This makes the Best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe! Perfect for frosting carrot cake, red velvet cake, and piping onto cupcakes! Smooth, creamy and delicious!

Cream Cheese Frosting is my all-time favorite frosting! It is perfect for frosting desserts like hummingbird cakered velvet cake, carrot cake, cupcakes, and so much more. Fluffy, creamy, and delicious this is the frosting recipe you’ll definitely want to use again and again.

Hummingbird Cake with Cheese Frosting on silver beaded edge cake stand - addapinch.com

This Cream Cheese Frosting is sturdy, can be easily piped for decorating cakes and cupcakes, and can be colored with food dyes similar to buttercream frosting, and did I mention it is delicious?

How to Make the Best Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients needed to make the best cream cheese frosting.

This frosting comes together quickly, but there are a few tips to make sure that you make the best cream cheese frosting possible.

Cream Cheese

  • Use full-fat cream cheese.
  • Do not use low-fat, reduced-fat, or cream cheese spread.
  • Make sure it is fully softened so that your frosting is lump-free and creamy.

Butter

  • Make sure it is fully softened, so that your frosting is as creamy as possible.
  • I use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of Kosher salt, if desired.

Resource: How to Soften Butter (the same method can be used for cream cheese.)

Confectioner’s Sugar

  • Sift so that your sugar is clump-free. This will make for the creamiest and prettiest frosting as well as reduce the incidence of any problems if you choose to pipe your frosting.
  • Add sugar gradually. I like to incorporate my sugar 1/2 cup at a time at the lowest speed possible until just combined. This prevents the confectioner’s sugar from creating a sugar cloud in my kitchen and makes sure that the ingredients are well combined.
  • Go high. After each cup of sugar has been added to your frosting, turn the speed of your mixer to the high setting for about 10 seconds to make your frosting as light and fluffy as possible.

Vanilla Extract

Use the best available to you. The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of this frosting and by using the best available to you, you can prevent any flavors that may detract from your frosting. I prefer to use my homemade vanilla extract or a really good store-bought.

Resource: How to Make Vanilla Extract

Cream Cheese Frosting in a glass bowl on white counter - from addapinch.com

How Much Cream Cheese Frosting Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe yields just the right amount of frosting to generously frost 36 cupcakes or a 8 to 9-inch 3-layer cake.

This recipe works well to half or double depending on the amount of frosting that you need.

Does Cream Cheese Frosting Have to Be Refrigerated?

Desserts topped with this frosting do require refrigeration. You’ll want to store a cake or cupcakes, etc in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can You Make Ahead Cream Cheese Frosting?

Cream Cheese Frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days, but can not be frozen as it will ruin the consistency of the frosting.

To use the frosting, remove it from the refrigerator and incorporated a tablespoon of heavy cream to the frosting with an electric mixer to return it to a spreadable consistency.

Can This Cream Cheese Frosting Be Used for Piping?

Yes, absolutely! This frosting spreads and pipes beautifully. It is sturdy and holds it shape well if you choose to pipe it onto cakes or cupcakes.

Can You Make This Frosting Thinner?

If you need a thinner frosting, you can add heavy cream a tablespoon at a time to thin it to your desired consistency.

Can You Make This Cream Cheese Frosting Thicker?

If you need a thicker frosting, you can add confectioner’s sugar a tablespoon at a time to thicken it to your desired consistency.

Here’s my Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. It’s a classic that everyone loves!

Cream Cheese Frosting

5 from 41 votes
This makes the Best Cream Cheese Frosting recipe! Perfect for frosting carrot cake, red velvet cake, and piping onto cupcakes! Smooth, creamy, and delicious!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 36 cupcakes or (1) 8″ or 9″ layered cake

Ingredients 

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages (452 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) butter, softened
  • 3 cups (340 g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 g) vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Combine softened cream cheese and butter with a stand or electric mixer until well-combined and creamy, about 3 minutes. Make sure that the mixture is free of any lumps.
  • Add confectioner's sugar, 1/2 a cup at a time. After each cup has been incorporated, turn the mixer onto the highest speed setting and for about 10 seconds to lighten the frosting.
  • Add in vanilla and beat until well-blended, light, and fluffy.
  • Use to frost cakes or cupcakes that have been cooled completely. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Use only full fat block cream cheese. Do not use cream cheese in tub. 

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 23mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Cream Cheese Frosting makes the perfect frosting recipe for so many sweet treats. An easy, yet elegant cream cheese frosting recipe. // addapinch.com

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2011.

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




159 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this for a red velvet cake and added a teaspoon of vinegar to the frosting. It made a nice addition.

  2. How long can the iced cake stay out on counter? I will have to make on Dec. 23 to take to my daughter’s house on morning of Dec. 25th?

    1. Hi Denise – Desserts with cream cheese frosting do require refrigeration. You’ll want to place the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator before until it’s completely eaten. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Thanks so much! xo

  3. Hello,
    i wanted to bake for baby boy shower party and i wanted blue color for the frosting, how and when to add the color, and what brand do i need for this recipe, liquid food coloring, gel or paste?
    Thanks a lot.
    joan

    1. Hi Joan,
      I’ve not colored this frosting, but I’ve read others have used a gel or paste color with success. Thanks!

  4. almost forgot, how many times do i need to multiply the recipe for 24 cupcakes and 10″ cake?
    i bake like once a year for my son’s birthday, and it is all a rocket science for me.
    thank you!!!!!!!!

  5. i need to make a cake and some cupcakes. Would it be ok if i frost and leave cupcakes and cake overnight in the fridge, then take out 3 hours before the party time and leave at room temperature? would it affect the taste in any way?
    thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!