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Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

Cream Cheese Frosting


5 from 1 vote
Prep Time :5 minutes mins
Total Time :5 minutes mins
Servings :12 Cupcakes
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A cupcake with cream cheese frosting on top with a gingerbread man sticking out the top.
close up of frosting being applied to a donut with some text overlay for pinterest.

Published: Dec 12, 2023 · Modified: Oct 16, 2024 by Melanie Cagle · 2 Comments

Cream cheese frosting is one of my favorite go-to frostings for decorating anything really. The flavor is so versatile, it really compliments most everything. Like below is a delicious gingerbread cupcake and it pairs perfectly.

A gingerbread cupcake with cream cheese frosting on top with gingerbread sprinkles.
Gingerbread Cupcake with cream cheese frosting

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Depending on what you're decorating will determine how you will decorate, e.g. decorating cupcakes I'm going to use a piping bag but say a cookie, or like below my pumpkin donuts I usually like to spoon it on there.

Jump to:
  • What makes this recipe so yummy
  • Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
  • Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
  • Recipe variations and substitute ideas
  • Necessary gear: Equipment
  • Recipes To Use Your Cream Cheese Frosting
  • How to store leftovers
  • Mel's kitchen notes
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 💬 Comments

What makes this recipe so yummy

  • Cream cheese frosting is one of the most versatile frostings (in my opinion).
  • It's the perfect cream cheese frosting for brownies.

Groceries you'll need: Ingredients

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients for cream cheese frosting
  • Cream Cheese
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Unsalted Butter

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

A bowl of ingredients needed to make cream cheese frosting with some beaters.
How to make cream cheese frosting
  • Step 1: Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer with whisk attachment) beat at medium speed until nice and creamy.
  • Step 2: Either spoon directly onto your cookies (or other dessert) or pipe onto a cupcake/cake.

Hint: Depending on how thick/runny you want your frosting to be you can add a little more powdered sugar or melted butter.

Recipe variations and substitute ideas

  • Chocolate Chips - if you want to make chocolate cream cheese frosting melt some chocolate chips and add to the frosting for a rich chocolate flavor.
  • Color - use red food coloring (or any color really) to give your frosting some color.
Overhead view of frosting being added to donuts.
Frosting some pumpkin donuts

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Necessary gear: Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You can use a hand mixer to make this cream cheese frosting, or you could use a stand mixer. Or if you're feeling energetic you could beat by hand with a whisk for a few minutes.

I have a few links in the recipe card below for my favorites.

Recipes To Use Your Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Close up of a pumpkin spice donut with a bite taken out, with more in the background.
  • a close up of a banana pudding cupcake
  • A close up shot of a stack of three pumpkin spice macarons.
  • Pumpkin Spice Donuts
  • Banana Pudding Cupcakes
  • Pumpkin Spice Macarons
  • Halloween Cupcakes
  • Pumpkin Spice Box Mix Cookies
  • Christmas Bundt Cake

How to store leftovers

Due to the dairy involved cream cheese frosting can only be left out at room temperature for a few hours. After that it will need to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.

Mel's kitchen notes

If you want super white frosting use a clear vanilla.

A gingerbread cupcake with a gingerbread man sticking out the top.
Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting and a Gingerbread cookie

If you’ve tried this Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!

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A cupcake with cream cheese frosting on top with a gingerbread man sticking out the top.
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5 from 1 vote

Cream Cheese Frosting

This delicious cream cheese frosting is super versatile and can be used on almost any confectionary.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Servings: 12 Cupcakes
Cuisine: Cupcakes
Author: Melanie Cagle
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Equipment

  • Glass Mixing Bowls
  • Stand Mixer
  • Hand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 4 Ounces Cream Cheese softened
  • ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and using a hand mixer beat until nice and smooth.
    4 Ounces Cream Cheese, ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • Using a piping bag and chosen tip pipe onto cupcakes, or spoon onto cookies etc.

Notes

Depending how thick you want your frosting, you can add a little powdered sugar to make it thicker or more butter (or milk) to thin it out a little.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 30mg | Sugar: 9g

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    Recipe Rating





  1. Wild Bill says

    February 28, 2024 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    Its great! I have been using it for over 45 years now add cocoa to taste and it makes a really rich chocolate frosting

    Reply
    • Melanie Cagle says

      February 28, 2024 at 7:26 pm

      Yes, great idea!!! Thanks for the rating!

      Reply

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