Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Get ready to enjoy this fluffy strawberry cream cheese frosting made with fresh strawberries! With a delicious strawberry flavor, it's perfect for filling cakes, topping cupcakes, and adding a touch of summer to any dessert.

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• Why you'll love this recipe
• Ingredients you need
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions
• How to use this frosting
• Tips for this recipe
• Conservation
• Recipe Variations
• Recipe Questions
• More Frosting Recipes
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love light, fluffy, and delicious frostings that are different from buttercream, you'll love this strawberry cream cheese frosting perfect for all your summer fruit desserts.

Made with my whipped cream cheese frosting base, this is a lighter, butter-free version of the classic Philadelphia cream cheese frosting you find on my carrot cake recipe.

Very similar to mascarpone whipped cream frosting, but made with a tangier cream cheese and flavored with homemade strawberry puree for a fresh strawberry taste.

Perfect as a cake filling in a birthday cake or for topping cupcakes with a piping bag and other summer desserts.

Ingredients you need

You need these ingredients to make this Philadelphia strawberry frosting:

• Cream Cheese: Use only cream cheese like Philadelphia or an equivalent brand with the same fat content. Avoid overly salty cream cheeses like St-Morêt.
• Heavy Cream: Use full-fat heavy cream with 30-35% fat content, and make sure it’s very cold.
• Powdered Sugar: Use only powdered sugar to achieve a smooth frosting.
• Strawberry Puree: Preferably, use a smooth homemade strawberry puree made with ripe strawberries (fresh or frozen strawberries), not strawberry coulis or strawberry jam.
• Vanilla: Optional, but you can add pure vanilla extract or the seeds from half a Madagascar vanilla bean.
• Food Coloring: Add a small amount of red food coloring powder or gel for a more vibrant color.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions

Here are some quick visual instructions. Don't forget that full recipe instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Place the fresh or frozen strawberries in a saucepan and cook over low heat until they reach a compote-like texture with no excess liquid.

Step 2: Blend the mixture in a food processor until smooth. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve to remove seeds and other residues, then let it cool in the fridge.

Step 3: Place all the ingredients in a large bowl. This includes the cold Philadelphia cream cheese, cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, cold strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and optional food coloring powder.

Step 4: Whip with an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes until the frosting is smooth and firm.

How to use this frosting

• Layer Cakes: Perfect for spreading between cake layers of vanilla, chocolate, or lemon cakes for a fruity and creamy touch.
• Cupcakes: Pipe onto vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, or strawberry cupcakes like in these strawberry lemonade cupcakes.
• Cheesecake: Use as a topping for classic New York cheesecake or strawberry cheesecake.
• Cookies: Sandwich between sugar cookies or use as a dip for shortbread.
• Brownies: Spread a layer on top of chocolate brownies for a rich and fruity contrast.
• Pancakes and Waffles: Serve a dollop on top of pancakes or waffles for a decadent breakfast treat.
• Fruit Dip: Use as a dip for fresh fruit like strawberries, apples, or bananas.
• Parfaits: Layer with granola and fresh berries in a glass for a beautiful and tasty parfait.

Conservation

In the Fridge: Cover the whipped frosting with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing: The frosting does not freeze well on its own. However, it can be stored in the freezer if it is already used in a layer cake or as a topping on cupcakes.

Recipe Questions

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones?

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries. There’s no need to thaw them; prepare the puree the same way. You may need to cook it a bit longer since frozen strawberries release more water than fresh ones.

How do I make the frosting thicker?

To thicken the frosting, measure the quantities precisely with a digital scale rather than using measuring cups. Use very cold ingredients and ensure the heavy cream has at least 30-35% fat content.

Can I make this frosting ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the frosting ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before using, give it a quick mix to restore its creamy texture.

Can I freeze strawberry cream cheese frosting?

Freezing the frosting is not recommended as it can change the texture. However, if it's already applied to a cake or cupcakes, you can freeze them, and the frosting should maintain its texture.

How do I achieve a vibrant pink color in the frosting?

To get a vibrant pink color, you can add a small amount of red food coloring powder or gel. Start with a little and add more as needed to reach the desired shade.

More Frosting Recipes

I hope you love this fresh strawberry whipped cream cheese frosting. If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Happy Baking!

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