Go Back
–+ servings

cream cheese frosting

delicious silky smooth tangy and sweet cream cheese frosting recipe, easily adjustable with these instructions
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: frosting
Servings: 8 -30 servings

Ingredients

Small batch (spread with a spatula over 12 cupcakes, 1 small cake, 1 dozen cookies)

  • 2 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • ¼ cup 2 oz butter, room temperature
  • Tiny pinch salt if using unsalted butter
  • 2-4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Medium batch recipe (pipe frosting on 12 cupcakes, fill and top 8” cake, spread over 13x9 cake)

  • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • ½ cup 4 oz butter, room temperature
  • Pinch of salt if using unsalted butter
  • 4-6 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk heavy cream whips up nicer and thicker
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Larger recipe 24-36 cupcakes, or 2 or 4 layer cakes

  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 cup butter 8 oz, ½ pound, room temperature
  • Pinch of salt if using unsalted butter
  • 8-10 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • The ingredient list gives a range of powdered to add depending on how soft or thick you'd like the frosting, to slather with a spatula or pipe on. For spreading on a cake or cupcakes you can use less powdered sugar, the frosting will be soft, if you want it thick to pipe on or to create a peak at the top of spreading on desserts more powdered sugar will allow that. Add 1/4-1/2 cup more than the beginning measurement and mix well to create the consistency you will prefer to work with, If the frosting gets too thick, add a little more heavy cream and mix well.
  • Be sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, it doesn’t mix well when it’s cold (it will be lumpy)
  • Placing the butter and cream cheese on the counter for 30 minutes before you plan on mixing the frosting is what I recommend.
  • I use a beater blade and stand mixer, but any mixer will work.
  • Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a mixer and whip it until it’s smooth, then add the butter and whip that until it’s smooth.
  • Pour in the powdered sugar, and begin mixing on low, drizzle in the heavy cream as you increase the speed slowly as the frosting mixes.
  • Add in the vanilla extract.
  • When all the powdered sugar is combined you can whip it on high.
  • The frosting should be fluffy, smooth, and silky.
  • If you need it thicker, you can add more powdered sugar. This is helpful if you’ll be piping it on.
  • This is where the salt comes into consideration, you can add a little more salt to balance the sweetness.
  • *If you do not like salt, do not add it.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Add cocoa powder to the recipe and reduce the powdered sugar by that amount, (small batch 1/4 cup, medium batch ½ cup, large batch 1 cup)
  • Frosting recipes can be easily adjusted, if you want them thinner, maybe to pour over a bundt cake, reduce the powdered sugar and add a little more heavy cream, or add some warm water to the frosting to thin it so it’s more of a thick glaze.
  • *The warmer the temperature is the softer this frosting will be, there are a few things you can do, add more powdered sugar to make it a little thicker,
  • You can then apply the frosting and put the cake/cupcakes. Cookies in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm the frosting up (all the mixing softens it and “warms it up”).
Psst… there’s more where this came fromdelivered straight to your inbox, click to sign up