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 Carrie, It should make 6 cups of frosting.
Hey I love carrot cake,,
but need to transport
cake long ways...
Can I use this recipe
for a 9x13 pan ,,,???
Thanks
Hi Lyn, Yes, you can use this for a 9x13 pan but cream cheese frosting is perishable. Will you be able to keep it cold during the trip?
Hello, I also need to transport my cake. It's about a one hour trip. I'll keep the cake in the fridge until we leave. Should the cream cheese piping hold its shape without keeping it cold during the trip?
Thank you.
Hi. I love your recipes!
I was wanting to make this frosting red for a barn cake for my sons birthday. If I wanted to make this red how much americolor super red would you use? Also could I make it in advance and put it in a airtight container in the fridge, then get out the day of let rest, stir, then fill my piping bags & frost?
How would you recommend doing that?
Thank you!
Can you make the iceing couple days before and refrigerate
Hi Crystal, yes you can!
Could I turn this into pipeable "chocolate" cream cheese frosting by adding 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa? Thanks.
Hi Rachel, adding cocoa to the recipe should be fine. Be sure to sift the cocoa powder. You may need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar but that won't be a problem.
Thank you so much! Does 1/4 cup cocoa for 6 cups of frosting sound correct?
We used 1 cup in our Classic Chocolate Buttercream recipe and 1/4 cup cocoa in our Chocolate Cream Cheese recipe. You can always add more cocoa for the amount of chocolate flavor you want.
Hi… love your recipes. For your pipeable cream cheese frosting can you substitute high ratio shortening for the unsalted butter in order to get a whiter tint?
Hi Debbie, We have not tried using hi ratio shortening to our cream cheese recipe but it seems like it should work, or maybe a combination of butter and shortening. Also, some butters are whiter than others. We find Land O Lakes butter to be much lighter in color than some other brands, but it still may not give you the whiter tint that you want.
I'm definitely going to give this a try. The pipeable recipe that I currently use is too sweet, in my opinion. This one looks just right. Thanks for sharing!
worked really well
Hello, love your site. Is this recipe tint-able? I would like to make it pink.