• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Cooking With Karli logo
  • Recipe Box
    • Instant Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Main Dish
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Kids cooking
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Home || Recipes || Dessert || Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

Mar 11, 2020 · 2 Comments

Share
Pin
Share
Jump to Recipe

Cream Cheese Frosting is a rich, decedent frosting that pairs great with everything from cookies to sweet rolls. This simple recipe will be you next go-to!

cream cheese frosting, piped into a small bowl.

Cream cheese frosting is one of those rich and creamy things you just can’t get enough of (I know I can’t!) It’s savory, sweet, has a slight tanginess and compliments just about every dessert known to man. It’s possibly one of my most favorite frostings to use because it can totally transform something simple into something decadent. 

There’s nothing better than fluffy cream cheese frosting because it can be eaten as-is (guilty) or spread on top of everything from brownies to cinnamon rolls. Cream cheese frosting for cupcakes is always a welcomed choice in my books too. You really can’t go wrong with it either, it’s such an easy to make a timeless classic.

Making your own homemade cream cheese frosting is so much more rewarding than buying a can of it from the grocery store. Did you know that Pilsbury containers of cream cheese frosting don’t even contain dairy? (could be why the flavor is off, it’s missing real cream cheese!) This homemade cream cheese frosting is the real deal, and worth the few minutes of mixing. 😉

cream cheese frosting piped onto cookies

What’s In Cream Cheese Frosting?

  • Softened Butter: If you have some butter room temperature, that would be perfect! If not, you can microwave it for 10 seconds, turn it over and microwave it for an additional 5 seconds.l That is what I tend to do and it works like a charm. 🙂
  • Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Using room temperature cream cheese is very important in this recipe. If it is hot (from the microwave) it can melt the butter, causing the frosting to have a funny texture. Best case scenario, pull it out of the fridge about an hour before making the frosting. If you need to bring it to room temperature quickly, placing the cream cheese in between some heating pads on low seems to do the trick quickly. 
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Salt

The frosting really is that simple, made with real ingredients and nothing crazy. 

cream cheese frosting on red velvet cookies

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

For best results, cream together the cream cheese and butter until completely incorporated and smooth. Then slowly add in the remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly after ever addition until everything has been added. You can use either a stand mixer or a hand electric mixer for this recipe. I wouldn’t recommend mixing this by hand as it is a thick frosting. 

Does Cream Cheese Frosting Have To Be Refrigerated?

For short term, no, long 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. 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 go keeping it at room temperature for a day or two. 

How Long Will Cream Cheese Frosting Last In The Fridge?

Keep your cream cheese frosting in an airtight container (or on covered baked goods) in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. 

pin image for cream cheese frosting.

Looking for more frosting recipes?

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

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting is a rich, decedent frosting that pairs great with everything from cookies to sweet rolls. This simple recipe will be you next go-to!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: cookies, Dessert
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 64kcal
Author: Karli Bitner

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp salted butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 pinch salt
  • milk optional

Instructions

  • Using either a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer to cream toghether the room temperature butter and cream cheese until completley combined.
  • Slowly add the remining ingredients (minus the milk) into the bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Feel free to add a little milk to adust the thickenss of the frosting to your liking.
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingwithkarli or tag #cookingwithkarli!

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 7mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

 

Share
Pin
Share
karli

ABOUT KARLI

This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope you’ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house. There isn’t ever a shortage of crazy. I can promise you that! Buckle up, keep your hand and legs inside at all times and enjoy the ride! Read more...

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna Patrick says

    March 11, 2020 at 9:39 am

    I would like to make this recipe for the Cream Cheese Frosting but I am on the Keto Diet and would like to get some kind of alternate sugar sweetner other than a powder sugar. Could you help me out and if the amount would be the same
    Thanks
    Donna Patrick

  2. Karli Bitner says

    March 23, 2020 at 10:02 am

    Hi Donna, I am not an expert at this but I reached out to a friend that is and she suggested to substitute Lakanto Monkfruit or Swerve. They measure 1:1 like refined sugar. Hope this helps!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Karli

This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope you’ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house. If you are Cookie obsessed like I am, check out my Sister Site, Cookies for Days.

More about Karli

Footer

Disclosure and Privacy Policy | Work With Me | About Me | THEME: Seasoned Pro

Copyright © 2023 · Cooking with Karli