Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (Plus 4 Flavor Variations) - Always Eat Dessert (2024)

Special Equipment

In addition to essential baking equipment (like a spatula), you will want to use either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer for mixing the ingredients into a smooth frosting.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

This frosting is a piece of cake to make and comes together in just 10 minutes with only 5 simple ingredients.

Step 1: Use a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer to beat cream cheese and butter on high speed until smooth.

Step 2: Add vanilla extract and salt to the cream cheese and butter and beat to combine.

Step 3: With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add confectioners’ sugar. When all of the sugar has been added, turn up the mixer to high speed and beat until the frosting is cohesive and creamy.

Recipe Tips

Let the cream cheese and butter come to room temperature before blending. Room temperature ingredients are essential for smooth frosting. Trying to blend chilled cream cheese will lead to lumpy frosting. Check out my tips for bringing ingredients to room temperature more quickly.

Sift the confectioners' sugar. Sifting the sugar will ensure that there are no clumps of sugar in your frosting.

Re-chill the frosting before piping. You need the cream cheese and butter to be room temperature for mixing, but you may then find that your frosting is a bit too soft or runny for piping. It may be helpful to let the frosting chill in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes so that it firms up just enough to be easily piped.

If you're struggling to get the texture just right, or if you find yourself with runny frosting, check out this post all about how to avoid runny frosting.

Flavor Variations

Brown Butter

To make brown butter frosting, brown the butter and let it cool to room temperature before mixing the frosting. You can also brown the butter ahead of time, refrigerate it, and then bring it to room temperature just before you're ready to use it.

Cinnamon

To make cinnamon frosting, simply add ½ tsp. ground cinnamon in with the confectioners' sugar.

Vanilla Bean

To make vanilla bean frosting, replace the vanilla extract with 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste.

Honey

To make honey frosting, add ¼ cup honey when adding the vanilla. Note that the extra liquid in this recipe will make the frosting slightly softer than the other flavors. I recommend keeping this frosting well chilled and letting it sit at room temperature for a shorter period of time (15 to 30 minutes) before spreading or piping.

Recipe FAQs

Storage Instructions

Store leftover cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the frosting sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before spreading or piping.