Simple and delicious cream cheese frosting that’s perfect for topping any type of dessert. With only four common ingredients, this recipe is incredibly easy to make while packing a big flavor.
For a creamy texture and sweet flavor this recipe is my go to cream cheese frosting. I use this recipe to frost everything from cake and cupcakes, to cookies, brownies, and even waffles.
This recipe is bursting with flavor and can even be colored with just a couple drops of your favorite food coloring for a fun presentation.
What’s even better, this frosting is incredibly easy and quick to make and super affordable. I’m guessing that once you’ve tasted it, it’s going to be one of your favorites too.
Make sure to bookmark or pin this recipe so you can find it the next time you need a delicious cream cheese frosting recipe.
For a thinner consistency, stir in a splash of heavy cream or whole fat milk. Just a little goes a long way. And if you want your frosting any thinner, just slowly incorporate more milk or heavy cream until desired consistency is achieved.
Frosting Tip
How to Make Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting from Scratch
This old fashioned recipe has changed since my grandmother made it for birthday cupcakes when I was young. And with a flavor and texture like this, there’s no improvement needed!
And while I love fancier versions such as my pineapple cream cheese frosting, and this delectable coconut cream cheese frosting, every baker needs a traditional recipe and this is the one I always come back to.
Prep time is only minutes so you won’t be spending a ton of time in your kitchen. And no matter if you’re baking a cake (like carrot cake), or a batch of sugar cookies this recipe will taste amazing.
To prevent crumbs from gathering in your frosting, start with a crumb layer. Simply apply a thin layer of your cream cheese frosting and then chill your cake in the refrigerator for 12-20 minutes. Your frosting will set and trap any crumbs. Then finish frosting your cake and enjoy no crumbs in your frosting!
Frosting Tip
Ingredients
Every baker needs a collection of versatile and simple recipes they can turn to, and this frosting recipe should be in every bakers rotation.
Not only can it be used on just about any type of dessert, it only calls for a few common ingredients. It’s quick and low cost while producing a wonderful flavor.
Ingredients List
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Butter
- Vanilla Extract
Cream Cheese: Always go with block style cream cheese. Whipped will not produce good results. And for the best texture and flavor, always go with whole fat cream cheese.
Powdered Sugar: Along with our cream cheese, powdered sugar is the base for our frosting. It provides a sweet flavor while allowing for a creamy texture you wouldn’t get from granulated sugar.
Butter: Soften, but do not melt, your butter before mixing it in with your other ingredients. For convenience, salted butter is usually what I go with. But you can use unsalted butter. You will simply want to add a pinch of salt to your frosting when beating.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is a classic cream cheese frosting flavoring and I never make this recipe without it. I prefer pure vanilla extract, but imitation can be used in a pinch.
If your powdered sugar is clumpy, you should sift it before mixing into your other ingredients. This will ensure an even and creamy consistency.
Frosting Tip
Easy to Follow Recipe Instructions
Don’t let how easy this recipe is to make fool you, the flavor is absolutely fantastic! I make it for many desserts throughout the year and it always receives compliments.
And because it’s so quick and only needs a few ingredients, it’s a great last minutes recipe when you don’t have time to make a run to the grocery store or make a more complicated recipe.
Step 1: In your mixing bowl cream your butter and cream cheese until smooth.
Step 2: Gradually mix in your powdered sugar until well combined.
Step 3: Mix in your vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 4: Frost your dessert and enjoy!
Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Mixer
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese room temperature
- 1 lb Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Butter softened
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- In your mixing bowl cream your butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Gradually mix in your powdered sugar until well combined.
- Mix in your vanilla extract until smooth.
- Frost your dessert and enjoy!
Nutrition
Liv’s Cream Cheese Frosting Notes
- Cream cheese frosting should be kept cool. It can stand at room temperature for a few hours but should be covered and refrigerated otherwise.
- This recipe yields enough frosting for a 13×9 sheet cake, 2 layer 9″ cake, 3 layer 8″ cake, 12 cupcakes, 24 cookies, or a sheet of brownies.
- You can sprinkle a half cup of chopped nuts into your frosting for a nice crunch and earthy flavor.