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    Home » Recipes » Toppings » Cream Cheese Icing

    Cream Cheese Icing

    Published: Aug 31, 2023 Modified: Aug 31, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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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!

    cream cheese frosting in a blue bowl with cookies behind
    Jump to:
    • Cream Cheese Icing Recipe
    • Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Make Cream Cheese Icing
    • Homemade Cream Cheese Icing Tips
    • Cream Cheese Icing FAQs
    • Recipe for Cream Cheese Icind for Cookies
    • How to Store Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Dessert Toppings
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

    I’ve been making my fool-proof homemade cream cheese frosting for years now, and it’s absolutely 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
    spooning cream cheese frosting out of blue container

    Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Ingredients

    • Unsalted Butter
    • Cream cheese
    • Vanilla extract
    • Powdered sugar
    ingredients for cream cheese frosting recipe laid out on the table

    How to Make Cream Cheese Icing

    1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add your softened butter and full-fat cream cheese. softened butter and cream cheese inside a white bowl
    2. Using your electric mixer, beat for 2-3 minutes using medium speed. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through!after combing butter and cream cheese!
    3. 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.mixing rest of cream cheese frosting ingredients
    4. Add in remaining powdered sugar and beat well. after powder sugar to cream cheese frosting
    5. Enjoy frosting on cookies, cupcakes, or cake!frosting a cookie with the cream cheese frosting!

    Homemade Cream Cheese Icing Tips

    • 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 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!
    • For a lighter, less sweet frosting, I recommend my whipped cream frosting! It’s just as easy and delicious.

    Cream Cheese Icing FAQs

    Are cream cheese frosting and icing the same?

    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.

    Can I use cream cheese frosting instead of buttercream?

    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.

    Recipe for Cream Cheese Icind for Cookies

    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 to it. It is amazing on Pumpkin Pie Cookies!

    Another favorite is using it as the frosting on my Gingerbread Loaf and Pumpkin Cake.

    cream cheese frosting piped onto a pumpkin pie cookie

    How to Store Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 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 stored in the back of your freezer for up to 2 months. Be sure to let your frosting fully defrost before re-whipping with an electric whisk!

    My easy cream cheese frosting is so easy to make, and even easier to store! Although, it should never be left to sit at room temperature for more than 1-2 hours at a time.

    Dessert Toppings

    • Chocolate Sauce
    • Homemade Whipped Cream
    • Butterscotch Sauce
    • White Chocolate Syrup
    • Strawberry Sauce

    📋 Recipe

    cream cheese frosting in a blue bowl

    Cream Cheese Icing

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make homemade cream cheese frosting using only 4 ingredients! It's creamy, smooth, and the uses are endless.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Mixing 6 minutes mins
    Total Time 6 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 14 servings
    Calories 217 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Electric whisk

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup butter softened
    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
    Cooking Conversions

    See our 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
      softened butter and cream cheese inside a white bowl
    • Using your electric whisk, beat for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides halfway through!
      after combing butter and cream cheese!
    • 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
      mixing rest of cream cheese frosting ingredients
    • Add in remaining powdered sugar and beat well.
      after powder sugar to cream cheese frosting
    • Enjoy frosting on cookies, cupcakes, or cake!
      frosting a cookie with the cream cheese frosting!

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 25mgSugar: 26gVitamin A: 420IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.04mg
    Keyword cream cheese frosting recipe, cream cheese icing, cream cheese icing recipe, recipe for cream cheese icing
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

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