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    Home » Frosting, Sauce & Topping Recipes

    Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting (Plus 4 Flavor Variations)

    Published: Mar 31, 2021 by Allison Ferraro · Modified: Apr 20, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This ultra-creamy, classic cream cheese frosting is easy to make from scratch and perfect for frosting cakes and decorating cupcakes. This recipe includes 4 flavor variations: brown butter, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and honey.

    Close up view of cream cheese frosting spread on a cake. this Recipe

    Cream cheese frosting is easily one of my favorite dessert toppings. It's rich and creamy with a delightful tang and thick texture. Plus it's super simple to make and takes mere minutes to blend together. I especially love it with carrot cake (or carrot cake cupcakes!), but it pairs with a multitude of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other desserts!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
    • Special Equipment
    • Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Flavor Variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage Instructions
    • More Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    Recipe ingredients with labels on a gray surface.

    Cream Cheese - For the best flavor and texture, use full-fat cream cheese blocks. Avoid low fat cream cheese and cream cheese from a tub.

    Unsalted Butter - Opt for unsalted butter so that you can control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe.

    Confectioners’ Sugar - Confectioners’ sugar adds sweetness to balance the tangy cream cheese. Its fine texture is key, so don't substitute granulated sugar, which will create a gritty frosting.

    See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and measurements.

    Special Equipment

    In addition to essential baking equipment (like a spatula), you will want to use either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer for mixing the ingredients into a smooth frosting.

    Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

    This frosting is a piece of cake to make and comes together in just 10 minutes with only 5 simple ingredients.

    Butter and cream cheese beaten together in a glass mixing bowl on a gray surface.

    Step 1: Use a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer to beat cream cheese and butter on high speed until smooth.

    Step 2: Add vanilla extract and salt to the cream cheese and butter and beat to combine.

    Cream cheese frosting in a glass mixing with an electric hand mixer.

    Step 3: With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add confectioners’ sugar. When all of the sugar has been added, turn up the mixer to high speed and beat until the frosting is cohesive and creamy.

    Recipe Tips

    Let the cream cheese and butter come to room temperature before blending. Room temperature ingredients are essential for smooth frosting. Trying to blend chilled cream cheese will lead to lumpy frosting. Check out my tips for bringing ingredients to room temperature more quickly.

    Sift the confectioners' sugar. Sifting the sugar will ensure that there are no clumps of sugar in your frosting.

    Re-chill the frosting before piping. You need the cream cheese and butter to be room temperature for mixing, but you may then find that your frosting is a bit too soft or runny for piping. It may be helpful to let the frosting chill in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes so that it firms up just enough to be easily piped.

    Overhead view of different flavors of cream cheese frosting piped in squiggly lines onto brown parchment paper.

    Flavor Variations

    Brown Butter

    To make brown butter frosting, brown the butter and let it cool to room temperature before mixing the frosting. You can also brown the butter ahead of time, refrigerate it, and then bring it to room temperature just before you're ready to use it.

    Cinnamon

    To make cinnamon frosting, simply add ½ tsp. ground cinnamon in with the confectioners' sugar.

    Vanilla Bean

    To make vanilla bean frosting, replace the vanilla extract with 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste.

    Honey

    To make honey frosting, add ¼ cup honey when adding the vanilla. Note that the extra liquid in this recipe will make the frosting slightly softer than the other flavors. I recommend keeping this frosting well chilled and letting it sit at room temperature for a shorter period of time (15 to 30 minutes) before spreading or piping.

    Swirl of cream cheese frosting on top of a cupcake on a blue background.
    Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting on a Carrot Cake Cupcake.
    Overhead view of bitten cookie on a gray surface.
    Classic Cream Cheese Frosting on a Pumpkin Cookie.
    Close up overhead view of speckled frosting and chopped pecans on top of a cake.
    Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting on a Carrot Cake.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make cream cheese frosting ahead of time?

    Absolutely! Cream cheese frosting can be made ahead (I recommend making it up to one day ahead so it's still fresh when serving) and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. When you're ready to use the frosting, let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping the frosting onto your dessert.

    Why is my cream cheese frosting lumpy?

    To avoid lumpy frosting, be sure to use room temperature cream cheese and butter, which will blend together more easily. Sifting the confectioners' sugar will also help to minimize any lumps in the frosting.

    How can I fix runny cream cheese frosting?

    If the frosting has become runny, it is most likely because the frosting has become too warm. Return the frosting to the fridge for at least 30 minutes to give it time to firm up a bit before using. (Of course, be aware of food safety concerns and avoid eating frosting that has been sitting at room temperature for more than a few hours.)

    What's the best way to store cream cheese frosting?

    Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the frosting sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping.

    Storage Instructions

    Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the frosting sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping.

    More Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

    • Carrot Snack Cake
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      Small Batch Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Overhead view of bitten cookie on a gray surface.
      Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • fig cupcake with swirled honey cream cheese frosting and a sliced fig
      Fig Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

    Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review on the recipe below! And don't forget to subscribe to Always Eat Dessert for even more simple recipes, baking tips, and inspiration.

    Recipe

    Close up view of cream cheese frosting spread on a cake.

    Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

    This ultra-creamy, classic cream cheese frosting recipe is easy to make from scratch and includes 4 flavor variations: brown butter, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and honey.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Yield: About 2 ¼ cups frosting
    Calories: 218kcal
    Author: Allison Ferraro

    Special Equipment

    • Stand mixer or electric hand mixer

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese block, room temperature
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch of salt
    • 3 ⅓ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer), beat cream cheese and butter on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
    • Add vanilla and salt and beat to combine.
    • With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add confectioners’ sugar until all the sugar is added. Then beat on high speed until the mixture is well combined and creamy.

    Notes

    Storage: Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the frosting sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping.
    Make Ahead: Cream cheese frosting can be made ahead (I recommend making it up to one day ahead so it's still fresh when serving) and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. When you're ready to use the frosting, let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping the frosting onto your dessert.
    Flavor Variations:
    • Brown Butter: To make brown butter frosting, brown the butter and let it cool to room temperature before mixing the frosting. You can also brown the butter ahead of time, refrigerate it, and then bring it to room temperature just before you're ready to use it.
    • Cinnamon: To make cinnamon frosting, simply add ½ tsp. ground cinnamon in with the confectioners' sugar.
    • Vanilla Bean: To make vanilla bean frosting, replace the vanilla extract with 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste.
    • Honey: To make honey frosting, add ¼ cup honey when adding the vanilla. Note that the extra liquid in this recipe will make the frosting slightly softer than the other flavors. I recommend keeping this frosting well chilled and letting it sit at room temperature for a shorter period of time (15 to 30 minutes) before spreading or piping.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 56mg | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 246IU | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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    I'm Allison, the cookie-obsessed baker, recipe creator, and food photographer behind Always Eat Dessert.

    Here you’ll find made-from-scratch recipes designed for busy people who love to bake. From cookies to quick breads, you'll discover detailed, easy-to-follow recipes for everyday life along with practical baking tips to help you whip up indulgent treats from scratch with confidence.

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