Best Ever Cream Cheese Frosting

Light and fluffy cream cheese frosting is the perfect icing on any dessert!

Cream cheese and butter are sweetened with powdered sugar and vanilla for a rich frosting.

Spread it over cakes, muffins, and other baked goodies.

Our Favorite Frosting

This homemade cream cheese frosting recipe is delicious over carrot cake or cinnamon rolls.

• Easy peasy – it takes just a few minutes to make.
• Cream cheese frosting is made with basic ingredients you likely have on hand.
• Make it ahead. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, or 2 months in the freezer.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese – Use any brand of full-fat cream cheese in the block form, not spreadable cream cheese in tubs. Reduced-fat cream cheese is not recommended as it can produce a runny frosting.

Butter – For baking and sweet recipes, I prefer to use unsalted sticks of butter and add a pinch of salt. If you do have salted butter, it will still work – skip the salt in the recipe.

Vanilla – Although it’s a bit pricey, real vanilla extract gives the best flavor. Imitation vanilla extract does work if it’s what you have on hand.

Powdered sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar, powdered sugar contains a little cornstarch to prevent caking and makes for a smooth frosting.

Variations – Add or substitute lemon juice and zest for the vanilla to give your frosting more tang. For a runnier icing, add a few drops of water.

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

This is an easy recipe that comes together in minutes!

1. Using a hand mixer, combine room-temperature cream cheese and butter, per the recipe below.
2. Mix in the vanilla and salt.
3. Add the sugar a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as you mix until fluffy. Do not over-mix.

Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Holly’s Tips

• Use room temperature cream cheese and butter.
• Freeze for up to 3 months in a zippered bag with the air pressed out. Thaw to room temperature before using.
• To change the consistency for drizzling, add water, a few drops at a time, while mixing.

Did you make this Cream Cheese Frosting? Leave us a rating and a comment below!