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You only need 4 ingredients to make the best Cream Cheese Icing Recipe! It’s easy to make and the uses are endless. You’ll love how unbelievably creamy, smooth, and soft this cream cheese frosting is for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more!
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Cream Cheese Icing
I’ve been making my fool-proof homemade cream cheese frosting for years now, and it’s a family favorite! It has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy with such a smooth and creamy texture.
We love using my cream cheese frosting recipe for carrot cake, cupcakes, or cinnamon rolls! Plus, it can easily be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Not only is cream cheese icing super easy to make, but it can also be dyed, it’s thick enough to be piped and, of course, it’s super delicious! Plus, it spreads onto baked goods with ease. Nothing beats this cream cheese icing recipe!
This is the best cream cheese frosting recipe I have ever tried! It is a keeper.
Nadine
Homemade Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter
- Cream cheese
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
How to Make Cream Cheese Icing
- Add your softened butter and full-fat cream cheese in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Using your electric mixer, beat medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through!
- Pour in vanilla extract and half of your powdered sugar. Beat with your hand mixer for another 2-3 minutes, using a spatula and scraping down the sides halfway through.
- Add in remaining powdered sugar and beat well.
- Enjoy frosting on cookies, cupcakes, or cake!
Cream Cheese Frosting Tips
- I’d recommend only using flat bricks of cream cheese instead of spreadable or low-fat cream cheese, usually sold in a tub rather than brick form.
- Ensure your butter and cream cheese have fully softened at room temperature before making frosting! This will result in a lump-free frosting.
- Use any leftover frosting sandwiched between two graham crackers and freeze overnight like an ice cream sandwich. So good!
Cream Cheese Icing Recipe FAQs
The difference between icing and frosting is that icing is typically thinner and runnier, like a glaze, whereas frosting is usually thick and can be used in a piping bag. However, the terms are often used interchangeably.
You can substitute cream cheese frosting for buttercream; although the flavors are not the same, the taste is incredible! Cream cheese frosted cakes, cupcakes, and cookies are preferred in my household.
Cream cheese frosting typically does not dry hard. It remains creamy and smooth even after setting, although it will firm up slightly when refrigerated. If you need a frosting that dries hard for decorating purposes, consider using royal icing or fondant instead.
How to Thicken Cream Cheese Icing
- Add More Cream Cheese: Mix in extra softened cream cheese until the icing thickens.
- Use Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar to thicken and sweeten the icing.
- Chill It: Refrigerate the icing to thicken it naturally.
- Try Cornstarch or Flour: Mix a small amount of cornstarch or flour with water, then add it to the icing to thicken it.
Easy Cream Cheese Frosting Uses
My absolute favorite use of this icing is on cookies. You can take any cookie and make it over-the-top fabulous by adding this easy frosting.
- It is amazing on Pumpkin Pie Cookies!
- Gingerbread Loaf is made even better with this frosting.
- Pumpkin Bread
- Crumbl Cookie Recipe
Cream Cheese Frosting Storage Guide
- Refrigerator: Store frosting in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the back of your freezer for up to 2 months. Let your frosting thoroughly defrost before re-whipping with an electric whisk!
My easy cream cheese frosting is easy to make and even more straightforward to store! Although, it should never be left to sit at room temperature for more than 1-2 hours at a time.
Easy Dessert Toppings
- Chocolate Sauce
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Butterscotch Sauce
- White Chocolate Syrup
- Strawberry Sauce
Recipe
Cream Cheese Icing Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Electric whisk
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
See my Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, add your softened butter and cream cheese.½ cup butter, 8 ounces cream cheese
- Using your electric whisk, beat for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides halfway through!
- Pour in vanilla extract and half of your powdered sugar. Beat for another 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides halfway through.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 cups powdered sugar
- Add in remaining powdered sugar and beat well.
- Enjoy frosting on cookies, cupcakes, or cake!
Video
Notes
- I’d recommend only using flat bricks of cream cheese, instead of spreadable or low-fat cream cheese, which is usually sold in a tub rather than in brick form.
- Ensure your butter and cream cheese have fully softened before making frosting! This will result in a lump-free frosting.
- Use any leftover frosting sandwiched between two graham crackers and freeze overnight like an ice cream sandwich. So good!
- For a lighter, less sweet frosting, I recommend my whipped cream frosting! It’s just as easy and delicious.
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