Every baker knows that a great frosting is what takes an average dessert out of this world! Take your dessert game to stellar new heights with this easy and customizable basic cream cheese frosting recipe!
Table of Contents
- What is Cream Cheese Frosting?
- Why You’ll Love Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
- How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- How to Store
- Tips and Praise
What is Cream Cheese Frosting?
Cream cheese frosting is a popular icing made in common kitchen staples.
Cream cheese dates back over a hundred years and since its invention bakers have been putting it to good use making all manner of delightful treats!
Cream cheese frosting earned its dessert fame as the only frosting for decadent red velvet cakes, but this creamy frosting is great for cakes of all flavors, whoopie pies, and so much more! This basic recipe allows cooks of all skills to whip up a perfect frosting for any occasion!
Why You’ll Love Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
Made to Your Tastes – This basic recipe gives you the tools to customize the flavor profile for your frosting so you always have the ideal tasting treat!
Endless Applications – This basic cream cheese frosting can be used to ice or fill cakes, top brownies and cookies, or swirled into dessert dips. The delicious possibilities are as broad as your culinary creativity.
Quick and Easy Treat – With this easy recipe you can whip up a great frosting in 15 minutes. That means making the perfect special occasion cake has never been easier or faster!
How to make cream cheese frosting taste homemade?
To make cream cheese frosting taste homemade, here’s a simple flavor boost: add one teaspoon of vanilla extract. But if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, why not try a teaspoon of almond, peppermint, or orange extract? These little additions can take your frosting to a whole new level of yum! So go ahead and let your creativity shine in the kitchen. Your taste buds will thank you!
What is cream cheese frosting made of?
Cream cheese frosting is a delightful blend of cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Once blended smoothly and creamily, you have an amazing tangy-sweet frosting that will make any dessert look spectacular!
What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing?
Cream cheese frosting has a thick texture and luxurious taste, making it great for decorating cakes and other baked goods. Its unique cream cheese flavor also goes well with bold-tasting desserts.
On the other hand, cream cheese icing is light and silky smooth and works great when you want to drizzle it over treats such as bundt cakes and cinnamon rolls. It offers a milder cream cheese taste. Choose frosting for decoration and a bolder flavor, and icing for a smoother pour and lighter touch. It’s all about finding the right fit for your delicious creations!
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time to Make – Basic cream cheese frosting is ready in 15 minutes.
- Total Servings – This creamy recipe makes about 8 servings of 2 tablespoons each.
- Electrify Your Cook – You can beat this frosting by hand, but it takes serious muscle! Save yourself the workout and use an electric hand or stand mixer instead.
- Trust Your Taste Buds – In this recipe, you choose the flavor, so be sure to taste and adjust the flavor as needed.
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- Cream Cheese – For this recipe use a brick style of cream cheese. The low-fat options are just fine, but be sure to leave it out on the counter for 10 minutes before using it to help it soften.
- Powder Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar, this sweetener adds flavor, texture, and stability to the frosting.
- Heavy Cream – Heavy cream keeps this icing thick and velvety, but you can swap this with any variety of milk you like.
- Flavor Extract or Liqueur – This is what gives the frosting flavor. Vanilla extract or coffee liqueur are both traditional choices, but you can have fun with this ingredient and choose any flavor you like.
How to Cook Basic Cream Cheese Frosting (Step by Step)
Call all dessert lovers! Elevate your treats with our essential recipe for basic cream cheese frosting. Get ready to taste the creamy perfection in every bite!
Add cream cheese & powdered sugar
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream cheese and then sift the powdered sugar into the bowl.
Beat the cream cheese
With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until they are fully incorporated.
Add 1/2 of the heavy cream
Add about half of the heavy cream and continue beating, until the mixture is light and fluffy, or about 3 to 5 minutes. Add more heavy cream to thin out the mixture as needed.
Add flavor extract
Stop the mixer and add the flavor extract or liqueur. Beat until fully incorporated.
Let chill
Transfer the finished frosting to piping bags for immediate use or an airtight container and chill for later use.
How to Serve Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
This frosting is ready to party! You can use fresh cream cheese frosting to ice all your favorite baked goods, but here are a few all-star desserts to pair with this luscious frosting:
- Oreo Truffles – Scoop about ½ a cup of this frosting into a food processor, add half a package of Oreos, and process until fully crushed and homogeneous. With an ice cream scoop, drop the mixture in balls onto a tray, chill, and then dunk in melted chocolate. These make the perfect quick yet elevated dessert!
- Carrot Cake – Bake up your favorite traditional carrot cake. Mix this frosting, but use horchata liqueur and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg to flavor the frosting. Ice the cake as you normally would but be ready for a creamy flavor explosion!
- Cake Balls – Save your extra cake crumbs and then process them in the food processor with about ¼ cup of this frosting. Process until they make a thick, sticky paste (add more frosting if needed), and then use an ice cream scoop to scoop and drop the mixture onto a tray. Chill and then dip in melted chocolate. Kids love these bites!
- Frosting Dip – In a food processor mix about ½ of this frosting with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and cookies. Transfer it to a bowl and use it as a dip for wafer cookies, graham crackers, or tuile cookies.
How to Store Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
This cream cheese frosting will keep for a while if properly stored, so you can make perfect desserts on a dime! To store this basic cream cheese frosting, transfer the frosting to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
To use after storing, take the frosting out of the fridge about 15-30 minutes before you’re going to use it so it can soften.
Tips and Praise for this Recipe
- Everyone loves this frosting on red velvet, but you’ll get even more compliments pairing this frosting with sweet nutty flavors like spiced cake, carrot cake, or almond sponge cake.
- This frosting is stable enough to sit out for up to 2 hours on a warm day and 4 hours on a cold day.
- For a quick mixer-free hack, try making this in a food processor instead!
- To color this frosting, add a few drops of food coloring to the finished batch, but remember less is often more with food coloring!
Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
Every baker knows that a great frosting is what takes an average dessert out of this world! Take your dessert game to stellar new heights with this easy and customizable basic cream cheese frosting recipe in just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 4 Ounces Cream Cheese (half a brick)
- 1 Cup Powder Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Heavy Cream
- 1 Teaspoon Flavor Extract or Liqueur
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream cheese and then sift the powdered sugar into the bowl.
- With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until they are fully incorporated.
- Add about half of the heavy cream and continue beating, until the mixture is light and fluffy, or about 3 to 5 minutes. Add more heavy cream to thin out the mixture as needed.
- Stop the mixer and add the flavor extract or liqueur. Beat until fully incorporated.
- Transfer the finished frosting to piping bags for immediate use or an airtight container and chill for later use.
Notes
- For this recipe use a brick style of cream cheese. The low-fat options are just fine, but be sure to leave it out on the counter for 10 minutes before using it to help it soften.
- To make cream cheese frosting taste homemade, here's a simple flavor boost: add one teaspoon of vanilla extract or coffee liqueur.
- But if you're feeling a bit adventurous, why not try a teaspoon of almond, peppermint, or orange extract? These little additions can take your frosting to a whole new level of yum!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 45mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 26gProtein: 1g