Cream Cheese Frosting
I love a good cream cheese frosting for topping cakes and cupcakes because of the flavor, texture, and creaminess. It pairs so well with Pumpkin Cupcakes, Sweet Potato Cake, Apple Cake, and Carrot Cake Cupcakes—and is so crazy-easy to make. The only thing you need to be aware of is that this works best (and is easiest to blend) if the cream cheese and butter are allowed to soften at room temperature for about an hour before you start. This makes it easy for the frosting to mix up with a handheld mixer with minimal lumps. You can even make this frosting ahead and spread or pipe it on your cake or cupcakes right before serving. Versatile and easy? Sign me up!
Ingredients You Need
To make this frosting recipe, you need:
Cream cheese: I prefer to use classic full-fat cream cheese in the Philly-style block.Unsalted butter: This helps to make a thick frosting that holds up when piped.Vanilla extractHoney: This adds subtle sweetness. Powdered sugar: This is an optional addition to add more sweetness and stiffness, which may be helpful if you plan to pipe on the frosting.
Ingredient Substitutions
You can use maple syrup for the honey. (Avoid honey for kids under age 12 months.) You can omit the honey and use all powdered sugar, starting with ¼ cup and adding as much as you like when you taste it for sweetness. You could leave out the butter if you prefer, though I like the flavor better with the mixture of the cream cheese and the butter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this frosting so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full recipe. TIP: You can transfer the frosting to a plastic storage bag. Seal, cut off one bottom corner, and pipe onto your cake or cupcake.
How to Store
Store in a sealed plastic storage bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 24 hours before using. If there are leftovers of the cake or cupcakes topped with the frosting, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Best Tips for Success
Add the powdered sugar for more sweetness and a slightly stiffer final texture.Spread or pipe onto cakes or cupcakes. You can use this frosting on my Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes, Sweet Potato Cake, Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Vanilla Oat Smash Cake, or any other cake or cupcakes you prefer.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please rate and comment below!
