Rich and delicious cream cheese frosting perfect for any type of carrot cake! This simple recipe is super easy to make and provides a wonderful topper for a homemade carrot cake or carrot cake cupcakes.
If you need an easy recipe that produces a wonderful, classic cream cheese frosting flavor the this is the perfect recipe for you.
It only takes minutes to make and pairs perfectly with any type of carrot cake. I’ve used it on cake and cupcakes and they’re a huge hit every time.
The beauty of this recipe is that it only takes four ingredients and you can go with, or without, nuts. It’s the perfect go to carrot cake frosting for any occasion.
Make sure to bookmark or pin this recipe so you can find it the next time you need homemade frosting for your carrot cake.
Nuts are a classic part of many carrot cake frostings, and they add a great crunch and earthy flavor. If you enjoy nuts in your frosting, go with chopped pecans or walnuts.
Carrot Cake Frosting Tip
Save this great recipe for later: Coconut cream cheese frosting
How to Make Homemade Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Frosting
Some things seem to just be made to go together. Like salt and pepper, coffee and cream, and cream cheese frosting and carrot cake!
It’s such a wonderful flavor, and I bake carrot cake and carrot cupcakes for my family all the time. The flavor is just so happy and makes a wonderful family dessert.
And this frosting recipe is my go to, it’s super easy to whip together and the flavor is awesome!
Total prep time is just a few minutes so it’s for when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. And once you’ve given it a taste, you won’t ever want to go back to premade frosting again.
Your frosted carrot cake can stay at room temperature for 5-8 hours (at normal temperatures). But should be refrigerated after that. Store your cream cheese frosting for up to three days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to a month in a sealed, freezer safe container.
Frosting Tip
Use your frosting for this recipe: Classic carrot cake (moist and tasty!)
Ingredients
With just four common ingredients, you can make this delicious frosting. It also tastes great with chopped nuts, but they are optional.
I know a few people who don’t eat nuts, and it’s still super tasty sans nuts.
Ingredients List
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Chopped Nuts (optional)
Cream Cheese: You can’t have cream cheese frosting with the cream cheese! I recommend going with whole fat cream cheese. The fat content is a huge part to achieving a great texture and flavor. Also, go with the block style. Whipped cream cheese will not provide the texture we are looking for.
Powdered Sugar: This is a sweet cream cheese frosting, so if you prefer a less sweet version, reduce the sugar by `1/3-1/2 cup.
Butter: Butter binds our ingredients and helps produce that classic cream cheese texture. Go with salted butter, but it you only have unsalted, add a pinch of salt to your mixture.
Vanilla Extract: This gives our frosting a deeper flavor. If you prefer, you can opt for almond extract, but reduce it to a half a teaspoon if you’re also using nuts.
Nuts: If you do go with nuts in your frosting, stir them in at the very end. You can also just sprinkle them on top after you’ve frosted your carrot cake. I prefer pecans or walnuts, but just about any nut will work.
Try this recipe: Carrot cupcakes
Step by Step Instructions
My favorite recipes offer a great flavor without taking a long time to make. And if you’re anything like me, then this is going to be one of your new favorite recipes!
The only equipment you’re going to need is a mixing bowl and a hand mixer. You can use a stand mixer, but I find the hand mixer quicker for frosting.
Step 1: Add your butter and cream cheese to your bowl and mix until well blended.
Step 2: Gradually mix in your powdered sugar and vanilla extract until well blended.
Step 3: If adding nuts, stir them in now.
Step 4: Frost your carrot cake and enjoy!
Another great frosting: Whipped cream cheese frosting
Cream Cheese Frosting For Carrot Cake
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Mixer
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese block style
- 1 lb Powdered Sugar about 3½ cups
- 1 Stick Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ½-1 Cup Chopped Nuts optional
Instructions
- Add your butter and cream cheese to your bowl and mix until well blended.
- Gradually mix in your powdered sugar and vanilla extract until well blended.
- If adding nuts, stir them in now.
- Frost your carrot cake and enjoy!
Nutrition
Liv’s Cream Cheese Frosting Notes
- If using nuts, you can stir them into your frosting or simply sprinkle them on top of your frosted cake.
- You can soften your butter before mixing it, but do not melt it.
- Store your frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to one month.