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Cream Cheese Frosting is our preferred frosting for cakes and cupcakes for one important reason: it has just the right amount of sweet and tart, for the perfectly balanced frosting.

This straightforward Cream Cheese Frosting can be modified to be any flavor and suit any dessert you want to add it to – cupcakes, cakes, even cookies. It’s simple, with only four ingredients, and requires very little work.
Why You’ll Love It
- Deceptively easy: If you have a stand mixer, this recipe is so simple to make. Just pour the ingredients in and you have perfectly fluffy frosting.
- Great for dipping: Don’t just use this for frosting cupcakes, use it as a delicious dip!
- Tangy: The cream cheese adds a slightly tangy twist that balances the sweetness.
Kim says: Made this for an adult’s birthday cake and it was exactly what I envisioned when I googled ‘fluffy cream cheese frosting’. It is delicious!! It spread beautifully. Then my son-in-law put the bowl of leftover frosting on the table to dip strawberries in. That was a big hit too!!
» You might also like these Pink Champagne Cupcakes.
Tips for Making Cream Cheese Frosting
- Use full fat cream cheese, not low-fat cream cheese. It has a tendency to become runny and ruin the frosting. Trust me on this.
- Take your cream cheese and butter out of the fridge at least an hour before mixing. This will ensure the ingredients mix smoothly together and the frosting is lump free.
- Cream the butter and cream cheese together thoroughly before adding in the powdered sugar. You can tackle most of the lumps at this stage.

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese and butter and beat on high speed until creamy and well blended. You could also use a hand mixer, but it will take more time. You want to be sure to blend it together until there are no lumps left.
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and beat on low until the sugar is completely incorporated. This will take about 3 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so you don’t leave any sugar behind. Then beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
You’ll want to use the frosting immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I find that the longer it’s in the refrigerator, the less fluffy and nice it is. Best to use it right away.
How to Use It
One of my favorite uses for cream cheese frosting is carrot cake. For some reason, the flavors in carrot cake just go especially well with this frosting. We also love this frosting on red velvet cake.

You can use it to frost just about any type of cake or cupcake. The frosting can be kept plain, but you can also make vibrant colors with food coloring. So you can get super creative and make any color frosting you like.
If you like coffee, you might want to try this Espresso Buttercream Frosting, too.
Questions About the Recipe
It’s a little too sweet for me, is there anything I can do?
The powdered sugar does two things. It thickens the frosting and it adds sweetness. Adding it in batches will help you find the right consistency and sweetness for your liking, without overdoing it.
When adding the powdered sugar, add it in one-cup increments and let the sugar completely combine, then give it a try to gauge sweetness level before adding more.
It’s not very thick, why not?
This frosting isn’t meant to be as thick as buttercream frosting, so it’s better spread on as a frosting than piped onto cupcakes. It won’t hold up firmly like other frostings. If you want a thicker consistency, add more confectioner’s sugar. Just be aware that this will make it sweeter.
Can I freeze it?
Cream cheese frosting freezes super well due to its high fat content. I always freeze the leftovers after I’ve frosted a cake. In my house, someone always discovers the leftovers while looking for ice cream and adds it as a topping to their dessert, or eats it right off the spoon.
It can be kept in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months and should be thawed in the refrigerator. Don’t set it on the counter to dethaw. And absolutely never try to thaw it in the microwave.
Other desserts to try
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Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup (114 g) salted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 3 cups (360 g) confectioner's sugar sifted
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese and butter and beat on high speed until creamy and well blended, with no lumps.
- Add the vanilla. Then add one cup of confectioner's sugar at a time, beating on low until each addition is completely incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate it all. Then beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
- Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
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Jillian Morris is the resident baker for A Food Lover’s Kitchen. She started baking when she was very little and found she had a great passion for it. She is a high-schooler in a small town in Oregon, where she enjoys music, writing, and baking in her spare time.
I made this frosting last weekend and it turned out perfectly! It will be my new go to recipe!
I love how light and fluffy this frosting is! Great for cupcakes, cakes, and just eating with a spoon!
The perfect ratio and combination of ingredients… this is my go-to for cream cheese frosting. Absolute perfection! Thanks so much for sharing.
My preferred frosting for cakes. I will try your recipe soon. Thanks for sharing
Perfect frosting. I love that it uses cream cheese. I will definitely use this again next time I’m making cupcakes.
Made this for an adult’s birthday cake and it was exactly what I envisioned when I googled ‘fluffy cream cheese frosting’. It is delicious!! It spread beautifully. Then my son-in-law put the bowl of leftover frosting on the table to dip strawberries in. That was a big hit too!!
We love this frosting too, Kim. 🙂 Love the idea of dipping strawberries in it.
Cannot wait to try this recipe for my son’s birthday cake! How long does the frost and keep? Trying to make the day as easy as possible and pre-make this.