The Ultimate Cream Cheese Frosting

      Tessa’s Recipe Overview

      Taste: Ideally balanced—sweet, tangy, and infused with vanilla flavor (without the overwhelming sweetness found in other recipes!)

      Texture: Incredibly smooth, creamy, and simply indulgent.

      Ease: Exceptionally simple and can be prepared in advance!

      Why You’ll Adore This Recipe: This 7-minute recipe enhances any cake, cupcake, or dessert instantly!

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      Some frostings merely act as a finishing touch. But this Cream Cheese Frosting? This velvety, flavorful frosting is truly the star of the show.

      Since I first shared this recipe in 2017, it has consistently been one of the most sought-after recipes on my site—and for good reason! It’s my favorite frosting for decorating Red Velvet Cake, topping Carrot Cake Cupcakes, or generously applying to homemade Gooey Cinnamon Rolls.

      After receiving ongoing feedback from bakers that the original recipe was too runny, I tested ways to make this frosting sturdier without adding more sugar.

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      The outcome? A frosting that pipes beautifully and enhances every bite with its creamy texture and tangy taste. No changes to the ingredients were necessary—just a slight alteration in the mixing method!

      Review my baking science tips below, along with the FAQ section beneath the recipe for all my advice to help you create the BEST Cream Cheese Frosting you’ll ever enjoy.

      **Touch of Science**

      **How to Craft the BEST Cream Cheese Frosting**

      **My Cream Cheese Frosting Trials**

      I understand that some of you faced issues with the original recipe maintaining its shape while piping. Increasing the powdered sugar made it overly sweet!

      What’s the fix? Adjusting the ORDER of the ingredients! Instead of adding the powdered sugar last, we cream the butter and sugar together first, similar to a buttercream recipe. Then we incorporate the cream cheese. That small alteration makes a SIGNIFICANT difference! Observe the change in stability:

      In the left image, the frosting appears smooth but is just a tad too soft—it began sliding off the cupcake when flipped upside down! Whereas on the right? My revised method pipes wonderfully and holds its shape—even when turned upside down.

      This improved method makes it more resilient for hot weather, BBQs, picnics, and transport, as well as enhancing decorative piping.

      **Why this is effective:** Creaming the butter and sugar together first traps air, yielding a lighter texture and a more stable consistency. The powdered sugar also provides a slight barrier, coating the butter fat to help prevent the added moisture from the cream cheese from being absorbed.

      **Utilize Original Method for Cinnamon Rolls**

      For the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth experience, stick with my initial method! Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together on medium-high until light, creamy, and smooth—about 2 minutes. Gradually incorporate the powdered sugar on low speed and mix until fluffy. This will produce a soft, silky frosting that beautifully melts over warm cinnamon rolls.

      **What Type of Cream Cheese is Best for Frosting?**

      Using quality cream cheese is crucial to achieving a thick, indulgent frosting. Trust me on this one!

      For the creamiest frosting, opt for full-fat brick-style cream cheese softened to cool room temperature.

      Avoid whipped or spreadable cream cheese (too soft!).

      Do not choose low-fat cream cheese (less rich and more watery).

      Some off-brand cream cheese bricks may be runny. Aim for a reputable brand when possible, such as Philadelphia.

      **The Secret Ingredient for the BEST Cream Cheese Frosting!**

      Want to elevate your cream cheese frosting from tasty to gourmet? The secret ingredient: vanilla bean paste.

      Though it may be slightly more expensive and harder to source than vanilla extract, it imparts a deeper, richer vanilla flavor along with beautiful flecks, without having to use a whole vanilla bean pod. Plus, it avoids the alcohol taste some pure vanilla extracts can introduce.

      You can buy vanilla paste at kitchen supply stores or on Amazon here.

      **The Butter**

      For fluffy frosting that retains its shape, utilize unsalted butter at a cool room temperature (about 67°F). Why unsalted? It allows for full flavor control—some salted butter brands can contain double the salt of others! For more details, refer to my article on Unsalted vs. Salted Butter.

      **The Sugar**

      Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar, is essential for achieving ultra-smooth frosting! No alternative sugar will suffice. To keep your frosting free of lumps, always sift the powdered sugar after measuring.

      ✨ T