This is the best cream cheese frosting recipe because it only requires 4 ingredients and takes just 5 minutes to make! It's perfect to compliment your red velvet cake, carrot cake cupcakes, or on any dessert for that matter!
This is a classic cream cheese frosting because it contains both cream cheese and butter. The butter helps the overall stability of the icing, while also helping to balance out the tangy flavor of cream cheese.
As a professional home baker, I've been making this cream cheese icing for years! It's definitely my favorite frosting to add to this small banana cake or these homemade red velvet cupcakes.
It's easily pipeable onto cupcakes and it's smooth enough to spread onto any layer cake or sheet cake.
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The rich and creamy consistency is what makes this frosting so irresistible!
If you have yet to find a homemade cream cheese frosting you like, I guarantee you this one will be the winner. Not only is it quick to make with simple ingredients, but the amount of desserts you can top it with (like cinnamon rolls!) is truly endless.
Ingredients for Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese: You must use the brick-style cream cheese blocks, not the spreadable kind.
- Butter: I used unsalted butter, but you could also use salted butter!
See the recipe card for the full ingredients list and the exact amounts.
How to Make The Best Cream Cheese Frosting
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make this easy cream cheese frosting recipe.
Step 1: Combine the cream cheese and butter. In the large bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed until creamy and free of lumps.
Step 2: Add the other ingredients. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until combined.
Step 3: Increase speed. Then, increase the speed to high and beat for another 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
Pro Tip! Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl using a rubber spatula after every step to ensure that all of the ingredients have incorporated properly.
Storing & Freezing
This frosting can stay out at room temperature for only 1 hour before needing to be transferred to the refrigerator.
Keep the frosting stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Pull it out at least 30 minutes before you want to use it. You could also rewhip it in the stand mixer if needed.
To freeze, place it in an airtight container to avoid any freezer burn. You can keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw it in the refrigerator over night. Then rewhip it to help stabilize it again.
Expert Baking Tips
- Room Temperature: The cream cheese and butter needs to be at room temperature in order to create a smooth and cream consistency. If you start with cold ingredients, you'll have a difficult time getting the frosting to come together.
- Vanilla: In order to get the best vanilla flavor possible, please use pure vanilla extract. You could also use vanilla bean paste.
- Baked Desserts: Make sure any dessert you use this frosting on is completely cooled before frosting. If not, the frosting will melt right off.
Ways To Use This Frosting
This recipe makes enough frosting to perfectly frost 12 cupcakes.
If you want to layer a cake with it, I recommend 1.5x the recipe for any 2 or 3 layered cake. If making a sheet cake, there's no need to make extra!
With a one layer cake, cut the recipe in half (unless you want extra frosting).
Some of my other favorite desserts to top this frosting with are moist pumpkin cupcakes, the best pumpkin bread, and homemade fudgy brownies.
📖 Recipe
The Best Cream Cheese Frosting (4 Ingredients)
Equipment
- Electric Stand Mixer
- Rubber Spatula
- Piping Bag
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (brick-style, not spreadable)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until creamy and lump free (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until combined (about 30 seconds).
- Then increase the speed to high and beat for another 1-2 minutes (frosting should be light and creamy).
- Use it to frost your favorite cupcakes and cake recipes!
I love such a simple cream cheese frosting that requires very little ingredients and has a great cream cheese flavor! This is definitely a family favorite!