• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweetly Cakes
  • Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Cake basics 101
  • About
  • Contact
  • FrançaisFrançais
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Cake basics 101
  • About
  • Contact
  • FrançaisFrançais
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home / Cake basics 101

    Buttercream cream cheese frosting

    Feb 7, 2023 by Fadela This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    How to make the best buttercream cream cheese frosting! This recipe is quick and easy, great for filling and decorating your cakes with a perfect hold for piping cupcakes! The perfect balance of sweet and salty with a smooth and creamy texture. 

    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    What is cream cheese

    Cream cheese is simply a cheese spread. Very popular and a favorite cream cheese icing in the United States, it has a smooth and creamy texture similar to mascarpone but with a slightly tangy taste.

    It is often used as a spread on bagels and in various savory recipes. But it is also used as a frosting in sweet and spicy desserts such as carrot cake, pumpkin cupcakes, gingerbread cakes, red velvet cake or in the preparation of New York cheesecake. 

    Best cream cheese icing recipes

    There are different recipes that can be used on cakes and cupcakes. It is also possible to make a chocolate cream cheese frosting by adding cocoa powder. 

    The basic recipe is made of cream cheese, sugar and butter which gives a very soft cream with a perfect balance between sweet and salty taste. 

    Other well-known recipes include cream cheese frosting without butter with only adding confectioner's sugar. Or cream cheese whipped frosting, a creamier cream similar to mascarpone whipped cream. 

    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    Buttercream cream cheese frosting

    This is the most popular and classic recipes, which makes for a thicker, firmer icing. It is more like buttercream in texture and is perfect for piping your cupcakes. 

    But in terms of taste it is still less heavy and more flavorful. And you can even adjust the amount of butter according to your preference, to have a firmer cream or to make a lighter cream. 

    Which cream cheese for frosting

    The most famous brand is definitely Philadelphia. But other brands of cream cheese are also used in desserts. The important thing to remember to make the best butter cream cheese frosting is to use a high percentage of fat, and not the light version of cream cheese which could give you a cream that is too runny. 

    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    Materials

    • Stand mixer or a good electric hand mixer

    Composition to make the homemade cream cheese icing recipe

    • Cream cheese: Full fat avoir light cream cheese for this recipe
    • Butter:  Use unsalted butter that has softened at room temperature to avoid a grainy texture. 
    • Sugar: confectioner's sugar preferred or very fine granulated sugar. 
    • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract for flavoring.
    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    How to make the cream cheese frosting

    1. Start by placing the softened butter cut into pieces in the bowl of a stand mixer or electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. 
    2. Beat on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes until butter is smooth.
    3. Add cream cheese and beat on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes until thick and creamy.
    4. Finish by adding confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract and mix again for about 2 minutes until creamy.
    5. Place the frosting in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using.

    Tip: Mix the cream cheese with the flat spatula for 2 minutes on slow speed to loosen and smooth it. 

    How to store and freeze

    Place it in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for about 1 week. To freeze, place it in a covered storage box and you can keep it for 3 months.

    Best cream cheese frosting recipe
    Best butter cream cheese frosting recipe

    Tips for making successful cream cheese frosting

    • Use a full-fat and no low-fat cheese as this will make the icing too runny.
    • Take the butter out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe (it must be well softened to blend in with the other ingredients and avoid a grainy texture)
    • Use confectioner's sugar instead of granulated sugar so that you don't feel the grains of sugar in the cream and you have a smooth icing.
    • Whisk the butter for a long time to loosen it and get a creamy texture before adding the cream cheese.
    • Place the icing in the refrigerator to firm up before using.
    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    FAQS Frequently asked questions about cream cheese

    Does cream cheese frosting harden ?

    If your frosting has a lot of butter in it then it will inevitably harden in the fridge, so you will probably have to beat it again before using it.

    Can cream cheese frosting be frozen ?

    Yes you can freeze it in a storage box for up to 3 months, place it in the fridge to defrost.

    Can cream cheese frosting be made ahead of time ?

    Yes it is advisable to make it in advance, you can prepare it up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.

    Does cream cheese frosting taste like cream cheese ?

    Yes and no, you get a bit of the tangy taste of cream cheese but balanced with the taste of sugar and butter.

    Best buttercream cream cheese frosting

    More frosting recipes

    • Best buttercream recipes
    • Vanilla buttercream frosting
    • Whipped mascarpone cream
    • Swiss meringue Buttercream
    • French buttercream
    • Russian buttercream
    • Vanilla diplomat cream
    • Whipped white chocolate ganache frosting
    • Coconut frosting
    • Italian Meringue

    Did you like this recipe? Don't forget to rate it and leave me a review in the comments! And to not miss any recipes follow @sweetlycakes on Instagram and tag me to share it if you make this recipe 😊!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Best butter cream cheese frosting recipe

    Buttercream cream cheese frosting


    5 from 1 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Ingredients

    • 200 g butter (softened)
    • 190 g Cream cheese (Full fat Philadelphia )
    • 250 g confectionner's sugar
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 1 tbsp cornstarch (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Place the softened butter cut into pieces in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium speed for 3-5 minutes until smooth.
    2. Add cream cheese and beat again on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
    3. Lower the mixer speed and add the sifted confectioner's sugar, vanilla and cornstarch (optional) and resume mixing on medium speed for an additional 2 minutes and until creamy.
    4. Cover with cling film and place in a fresh place for at least 30 minutes before using.

    Notes

    • For an even creamier icing, reduce the amount of butter slightly.
    • Use confectioner's sugar instead of granulated sugar because it melts faster and gives a smoother icing.
    • Use a high fat cream cheese, avoid low fat to prevent the cream from becoming too runny.
    • Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the icing.

    Conservation

    Cream cheese can only be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

    • Category: cream, Dessert, frosting, icing
    • Cuisine: american

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 2137
    • Sugar: 7
    • Sodium: 2039
    • Fat: 227
    • Saturated Fat: 139
    • Carbohydrates: 266
    • Protein: 13
    • Cholesterol: 639

    Keywords: buttercream cream cheese frosting, Cream cheese, cream cheese frosting, frosting, Icing

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @sweetlycakes on Instagram

    « Maple Pecan Pie
    Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and welcome to my blog! Fully addicted to cakes, blogging and beautiful pictures! I share with you on this blog some tips and my favorite recipes which i hope will help you to enjoy your loved ones !

    More about me →

     Popular Posts

    • Walnut Brownies
    • Frangipane Pear Tart
    • Biscoff Butter Cookies
    • Frangipane Tart

    Hello and welcome to my blog! Fully addicted to cakes, blogging and beautiful pictures! I share with you on this blog some tips and my favorite recipes which i hope will help you to enjoy your loved ones !

    More about me →

     Popular Posts

    • Best Macaron Recipe
    • Cookies Butter Biscoff Cake
    • Pate Sucree
    • Homemade Matcha Latte

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About me
    • Recipes

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Français

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 SWEETLYCAKES