My easy cream cheese frosting is one of the most requested frosting recipes because it's tangy, lightly sweet, and perfect for cakes like carrot cake and red velvet cake to cinnamon rolls and pumpkin cake. This frosting uses simple ingredients, takes less than 10 minutes to make, and uses a mixing method that keeps the texture fluffy and stable. If you've ever struggled with cream cheese frosting being too soft or grainy, these tips will help you get perfect results every time. This pairs really well with my vanilla cake recipe as well.
Quick Glance: Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
- Recipe Name: Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
- Why You'll Love It: Tangy, fluffy frosting that pipes beautifully and won't turn runny
- Time and Difficulty: 10 minutes - perfect for beginners
- Main Ingredients:
- Method:
- Texture and Flavor:
- Quick Tip:
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- Quick Glance: Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting Step-By-Step
- Common Cream Cheese Frosting Mistakes
- Tips & tricks for success
- Final Thoughts
- Easy Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
- Related Recipes
- Cake Batter and Frosting Calculator
- Cups of Batter Needed
- Cups of Frosting Needed
- Watch: How To Decorate A Cake Step-by-Step
- Recipe
I've made a lot of buttercream frostings over the years, but cream cheese frosting will always be my favorite frosting for certain cakes. The problem is that it can get runny, grainy, be too thick, too thin, and so on. I've perfected this technique for making the perfect cream cheese frosting so that it's perfectly pipeable every time, never grainy, and the flavors are perfectly balanced.
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
The secret to making cream cheese frosting that stays fluffy and pipeable is using the correct ingredients and making sure all your cold ingredients are softened to room temperature before mixing.
- Full-fat brick cream cheese - This provides the tangy flavor and structure of the frosting. Always use block-style cream cheese rather than tub-style, which contains more water and can make frosting runny. I prefer the classic taste of Philadelphia cream cheese.
- Unsalted butter - Adds richness and helps stabilize the frosting so it holds its shape when piping. Make sure your butter is at room temperature.
- Powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar) - Sweetens and thickens the frosting. The amount can be adjusted depending on how thick you want the frosting. If you need a thicker frosting, try my crusting cream cheese-style frosting.
- Vanilla extract - Adds warmth and depth so the frosting tastes balanced rather than overly sweet.
- Pinch of salt - Balances the sweetness of the cream cheese frosting.
- Heavy cream (optional) - Can be added in small amounts if you want a softer frosting consistency.
How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting Step-By-Step
This frosting comes together quickly once you have everything prepped and all your ingredients at room temperature! The secret to super smooth cream cheese frosting is to always use the whip attachment on low speed and mix until just combined!
- Sift the powdered sugar and set it aside to remove any lumps. If you don't do this you could have little white dots in your cream cheese frosting that do not come out.
- Add the softened butter to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and mix on low speed until smooth.
- Add softened cream cheese in small pieces while mixing on low speed until fully incorporated.
- Add powdered sugar one cup at a time while mixing on low speed.
Add in the vanilla and salt.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a small amount of heavy cream. If it's too soft, add additional powdered sugar.
- Avoid overmixing, which can soften the frosting too much.
Common Cream Cheese Frosting Mistakes
- Using tub cream cheese
Spreadable cream cheese contains stabilizers and extra moisture that can make frosting runny. - Overmixing the frosting
Cream cheese softens quickly, so mixing too long can cause the frosting to lose structure. - Ingredients not at the right temperature
Butter and cream cheese should be soft but still cool to the touch.
Tips & tricks for success
- If your kitchen is warm, chill the frosting briefly to help it firm up before frosting a layer cake.
- This frosting pipes beautifully with a piping bag and piping tip once it's chilled slightly.
- For chocolate cream cheese frosting, add cocoa powder to taste after the powdered sugar is mixed in.
- If you need enough frosting for an entire cake or a double batch for cupcakes, this recipe scales easily.
Final Thoughts
This classic cream cheese frosting is my go-to when I want a frosting that feels special without being fussy. It's an easy recipe made with simple ingredients, delivers that tangy cream cheese flavor every time, and works for just about any favorite cake. Whether you're spreading it with a spatula or piping it onto sweet treats, this is a great recipe to keep in your back pocket.
Easy Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
Yes. Gel food coloring works best because it won't thin the frosting.
Yes. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and remix before using.
Add about ¼ cup cocoa powder when adding the powdered sugar.
Add additional powdered sugar a little at a time until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.
Cream cheese frosting should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Before using, allow the frosting to come to room temperature and mix briefly to restore its smooth texture.
This frosting can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and remix before using.
Related Recipes
Cake Batter and Frosting Calculator
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Cups of Batter Needed
8 cups
Cups of Frosting Needed
5 cups
Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
Watch: How To Decorate A Cake Step-by-Step
Before you start decorating, watch the video below where I show you every step of decorating a cake from start to finish. Seeing the process in action makes it much easier to follow along
- Liz Marek.
Recipe
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter (1 cup) softened and slightly warm
- 16 ounces cream cheese (2 cups) softened and slightly warm
- 36 ounces powdered sugar (8 cups) sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange or lemon extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Warming the Ingredients
- Cold does not like to mix with warm. So if you've got room temperature butter and cold cream cheese, you'll end up with a lumpy and separated mess.
