need to add more powdered sugar. I hope that it turns out well. 🙂
Bianca
Hi! Is this frosting good for piping flowers and doing decorative boarders on a cake? Also, can I double the ingredients to make double the frosting without having issues with the frosting not turning out as it should?
Sam
Hi Bianca! It depends on the intricacy of the flowers. Some are better made with royal icing or you can really stiffen this cream cheese icing by adding more powdered sugar which will help the flowers hold their shape (or if they are simple flowers this frosting will work just fine). This recipe can be doubled without issue and can definitely be used for a decorative border!
Sally
Perfect cream cheese frosting for banana cake 🙂
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that you enjoyed the Cream Cheese Frosting, Sally! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Maxine
I am making a Strawberry pound cake. I’m going to make the cream cheese frosting but can I also add strawberry flavoring to it?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Maxine! Yes, you can. I have had others add it using extract or pureed strawberries. I hope that you enjoy the cream cheese frosting and pound cake. 🙂
chris
will the cornstartch change the flavor??
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Chris! I don’t recommend cornstarch for this recipe.
Shruti Singhal
This looks simple and delicious. I will make a home made cake for my hubby’s birthday. We are being calories conscious so will make a small size rather rather than buying sugary cake from bakery.
Thank you for sharing!
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Shurti! I hope your husband has a nice birthday and you both enjoy the Cream Cheese Frosting. 🙂
Lindsay
Can I make this the night before and then pipe the next morning? Or is it best to to make day of?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Lindsay! Making the Cream Cheese Frosting the night before will be fine. I recommend storing it in an airtight container. I hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
Sage
I love the taste but mine always turns out runny? Help!
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Sage! If your cream cheese frosting is too runny you can add more powdered sugar to make your cream cheese frosting thicker. I recommend adding about 2 Tablespoons at a time until the desired thickness is reached. I hope that this helps! 🙂
Sadia
I also am having the same problem…its really soft even though I added in all the sugar…I read in another recipe that softened cream cheese can make the frosting soft and runnyish. when you say softened cream cheese is that firm but you can push with your finger (like butter) or actually really soft and squishy? Ive put my frosting in the fridge now hoping it’ll work out!
Sam
More like butter, but even if it’s softer than that it should still be fine. You did use the brick-style cream cheese and not the spreadable/tub kind, right (just want to make sure).
Cynthia
Excellent recipe! I added almond extract.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that you enjoyed the Cream Cheese Frosting, Cynthia! 🙂
Bev McCutchan
Awesome and easy. Everyone enjoyed it.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Bev! I am glad that everyone enjoyed the Cream Cheese Frosting. 🙂
Dayana
This is the best cream cheese frosting i ever had i just add it 3 cups of powder sugar
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that you enjoyed the cream cheese frosting, Dayana! 🙂
Hollie
I always cut the sugar in cream cheese frosting. It doesn’t need that much sugar, and it’s still delicious! Tastes like cheese cake frosting!
benny
nice recipe
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Benny! I am so glad that you enjoyed the cream cheese frosting. 🙂