After you try this Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe, you’ll never go back to store bought frosting again! Â With just 4 simple ingredients and 5 minutes you’ll have perfectly creamy, smooth homemade frosting!
Be sure to give this easy, luscious Homemade Chocolate Frosting, too!
Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
All you need is 5 minutes and 4 ingredients to make the best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe you’ve ever tasted!
Jennifer writes: "We made this just like the recipe and it’s decadent!!! Delicious!!"
This is the perfect Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe for Cookies, to frost on your Cupcakes or Cake, and to smother over your homemade cinnamon rolls!
It’s luscious, dreamy, and the perfect combination of tart cream cheese paired with a kiss of sweet!
Seriously… it’s so good you’ll want to lick the bowl! 🙂
In a 4-0 vote, my family voted this easy cream cheese frosting recipe the best they’d ever tasted!
Buh-bye store bought frosting… you’re such a thing of the past now!
This thick, creamy frosting will become your new best friend in the kitchen and the secret to your off-the-charts baked goods.
Skip the buttercream and swap it out for this outrageously delicious cream cheese frosting instead!
So let’s get baking so you have a good excuse to learn how to make cream cheese frosting, too! Â You know you want to try this!
Here’s what you’ll need to make the best Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting…
Related: Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe with Cocoa Powder (5 Ingredients)
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
You’ll just need a few simple ingredients to make the BEST homemade frosting!
Here’s what you’ll need…
- Cream Cheese – the higher the quality, the more AMAZING the flavor!
- Salted Butter – unsalted butter + a pinch of salt can be substituted
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
How to Soften Butter Fast for Frosting
Now before you wash your beater off, if you need to lick that baby dry, your secret is safe with me!
I may or may not have done the exact same thing! 😊
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
You won’t believe how quick and simple it is to make the BEST silky smooth cream cheese frosting!
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Cream together butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl.
2. Add in remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.
3. Break up any air bubbles with a spatula, and your dreamy frosting is ready to spread!
See… I told you this was going to be EASY!!
Now that you know how simple this was to make, store bought frosting will become a thing of the past!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
How Much Frosting Do You Need?
This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of frosting.
The amount of frosting you’ll need will depend on what you’re baking and frosting.
How Much Frosting for Cupcakes?
Two and a half cups of frosting can lightly frost 24 cupcakes or generously frost 12 cupcakes.
How Much Frosting for a Cake?
The amount of frosting you’ll need for a cake will depend on the size of your cake pans and the number of layers. Â Here are some helpful tips…
- For a single layer cake using a 9×13″ pan: 3 cups
- For a 2-layer cake using a 8″ round pan: 4 cups
- For a 2-layer cake using a 9″ round pan: 4 3/4 cups
How Much Frosting for Cut Out Sugar Cookies?
Depending on the size of your cookie cutters, 2.5 cups of frosting can typically frost up to 2 dozen sugar cookies.
Keep in mind… this recipe can easily be increased by 50%, doubled, or tripled… just depending on what you’ll need.
How to Use Cream Cheese Frosting
There are so many fabulous ways to put this luscious cream cheese frosting to use!
Here are a few of my favorite ways to use homemade cream cheese frosting…
- Carrot Cake or Carrot Cake Cookies
- Cake Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix Donuts
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
- Layered Cakes
- Monkey Bread
- Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Spice Cake
- Red Velvet Cake
- Red Velvet Cookies
How to Use Leftover Cream Cheese Frosting
Have a little bit leftover? Â No problem!
Here are some delicious ways to use up your last bits of cream cheese frosting…
- Cookie Sandwiches: Spread between 2 cookies for a cookie sandwich
- Graham Crackers: Spread on Graham Crackers and top with Sprinkles
- Pretzel Dip: The perfect sweet and salty treat!
Can You Add Color to Frosting?
Yes, you sure can! Â It’s SO easy to tint cream cheese frosting to your desired color!
For a light color: Use food coloring drops.
For a deep, intense color: Use food coloring gel.
Cream Cheese Frosting Reviews
Here’s what your frugal friends are saying about this Easy Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe…
One reader writes: “Prepared this to go over homemade zucchini cake. Perfect!”
Nancy writes: “Very good ! Will make again”
Ella writes: “I made this for a cake and it’s amazing!! My family and I love it!!”
Joyce writes: “Absolutely perfect. Easy to make!!!”
Jennifer writes: “We made this just like the recipe and it’s decadent!!! Delicious!!”
Blair writes: “Super yummy and easy to make”
Jennifer writes: “We made this just like the recipe and it’s decadent!!! Delicious!!”
Heather writes: “Came out GREAT!”
Lynne writes: “You were definitely not kidding about it being the best! Delicious!”
Skylar writes: “Delicious! My hubby loves this!”
Sharen writes: “Made Cupcakes for my son’s birthday! And the frosting is oh so good thank you!”
Diana writes: “Delicious!!! Â I spread on my little lemon cake.”
Adinda writes: “Lovely consistency. Delicious on cinnamon buns.”
Melissa writes: “I made half the recipe to top cinnamon rolls. Turned out perfect”
Debby writes: “I used this exact recipe on top of the Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe! So good together.”
Courtney writes: “Lovely recipe for a carrot cake!”
LeAn writes: “Nice and thick. My go to for carrot cakes!!!!”
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Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. Cream Cheese softened to room temperature
- 6 tbsp. Salted Butter softened
- 2.5 cups Confectioner's Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
- 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Place Cream Cheese and Butter in large mixing bowl, and cream together until smooth.
- Add in Vanilla and Confectioner's Sugar, and continue mixing on low speed until combined.
- Then mix on medium-high speed for 2 more minutes.
- Once done mixing, stir well with spatula to help break up air bubbles.
- Immediately frost on your cooled cake, pipe onto your cooled cupcakes, or spread on your cooled cookies. ENJOY!
- Prep ahead tip: Frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 3 months. Just whip again with a mixer for a minute or so prior to using. If frozen, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight prior to using.
Notes
- Recipe can be easily doubled for larger multi-layer cakes or big batches of cookies or cupcakes.
- If you'd like a stiffer frosting, you can add 1 - 2 tbsp. Cornstarch to the frosting.
- Use these tips for How to Soften Butter Quickly!
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Jennifer says
Do you know how long the extra icing keeps if you refrigerate it?
Heidi says
Hi Jennifer,
The frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 3 months. Just whip again with a mixer for a minute or so prior to using. If frozen, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight prior to using. Hope that helps! 🙂
Ana says
Can you use almond extract instead?
Heidi says
Hi Ana ~ you definitely can use almond extract, although the flavor can become overpowering, so if you’d like to add almond extract I would recommend 3/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract + 1/4 tsp. Almond Extract. Hope that helps! 🙂
Christie says
I really appreciate how easy and delicious this cream cheese frosting is! I’m always in the search of a good recipe so I’ll bookmark this one!
Heidi says
Thanks Christie… it really is ridiculously easy to make! ENJOY!