Get the scoop on how to make my favorite cream cheese frosting that is versatile and delicious. This simple cream cheese frosting works on cake, cupcakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls.
Oh, the beauty of silky, sweet frosting swirled on top of spice cake, chocolate layers, or even warm cinnamon rolls.
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The best frosting ever!
I use a combination of butter and cream cheese mixed with vanilla and confectioners' sugar to make a really versatile, tangy frosting.
I use unsalted butter, so a pinch of salt (optional) doesn't hurt either.
My favorite ratio of cream cheese to butter is 2 to 1. I use 8-oz of cream cheese and 4 oz (1 stick) of unsalted butter.
I think this ratio gives the silky, rich flavor of butter to the frosting while packing the perfect punch of classic cream cheese flavor.
You can add 3 to 4 cups of confectioners' sugar. Why the variable? Using 3 cups makes a perfectly tasty frosting.
It's a little softer and less sweet if you are into that. (My friend Susan is happy with this amount, I prefer all the sugar I can get my hands on!)
– Get my favorite measuring cups.
For layer cake:
Using a full 4 cups of sugar gives you a balanced frosting that is just stable enough for a layer cake and tastes balanced and delicious.
Why use unsalted butter in frosting?
I get asked why I use unsalted butter, then add salt to my recipes. There are a few reasons!
Salted butter is so delicious, especially spread on your bread. But really it should stop there! Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content of a dish as well as guarantees freshness. Read on:
• Salt is a preservative, so it is added to butter to lengthen its shelf life. Certainly there is an expiration date before it goes bad, but it just helps grocery stores keep it there a bit longer. I know when I buy unsalted butter it hasn't been sitting there as long.
• You don't need to have high blood pressure to be concerned with how much salt goes into your food. Salt brings out the flavor of other foods, it's a flavor enhancing seasoning! That being said, too much of a good thing is, well, too much! For frosting specifically, I want a sweet, perfectly flavored topping to go with what I'm spreading it on. I like to control that by adding my own salt, or not!
• Can you use salted butter in this frosting? Well, absolutely. Skip the pinch of salt, you won't need it. And know that it will just be a tad bit saltier than the originally tested recipe.
– Use a stand mixer or a hand mixer to make simple cream cheese frosting.
Can I make Cream Cheese Icing with No Butter?
You can make this with no butter. It will be a more dense, softer icing.
While butter certainly cuts down on the intense cream cheese flavor, it also adds aeration (air bubbles that form after whipping) that give the frosting lift and texture.
I use 2 parts cream cheese to 1 part butter so that I get the best of both worlds in this simple frosting.
Using just cream cheese could make a nice icing for cinnamon rolls.
Freezing and storing:
Freezing this recipe is perfectly acceptable.
- Freeze the frosting for up to a month.
- You can refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to a week.
If you have the time, thaw frozen frosting in the fridge. Otherwise, you can thaw it almost to room temperature and then beat it in the mixer again to get the texture back.
You may need to add a little more confectioners' sugar to stabilize it as the cream cheese molecules break down slightly being frozen.
Make more easy homemade frosting recipes!
The most popular post on my site is my classic vanilla frosting without milk. I use it for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and sandwich cookies.
You'll love my Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting recipe as well! It combines the taste of rich milk chocolate with tangy cream cheese.
- Fluffy Chocolate Frosting
- The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting
- How to make Caramel Frosting
Make cream cheese icing for:
How much does this make?
• This frosting recipe makes enough to frost a 9-by-13 inch sheet cake, 24 cupcakes (if you are piping more frosting on each cupcake it will frost about 15 to 18).
• For a round layer cake you may want to 1 ½ this recipe: Use 12 oz cream cheese, 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, 6 cups confectioners' sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla.
Q&A
Make an easy fluffy frosting without cream cheese to ice cinnamon rolls. Mix together butter and confectioners' sugar and add vanilla extract.
The best way to thicken cream cheese frosting is to add confectioners' sugar. Add ½ cup at a time and mix in to check texture. Using cold cream cheese will help your frosting keep a thick consistency.
You can make cream cheese frosting with just cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. The frosting will be a different texture than the classic recipe. It will not be as fluffy if you do not use butter.
Cream cheese frosting will last up to a week in the fridge. You can freeze the frosting for up to 4 months. This type of frosting will keep well at room temperature for up to a day.
Use confectioners' sugar to thicken a tangy frosting.
📖 Recipe
Simple and Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 oz (one block) cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar sifted, only if there are hard lumps
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and beat until smooth and incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Add the vanilla and salt and stir.
- With the mixer running on low speed, add the confectioners' sugar about ½ cup at a time. After each cup or cup and a half, scrape the inside of the bowl and turn mixer to medium-high speed. Then reduce speed to low and add more sugar. This will ensure a smooth frosting.
- Use immediately or keep refrigerated.
Notes
- Fluffy Vanilla Frosting for cake, cupcakes and cookies.
- Caramel Frosting for cupcakes and spice cake.
- The Best Frosting For Brownies is easy and delicious.
- The ultimate Milk Chocolate Frosting.
Nutrition
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About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
Recipe by Tara Teaspoon. Photography by Ty Mecham.
Sarah says
What is that chocolate cake pictured with the cream cheese frosting? It looks dreamy too!!
Tara says
Sarah it was the One Bowl Chocolate Cake I used to make all the time at Martha Stewart. I really should put my version up on this site, but haven't done it yet!! Here's a link. I think I baked it in several 7 inch pans for this picture. https://www.marthastewart.com/340315/one-bowl-chocolate-cake
MaryB says
Oh my goodness! I have tried many cream cheese frosting recipes but this one is my all-time favorite! Thanks, Tara Teaspoon!
Tara Teaspoon says
Thanks for the wonderful comment Mary! Tara