With just a few ingredients and a method that takes just about a minute, you can mix up this fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting to use on your favorite cakes and cupcakes. (It has a little less added sugars, too!)
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 extract
- Honey: 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.
- Soften the butter and cream cheese at room temperature. Add to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
- Start mixing on low with a handheld mixer.
- Mix until light and fluffy.
- Spread or pipe onto cake or cupcakes.
TIP: You can transfer the frosting to a plastic storage bag. Seal, cut off one bottom corner, and pipe onto your cake or cupcake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cream cheese frosting is made from cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and a sweetener such as honey or powdered sugar.
You can leave cream cheese frosting out at room temperature for 1-2 hours (less if it’s warmer than room temperature), but then it needs to be stored in the fridge for food safety reasons.
Usually, cream cheese frosting is thick and pipable and cream cheese icing is thinner and more easily drizzled on desserts.
Yes, you can add cocoa powder to make a chocolate version of this. See the full information on Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.
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!
Favorite Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a large bowl.
- Starting on low speed, beat with a handheld electric mixer until light, fluffy, and lump-free. Add the powdered sugar for additional sweetness and stiffness, if desired.
- Spread onto a cake or cupcakes, or transfer to a plastic storage bag to use as a piping bag. (Seal the bag, trim one bottom corner, and press the frosting out like a piping bag.)
I don’t have a handhelder mixer. The only thing I have is a Vitamix blender. Would you recommend I mix by hand or Vitamix on low speed?
Unfortunately, a blender likely won’t mix this as well as it needs. In order to make it light and fluffy, it needs to be whipped. You could try to do so by hand with a whisk but it will take quite some time and arm power.
Hi Amy, first of all, I absolutely love what you’ve put together for all of us moms. I especially love your sensitivity to those that have kiddos with food allergies and think of ways recipes can be modified. It’s priceless. I realize that everything can’t be modified… but I’m wondering if you’ve explored vegan cream cheese options with this recipe? I’ve got about a month to find and try out a vegan, nut free, grain free, low sugar frosting if that is even possible… Thank you!
Hi- I really like Kite Hill for vegan cream cheese, so I would see if you can find that in your area. And thank you for the kind words!
Hi, can you leave out the honey and the powdered sugar please? Since I’m doing it for my son’s smash cake
Sure, it just won’t be sweet at all.
Can this be made with a stand mixer?
Sure@