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.
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Hi Cindy, Yes, that would be the cause. Don't worry, leaving out an ingredient happens to everyone now and then.
Hi BeBe: I am making a white cake and cheese cake layer cake for Easter and am looking for a raspberry cream cheese frosting. Would this hold up if I use a raspberry purée in it and how much would you suggest.
Hi Pat, This recipe has all the liquid it needs with the butter and cream cheese. Adding additional raspberry puree or jam would make it too soft. You could use 1 teaspoon raspberry extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla instead of the 2 tsp. vanilla written in the recipe. You could make a raspberry puree with fresh or frozen raspberries or a quicker method is to use 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam, 1/2 teaspoon extract and a bit of red gel food color to get the right color. Spread this between the layers for raspberry flavor.
Hi, Thank You so much for sharing your wonderful talent--it is greatly appreciated!!-- As you stated in a previous comment it has a slight yellow tint, so I was wondering is there any way to make the icing more white in color that will not jeopardize the icing ? Thank You so much for your time and help!!
Oh, I forget to ask in my precious comment--Sorry---I want to ice a cake with this buttercream and then do the drip--will this icing be a good choice for this, with no issues? Thanks again--Blessings
I would like to add tequila and lime juice to this. Is it possible without making it too runny? If it is, how much should I add?
I have tried many pipable cream cheese recipes. This is by far the best! It is not too sweet & piepes beautifully! It requires a little patience to slowly incorporate the bits of cream cheese, but it is so worth it! I am making a large 10" 3 layered hummingbird cake tommorow & I just read several other recipes for cream cheese frostings. I am sticking with yours! Thank you!
Where in the cream cheese frosting is the pineapple... It's called pineapple cream cheese frosting
Hi Michele, I am sorry, but you misread the title of the recipe. It is not Pineapple, it's pipeable --- meaning this cream cheese frosting is firm enough to pipe a design such as borders onto a cake. We do have a Pineapple Cream Filling for a layer cake if you have a need for that. It would not be suitable for frosting a cake, but we love it as a filling. The recipe link is below.
https://www.mycakeschool.com/pineapple-cream/
Can I use this on a sheet cake if I plan on using a fondant topper? I’m not covering it, just adding a fondant dream catcher. I’m curious what it would do to the fondant?
Hello. I would like to use this recipe for cupcakes. Do you know about how many it will frost? Thanks in advance!
Hi Loraina, it should be fine to use on cream cheese frosting. It may soften, but if it's laying flat on top of the cake, I don't see a problem with that. At least, I've never had a problem.
Hi, I'd like to know approximately how many cups does this recipe make?