Cream cheese frosting is a classic! This easy recipe yields incredibly rich, luscious cream cheese frosting to top your favorite cake, cinnamon rolls, or cupcakes.

Cream cheese frosting is a luscious buttercream elevated by the combination of butter and cream cheese. With its creamy texture and perfectly balanced sweetness, this buttercream makes an excellent topping for a variety of baked goods, from carrot cake to cinnamon rolls. The recipe is easy to master! Here is everything you need to know for my simple recipe to make the best cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients for Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

To achieve the creamy texture and rich flavor that makes cream cheese icing so special, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients:

• Full-fat cream cheese: For the best flavor, use good quality, block full-fat cream cheese. Room temperature cream cheese is best for easy mixing.
• Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter (unsalted, of course) provides richness without adding extra salt flavors.
• Confectioners’ sugar: This is essential for sweetness and gives your frosting that smooth, spreadable consistency. Depending on how much frosting you need, you might typically use about 3-4 cups of the powdered sugar.
• Pure vanilla extract: A dash of flavor that complements the creaminess.

These basic ingredients can be varied to create different versions of this beloved frosting (see below!).

Instructions:

1. Prepare your mixing bowl: Grab a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. If you’re using an electric hand mixer, that’s perfectly acceptable too. 
2. Combine butter and cream cheese: Use the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or the beaters of your electric mixer to cream together room temperature butter and full-fat cream cheese until fluffy.
3. Add sugar and vanilla: Gradually add in the cups of confectioners’ sugar and pure vanilla extract while mixing on medium speed. This will help keep the sugar from flying everywhere! 
4. Adjust consistency: If your frosting appears runny, add more powdered sugar until you achieve the desired thicker consistency. If you prefer a sweeter frosting for your dessert toppings, consider the balance as you adjust. 
5. Finishing touches: Once combined, scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed in, and keep mixing on medium-low speed until you achieve a creamy texture.

Tips

If you want to give your frosting a twist, consider adding lemon juice or a bit of brown butter for depth of flavor.

Don’t use whipped cream cheese. Block cream cheese will impart the best texture and flavor to the frosting.

Storage

If you have leftover cream cheese frosting or if you’ve made a double batch, store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to 6 months. Bring the frosting to room temperature, then stir until smooth before using.

Creative Ways to Use Cream Cheese Frosting

Not only is this frosting fantastic on cakes like pumpkin bars, cupcakes, red velvet cake or banana cake, but it also works well in the following ways:

• Cinnamon Rolls: Spread it generously on warm rolls for an indulgent breakfast or brunch favorite
• Go Chocolate!: Add cocoa powder to the recipe to take this frosting chocolate! Use about 1/3 cup cocoa powder and add it along with the confectioners’ sugar.
• Dipping: Dip graham crackers or fresh fruit slices for a sweet treat.
• Sheet Cakes: Spread simply on sheet cakes, or use your frosting to create beautiful designs with a piping bag for special occasions.

More buttercream frostings

​Make a beautiful, flavorful pink frosting with my Raspberry Buttercream recipe. Rose Water is a wonderful addition here.

The all-time greatest chocolate buttercream is My Mom’s Chocolate Buttercream recipe.

Recipes with cream cheese frosting

Make a phenomenal Olive Oil Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. So moist and flavorful, and easy to pull together.

Pumpkin Bars shine with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting.

Top warm, soft Cinnamon Rolls with a thick layer of the frosting.