Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting
You are going to love this simple, Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting recipe!
I love any dessert that involves cream cheese, and I especially love cakes and cupcakes that are filled and swirled with a generous dose cream cheese frosting!
We have another delicious recipe for Classic Cream Cheese frosting that we have used for years. Today's recipe has an extra block of cream cheese, and so it has a bit more cream cheese flavor. Both are delicious.
Table of Contents
What Cakes Pair Well with Cream Cheese Frosting?
This is a trick question, because I would argue that EVERY cake tastes better with cream cheese frosting! But here are a few favorites!:
- Red Velvet Cake (Try our Red Velvet Scratch, Doctored Cake Mix, or Cupcake recipes!)
- Carrot Cake- This scratch carrot cake recipe is out of this world!
- Spice Cakes (Like our Caramel Apple Spice, Gingerbread Cake, Pumpkin Spice Cake...)
- Hummingbird Cake- A fantastic combination of bananas, crushed pineapple, pecans, and a hint of cinnamon
- Italian Cream Cake-This southern classic wouldn't be the same without cream cheese frosting!
- Classic Chocolate Cake- Ahhhh... this decadent chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting is heaven!
Helpful Tips for Cream Cheese Frosting
- Is Cream Cheese Frosting softer than regular frosting? Yes. As with most cream cheese frostings, the consistency of this frosting is a little on the softer side. If you need a thicker consistency, you can add additional powdered sugar in small amounts until you reach the desired consistency. However, this cream cheese frosting is thicker than most, thanks to the amount of cream cheese in the recipe.
- What Should I do if my Cream Cheese Frosting becomes too soft to work with? If your Cream Cheese Buttercream becomes increasingly soft as you pipe, to the point that it no longer holds it’s shape, just pop it in the refrigerator for a minute. Some decorators even prefer to prepare two piping bags and alternate between them.
This could be caused by a very warm kitchen, or warm hands against the piping bag. Either way, a few minutes in the fridge will work wonders. (Just not too long or it’ll become too firm!)
- Does Cream Cheese Frosting need to be refrigerated? Yes. Cream cheese frosting, and cakes frosted with cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated. However, it does become firm when chilled. You will want to remove from the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving (or using) so that it has time to soften.
Don't miss our roundup of the best cream cheese frosting recipes!
Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting
This easy and delicious Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting is the BEST! Wonderful cream cheese flavor and perfect for piping!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (do not soften in microwave) (This is the equivalent of 2 sticks or 226g)
- 24 oz Cream Cheese, softened to close to room temperature We used three (8 oz) blocks of cream cheese. (full fat)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (343g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (8g)
- ½ teaspoon salt (2g)
Instructions
- Add the softened butter to the bowl of your mixer. Mix on low to medium speed until the butter is smooth.
- Cut the softened cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, along with the salt, mixing at low to medium speed until incorporated.
- Add the vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar mixing on low speed until blended.
- Increase mixing speed slightly, mixing just until well combined. Don't over beat or it will become too soft.
- Makes about 6 cups
- This frosting will pipe best if used while still chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use let it soften slightly (do not microwave) and remix.
Notes
This frosting should be refrigerated. Bring to room temperature (or close to room temperature) to soften for decorating. If cakes or cupcakes are frosted with this frosting, store in the refrigerator. Bring to kitchen counter a couple of hours before serving to allow time for the cake and frosting to warm and soften.
Loved This Recipe?!
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Hi do you know if this recipe will be enough for A 10” 2 later round cake ?
Hi Miriam, We use the Wilton Cake Batter and Frosting chart as a guide. It suggest 5 cups frosting for a 10" 2 layer cake. This recipe makes 6 cups. If you are going to do a lot of decorative piping you might want to make 1 1/2 times the recipe. Here is a link to the Wilton chart:
I have used this recipe a few times now. It works great! Pipes borders like a dream. You can even write with it. But if you are making a big multi- layered cake or a quarter sheet w/ 2 layers. Make 1&1/2 times the recipe. It works great for carrot cake, hummingbird cake, or even red velvet. You will need more to cover red velvet well. Great recipe!
Hi Dana! Thanks so much for your feedback, happy that you like the recipe! xo
Hi there! I have a friend that is requesting a cocunut sheet cake and am wondering which cream cheese frosting I should use? I want something that I can easily smooth out. What do you recommend?
Or do you think I should use the crusting buttercream recipe and add coconut extract?
Hi Cathleen, Yes, you could use a crusting buttercream recipe and add coconut extract to give you a coconut flavor. Are you wanting to smooth the frosting using the Viva paper towel method? I think you could use either cream cheese recipe, the Pipeable Cream Cheese is a bit thicker than our Cream Cheese Buttercream. Here is a link to that recipe:
https://www.mycakeschool.com/cream-cheese-frosting/
Thank you!! I actually haven’t tried the Viva method yet, only the hot knife. Since this is a half sheet cake, which do you think might work better?
Hi Cathleen, either of our cream cheese frosting recipes will smooth easily, and would work well with the hot knife. This pipeable cream cheese frosting recipe is slightly thicker because it calls for more cream cheese than our other recipe.
Where is the pineapple?
Hi Jim, I'm not sure about your question. Are you reading the word pipeable as pineapple ? We don't have a pineapple frosting recipe. Here is a link to our pineapple cake recipe if you are interested.
https://www.mycakeschool.com/pineapple-cake-recipe/
Hi! Looks like a great recipe! Do you know if you can pipe rosettes on the sides of the cake, or vertically?