This is the classic Cream Cheese Frosting – it’s sweet, light, and slightly tangy. It has only six ingredients and comes together quickly in a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Keep the following three tips in mind when making your frosting, and it will come out smooth, light, and fluffy!
Use room temperature dairy products to make this frosting. Using room temperature butter and cream cheese will ensure even mixing and prevent lumps in the final product. If your butter and cream cheese are still cool when you start making this frosting, beat them together on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, or until they soften and combine fully.
Beat in the powdered sugar at a low speed. We’ve all experienced the cloud of powdered sugar that forms when accidentally turning on the mixer on high when mixing in powdered sugar – it creates a huge mess! To prevent this, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time, beating on the lowest speed on your mixer until combined.
Once the powdered sugar is fully incorporated, add the milk. Finish by beating the frosting at high speed until light and fluffy. This will help remove any remaining lumps from your cream cheese and butter and aerate the frosting to for an extra light and creamy finish.
This Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect pairing for my Spiced Carrot Cake (pictured). Did you try it? I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comments below!
Not the right frosting for your project? Check out these other options!
Vanilla Buttercream
Whipped Chocolate Ganache
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz (225 g) block cream cheese room temperature
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tsp (4 g) vanilla extract
- ½ tsp (2 g) salt
- 5 cups (500 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 g) whole milk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with an electric hand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and cream cheese.
- Once combined, mix in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar on a slow speed, one cup at a time, until all is incorporated.
- Finish with a tablespoon of milk.
- Once all ingredients are combined, mix on high speed until no lumps remain and frosting is smooth and creamy, approximately 5 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite cake – I would recommend my Spiced Carrot Cake (linked above). Enjoy!