This cream cheese buttercream frosting is the best frosting you will ever taste. It is a deliciously rich and creamy frosting, with the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It is a stiff cream cheese frosting perfect for decorating cakes or cupcakes.
Think of this as your basic buttercream frosting, but add cream cheese! The cream cheese adds a tartness to the buttercream that isn't overpowering but helps to keep the sweetness level at bay—creating the perfect, not-too-sweet cream cheese buttercream frosting.
This cream cheese frosting is perfect for carrot cake, pumpkin spice cupcakes or dalgona coffee cake.
Table of Contents
Cream Cheese Buttercream Ingredients
- cream cheese
- butter
- powdered sugar (also known as icing sugar or confectioners' sugar)
- vanilla extract
- milk, of choice
Please see the recipe card for quantities.
How to make the best cream cheese buttercream frosting
This is a simple, easy-to-follow recipe for cream cheese buttercream frosting.
Step 1- Into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a whisk attachment, add the softened cream cheese and butter.
Alternatively you may also use a hand mixer and a large mixing bowl.
Step 2- Beat, gradually increasing speed until you reach high speed, for 2-3 minutes. The cream cheese and butter mixture should be fully combined and smooth and creamy.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 3- Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until just combined.
With the mixer running on low, add the vanilla extract.
Add the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Step 4- The cream cheese buttercream frosting is done when it is fluffy, smooth and creamy and holds stiff peaks.
(See below for tips to make it ultra-stable or thicker.)
Top Tip-
If your frosting turns out too soft for your desired use. Add more powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time. To make it ultra stable you can also add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
Now if you are going to make the best cream cheese buttercream frosting then you obviously need the best carrot cake ever for it to go on! It is also the perfect cream cheese frosting recipe for these pumpkin spice cupcakes or this dalgona coffee cake!
Decorating with this Frosting
This frosting can be used for decorating cakes or cupcakes. It is stable enough to be piped or used as a filling for layer cakes.
Make it ultra-stable
If it is overly runny because maybe you added in too much milk or liquid, add more powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time and beat until it holds stiff peaks.
Or, if you want to make this cream cheese frosting thicker and ultra-stable, add some cornstarch to the frosting mixture. 1-2 tablespoons should do the trick!
If your workspace is on the warmer side and your frosting becomes too runny, pop it into the refrigerator for 15 minutes until it is stiff enough to use.
Give it a Different Flavour
This recipe can be adapted to a wide range of flavour combinations.
- Almond - transform this into an almond buttercream frosting by omitting the vanilla extract and using almond extract instead.
- Lemon - to make this into a lemon buttercream frosting, omit the vanilla extract and replace it with pure lemon extract (do not use lemon oil). Also add 1-2 teaspoons of freshly grated lemon zest for the perfect lemony zip!
- Chocolate - create a chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting by adding 3-4 tablespoons of cocoa powder. You will also need to add 2-3 tablespoons of extra milk.
Equipment
You will need either a stand mixer or a hand mixer to make this frosting recipe.
If you are using a stand mixer then either the paddle attachment or the whisk attachment may be used.
Storage
Prepared cream cheese buttercream frosting can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To use chilled buttercream frosting you will have to let it come to room temperature before it is pipeable.
Yes! Cream cheese buttercream frosting can be frozen and used later. Freeze the frosting in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use it, let it come up to room temperature and give it a quick stir before using.
Hot Tip (in regards to freezing)-
It is important to note that cream cheese has a high moisture content and freezing causes the water to expand creating tiny ice crystals and it may alter the texture making it grainy or gritty.
Recipes that use Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
📖 Recipe
Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- ½ cup Butter softened
- 4-4 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 2-3 tablespoons Milk of choice
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter. Starting on low, gradually increasing the speed until at high, beat for 2-3 minutes until the cream cheese and butter are smooth and creamy.
- Add 3 cups of powdered sugar to the bowl and beat on medium speed until just combined.
- Add the vanilla and the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar to the bowl and return the mixer to high speed for 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- To thicken the frosting: Add additional powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time. For ultra-stable cream cheese buttercream frosting add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
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