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My recipe for No Butter Cream Cheese Frosting makes the lightest, fluffiest cream cheese frosting you'll ever taste! It's perfectly whipped and creamy for decorating. Best of all, my butterless cream cheese frosting comes together in five minutes and uses only four easy ingredients.
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Butterless Cream Cheese Frosting
Let me introduce you to a butterless cream cheese frosting that will change the way you make frosting. My recipe for cream cheese frosting without butter has everything (except the butter!). It's done in five minutes, uses easy ingredients, and most importantly, not using butter makes the frosting fluffy and light!
I've whipped up plenty of frosting recipes, but cream cheese frosting is my favorite, hands down. I started experimenting with cream cheese frosting without butter for a lighter version to use when I want a dessert with a little less fat. The butter is what makes cream cheese frosting rich and dense, but for a lighter, fluffier frosting, heavy cream is the perfect choice. It whips up to make the frosting extra fluffy, while keeping that incredible flavor.
Tools to Make Cream Cheese Icing Without Butter
- A hand mixer or stand mixer. You can use either one! If you're using a stand mixer, use the whisk attachment or the paddle attachment.
- A large mixing bowl if you're using a hand mixer.
- A rubber spatula for scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Piping bags for decorating!
Ingredients in No Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese: I like Philadelphia cream cheese, but any block-style cream cheese will work! Make sure it's full fat cream cheese.
- Powdered sugar: You'll want powdered sugar, not regular sugar, as it will melt into the frosting more quickly and ensure it's not gritty. Confectioner's sugar can also be used.
- Vanilla extract: For a milder flavor, you can use imitation vanilla. Alternatively, you could change up the flavor with almond extract.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream partially whips in the process of making the frosting, leaving it super fluffy and light.
Optional Flavorings:
- Lemon: Lemon zest and lemon extract can be used. Avoid lemon juice, which can curdle the cream.
- Chocolate: Cocoa powder will work better than melted chocolate for chocolate cream cheese frosting.
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Nutmeg, cinnamon, and fall spices
- Strawberry puree: Adding strawberry puree can make this into strawberry cream cheese frosting!
No Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
Ingredients
- 24 oz Cream cheese - softened
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Heavy cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer on low to medium speed to beat thoroughly for 2-3 minutes, or until fluffy and light.24 oz Cream cheese,1 cup Powdered sugar,1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Slowly add in the heavy cream, mixing on low speed, for another 2-3 minutes, until the frosting is fluffy. Use, and enjoy!1 cup Heavy cream
Notes
- If you want to add food coloring, add it at the end once the cream is mixed in. That will ensure the truest color.
- You can adjust the consistency by adding more heavy cream! Less heavy cream will make a more stiff frosting, while adding more will make it smoother.
- I like my cream cheese frosting to not be too sweet, but you can add in up to 2 cups more powdered sugar to get to the sweetness level you prefer.
- Because of the super airy texture of this frosting, it's ideal for piping on to cupcakes or using to decorate cookies and cakes.
- Adding a pinch of salt can add depth to the flavor, especially if you're not using a lot of other flavorings or extracts.
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Isabel! I've been sharing my recipes online, in cookbooks, and in TV specials since 2012. The most important thing to me is Sunday supper with my family, and inspiring togetherness with my recipes!
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No Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Detailed Instructions
Step 1: Make sure your cream cheese has fully softened. I tend to leave it out on the counter for about 30 minutes before making frosting to ensure it's nice and soft and at room temperature. Cold cream cheese won't blend up well.
Step 2: Add the cream cheese to a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then mix on low to medium speed for 2-3 minutes. You want the powdered sugar to be completely mixed in and the consistency to start getting pale, fluffy, and light! Make sure to scrape down the sides with a spatula at least once.
Step 3: Slowly pour in the heavy cream, keeping up mixing until it's all added, and then mix another 2-3 minutes. It should get very fluffy and light, like a thick whipped cream! At this point, taste the frosting and add more sugar or cream as you see fit. You can also add any food coloring at this point.
Step 4: Spread over my Gingerbread Loaf Recipe, cupcakes, or Pumpkin Pie Cookies, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If you want to add food coloring, add it at the end once the cream is mixed in. That will ensure the truest color.
- You can adjust the consistency by adding more heavy cream! Less heavy cream will make a more stiff frosting, while adding more will make it smoother.
- I like my cream cheese frosting to not be too sweet, but you can add in up to 2 cups more powdered sugar to get to the sweetness level you prefer.
- Because of the super airy texture of this frosting, it's ideal for piping on to cupcakes or using to decorate cookies and cakes.
- Adding a pinch of salt can add depth to the flavor, especially if you're not using a lot of other flavorings or extracts.
FAQ
Buttercream frosting is made from mostly butter and sugar, leading to a mildly flavored and very sweet, fluffy frosting. Cream cheese frosting, in the meanwhile, is made with flavorful cream cheese, so it has a much stronger flavor. Choose a frosting based on what you're serving it on!
Yes! My no butter cream cheese frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until it's ready to use. Because it's dairy based, be sure to use it within 4 days. You may want to whip it again before piping to ensure it's as fluffy as possible.
I don't recommend using low fat cream cheese for cream cheese frosting. The fat content is important for the texture and creaminess, and low fat cream cheese frosting can be too runny or not whip up correctly.
What to Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Carrot cake
- Dump cake - Try my pumpkin crunch cake!
- Waffles and pancakes
- Dessert empanadas
- Cupcakes
- Cookies
- Cinnamon rolls
- Red velvet cake
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