- Soften the cream cheese by cutting it into four cubes and microwaving it for about 15 seconds.
- Soften the butter by leaving it out for a few hours or cutting it into cubes and microwaving it for 10 seconds. Softened butter should be soft enough that you can leave an imprint on the surface of the butter with your finger.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- *THE SECRET TO MAKING SMOOTH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING* - Use an electric hand mixer or the whip attachment on your stand mixer, and mix on LOW speed.
- Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl and set it aside.
- Add the softened butter to a large bowl and mix on low with an electric mixer until smooth and lump-free.
- Next, add the softened cream cheese in small cubes and combine on low until smooth and completely homogenous.
- Add in your powdered sugar one cup at a time. If you want to make your frosting thicker, add in an extra cup of powdered sugar.
- Lastly, add in your extract and salt. A traditional vanilla flavor from vanilla extract goes well with cream cheese, but I love using orange extract or lemon extract for a unique taste.
- This is enough frosting to frost and fill three 8″x2″ layers or 24 cupcakes. I used a piping bag with a 1M piping tip for these cupcakes.
- Cakes with homemade cream cheese frosting must be refrigerated but can be left at room temperature for up to 4 hours without any risk.Leftover frosting can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or frozen for a month or more.
Video
Notes
- Use high-quality cream cheese (full-fat) and the best butter. The better the cream cheese and the butter you use, the better tasting the cream cheese frosting will taste!
- Cream cheese frosting cannot be used under fondant, because it will melt the sugar in the fondant.
- This recipe will not crust, but if you're looking for a more stable frosting suitable for piping flowers or for use in stacked cakes, try my crusting cream cheese frosting recipe.
- You can add ½ cup of cocoa powder to make this recipe chocolate.
- You can tint cream cheese frosting using food color gels. Too many added liquids can break your frosting and make it too soft to use.
Surama says
you're amazing! thank you!
Surama says
Can I put ganache on top of this cream cheese frosting? I want to make a chocolate cake, frost it with cream cheese frosting and cover the top with chocolate ganache and a drip. I love your videos and recipes! Thanks in advance!
Elizabeth Marek says
Absolutely, cream cheese frosting makes a great filling for cakes. Make sure you chill the cake well before covering in ganache
Mark says
Every time I make cream cheese frosting it is really thin and not stiff enough. How do I stop it from being runny
Elizabeth Marek says
Cream cheese frosting is a very soft frosting. You can use more powdered sugar but then it becomes very sweet. https://sugargeekshow.com/cream-cheese-frosting/
Jane says
This cake is amazing! I made it and it was love at first bite. I copied it by hand into my blue recipe ledger.
I plan to make it again and again.
Thank you for this delicious recipe.
Nami says
How can you make this a chocolate cream cheese frosting?
Elizabeth Marek says
You could add sifted cocoa powder
KAMRAN HAZRATI says
Hey quick question...its about the cream cheese frosting...in the video you specify to use the paddle attachment but int the written recipe it says whisk. Do this make a big difference? Which is preferred? Thanks for your time! Love your site!!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I think the whisk makes the frosting creamier and less chances of it breaking or getting curdled.
Iwona Helms says
Could you please convert this recipe to metric? thanks!
The Sugar Geek Show says
All recipes have a metric option right under the ingredients, just check the metric box 🙂
Kait says
Can this recipe be used for a 3-tier wedding cake or would you recommend the crusting cream cheese?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Cream cheese frosting is not great for using under fondant and it's very soft. The stable cream cheese would be much safer as a filling and then regular buttercream on the outside
Kelsey says
This was so tangy and delicious! It went perfect with my spice cake!
Andrea says
I feel like a dummy. Why not under fondant?
The Sugar Geek Show says
The cream cheese frosting is just really soft and causes the fondant to sweat and melt when it's in direct contact
Linda says
Is the salt used to cut the sweetness? Also, can cupcakes iced with this be frozen?
The Sugar Geek Show says
The salt is for flavor 🙂 Yes you can freeze them but the liners might pull away when you defrost them
Chris says
In my country (Greece), we have no cream cheese in blocks, but only the spread version, which is lower in fat. Can I put more butter or sugar to strengthen it?
Can I do something between the buttercream alternative and this recipe (to put sugar, but not that much)? Maybe a cup of sugar to a mix of 16oz cream cheese - 4 cups buttercream?!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I really don't know, I'm not familiar with those ingredients. Best option is to just give it a try and see if it works with the ingredients that are available to you
Kelly says
You mentioned above making cream cheese frosting with swiss meringue buttercream, is there any reason you couldn't use the easy buttercream for the same effect?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You can definitely use easy buttercream 🙂
Kim R says
Could I use this recipe and stick chocolate bark onto it? (Like a tree stump cake) Will the chocolate stay put or slide off?
The Sugar Geek Show says
As long as it wasn't too thick I think it would work
Marian says
Can you add color to cream cheese frosting as well? I want to make the banana cake but with different color frosting. Thank you
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can, any gel food coloring will do