How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

*This simple recipe comes together in minutes. You can find the full, printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here is a quick look at our steps.

First, mix the softened butter until smooth.
Next, cut the softened cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, mixing at low to medium speed until well combined.
Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar (be careful to add the powdered sugar bit by bit or turn down the mixer so that you won't create a cloud of powdered sugar in your kitchen!)
Increase mixing speed slightly and mix just until combined and fluffy.
This frosting pipes best when slightly chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use let it soften slightly (avoid microwaving) and remix.

Cakes that go with Cream Cheese Frosting

The best part about cream cheese frosting is that it perfectly complements SO many different types of cake. A few of our favorites are Strawberry Cake, Lemon Cake, Pumpkin Cake, and Chocolate Cake, but there are so many more.

Delicious Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Recipe by My Cake School!So easy to make!

Helpful Tips

We've been swirling & filling our cupcakes and cakes with this frosting for years but as is often the case with Cream Cheese Frosting, it is a bit on the soft side.
If you need a thicker consistency, you can add additional powdered sugar in small amounts until you reach the desired consistency. Chilling is a great way to thicken the frosting.
If your Cream Cheese Buttercream becomes increasingly soft as you pipe, to the point that it no longer holds its shape, just pop it in the refrigerator for a minute.
This could be caused by a super 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!) Oh the joys of cake decorating!

More Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

We have never met a cream cheese frosting that we didn't love. The flavor options are endless. Don't miss our roundup of the BEST Cream Cheese Frostings and Fillings! Here are some of our favorites:

Easy and Delicious Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe by MyCakeSchool.com

Thanks so much for stopping by! We hope that you enjoy this delicious and easy cream cheese frosting.

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Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

BY Melissa and Bebe

This classic Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting tastes amazing! It is silky smooth, super flavorful, and tastes perfect with red velvet cakes, spice cakes, chocolate cakes, and more!

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Ingredients

▢ 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened (226g) (Should easily dent when pressed)
▢ 16 oz cream cheese, softened (We used two 8 oz packages of full fat cream cheese.)
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (8g)
▢ ½ teaspoon salt (2g)
▢ 6 to 6 ½ cups 690g to 747g powdered sugar

Instructions

Add the softened butter to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is smooth.
Cut the softened cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until incorporated. If you are using a hand mixer you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.
Add the vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low speed until blended. Cover the bowl with a towel to keep down the cloud of powdered sugar.
Increase mixing speed and beat until fluffy. Don't over beat or it will become too soft. If it becomes too soft, just refrigerate a short while to firm it up a bit.
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.
Will frost a 3 layer 8 or 9 inch cake.

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68 Comments

Would this frosting be okay to use on Carrot Cake with Fondant over top?
Thanks!

Hi Tami, I haven't tried it but I think it is so soft it might cause problems under fondant. I think you would be ok with a crusting cream cheese frosting. We don't have that recipe in the recipe section but this is a link to a recipe that several members have said was good from cake central

http://cakecentral.com/recipe/crusting-cream-cheese-icing

Thank you so much BeBe. If this frosting doesn't work out, which frosting on your site would work best with Carrot Cake covered in fondant?
Thank you for the super fast response!!

Cream cheese is my favorite with carrot cake, but if not using that I would use either the Classic Vanilla or Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream recipe under the fondant. Be sure your layer of buttercream is not too thick and chill your frosted cake 5 - 10 minutes to firm up the buttercream before laying on your fondant. Hope it turns out great.

I haven't tried meringue powder with the cream cheese recipe but I think it would still be very soft.

Thank you for the clarification BeBe!

I am going to make this cream cream recipe today ... Can I pipe cream cheese frosting thru a piping bag? I'm thinking it will be a little on the thin side?? Just asking before I start my cake. Thanks so much!!

PS, My goal today is to frost a 'basket' cake. It will be my first time. (thanks to your fabulous video!!).

Hi Linda, our recipe is a little too soft for piping. This is a link to a cake central crusting cream cheese frosting that some of our members like to use for piping.

http://cakecentral.com/recipe/crusting-cream-cheese-icing

LOVE this recipe! I won't use any other one!!

I have a very simple, and delicious cream cheese recipe, that ends up being perfect for piping.. I use 1 block of cream cheese (softened), 1/2 stick of butter (softened)- blend those good, then I add 2 cups of powdered sugar. Mix until well incorporated. It works like a charm every time, and this recipes covers a 2 layer, 8 inch cake :)