The Best Cream Cheese Frosting For Piping

When it comes to icing, this Cream Cheese Frosting recipe takes the cake! Rich, velvety and perfectly pipeable – you’ll be making excuses to put it on everything.

This is the Best Cream Cheese Frosting

There are very few desserts that can not be improved by this decadent, smooth cream cheese frosting. With a sweet and slightly tangy flavor, this creamy frosting is thick, delicious, and perfect for piping or spreading onto whatever your heart desires! If you are looking for a lighter and fluffier alternative, try this Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting.

A couple of things that set this cream cheese frosting apart from the rest and truly makes it the best recipe you’ll find on the internet: 

1. It has enough sugar in it that it will remain stable and can be feasibly stored on the counter for a day or so. Beyond that, just pop it in the fridge (up to 2 weeks) or freezer (up to 3 months) and you have frosting at your fingertips when you need it.
2. It is the *best* texture for spreading or piping. Thick enough to hold its shape without becoming goopy or tasting like shortening, you’ll love this smooth and substantial frosting. 
3. It looks pretty! Which doesn’t seem important until you’re staring down a lumpy, yellow-ish subpar frosting (this recipe is NOT that). 

Ingredients for Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting

• Butter, softened – I always use salted butter because that is what I keep stocked! Unsalted will also work with the addition of a pinch of salt. 
• Cream Cheese, room temperature – Room temperature cream cheese is important here! If it is hot (from the microwave) it can melt the butter, causing the frosting to have a funny texture. But don’t panic if you forgot to pull it out early enough, I have tips to help you below! 
• Powdered Sugar
• Vanilla Extract – If you care about the color of your finished frosting, you can also try a clear vanilla extract! 
• Salt

How to make Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Using an electric hand mixer or the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter until completely incorporated and smooth.
2. Slowly add in the remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly after every addition until everything has been added.
3. Place completed frosting in a piping bag affixed with your desired tip or frost on your dessert with a spatula. Enjoy!

Tips for making Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

There are a few ways to make sure you whip up the best cream cheese frosting, ever! 

1. Use room temperature cream cheese! If you need to soften it quickly, don’t microwave. Simply put the cream cheese in between some heating pads on low and you’ll get the perfect consistency! 
2. Don’t melt your butter completely.  Soften slightly by microwaving for 10 seconds, turning it over and microwaving for an additional 5 seconds until soft. 
3. Be careful not to overmix as that will ironically cause the frosting to break and become lumpy.

How to stabilize Cream Cheese Frosting

The sugar in this recipe will stabilize the dairy in the frosting, making it safe to store on the counter for a short period of time. You will still want to refrigerate it if you’re hoping to enjoy it for more than 1 day. 

To ensure the frosting has a stable texture, we limit the amount of liquid we add – helping it become nice and stiff.

How to use Cream Cheese Frosting For Piping

This recipe for cream cheese frosting will yield thick and smooth topping that is perfect for piping! Simply place your frosting in a piping bag or a zip top bag with the corner cut off. Because this is a thicker frosting, you’ll want to steer clear of smaller tip sizes.

Other ways to serve the Best Cream Cheese Frosting

I love this frosting on everything from my carrot cake to my no chill, no spread sugar cookies and everything in between (like cinnamon rolls and frosted pumpkin cookies)! It is also delicious scooped onto a late night graham cracker, but that’s our little secret.

How to store Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

I recommend storing your frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. When you’re ready, allow it to thaw slightly and re-mix before spreading, if needed.

Does Cream Cheese Frosting need to be refrigerated?

Short term: yes. If you are planning on eating your treats within a day or two, you are fine to leave them out on the counter! 

Long term: no. If you are wanting to keep your treats for a bit longer, refrigerating would be your best bet. 

I know, I know, DAIRY! There is enough sugar in the frosting to stabilize the dairy and keep it from growing bacteria, so you are good to keep it at room temperature for a day or two.

Can you freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?

Yep, yep! This freezes extremely well. Just allow it to thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before using. You may want to re-whip the frosting before use.

How long does Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting last?

This is good for 1 day unrefrigerated, up to 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer!

Looking for more frosting recipes?

• Sugar Cookie Frosting (crusting buttercream)
• Oreo Frosting
• Chocolate Frosting
• Cinnamon Roll Icing