Easy Lemon Curd Cream Cheese Frosting

Check out this super easy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe! It’s light, fluffy, and packed with real lemons for a fresh tangy taste, making it perfect for topping cupcakes or filling cakes. This delightful frosting adds a zesty lemon twist to any lemon desserts, quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe
• Ingredients you need
• Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions
• How To Use This Lemon Frosting
• Tips for this recipe
• Storage instructions
• Variations & Substitutions
• Recipe Questions
• More Frosting Recipes
• Lemon Curd Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love light and refreshing frostings, you've got to try this lemon cream cheese frosting perfect for all your summer desserts, adding a bright and creamy touch that'll make each treat even more delightful.

This recipe is a lighter take on my classic whipped cream cheese frosting. It uses the same Philadelphia cream cheese frosting you find in traditional carrot cake but is made without butter, keeping it lighter and fluffier.

This frosting, similar to whipped mascarpone frosting but made with tangier cream cheese and my homemade lemon curd filling, adds a perfectly fruity flavor.

It's fantastic not just on cakes and cupcakes, but also as a delicious topping for fruit tarts, trifles, and more.

Ingredients you need

You will need these ingredients to make this lemon curd cream cheese frosting:

• Cream Cheese: Use only Philadelphia brand cream cheese or an equivalent with the same fat content.
• Heavy Cream: Use full-fat cream cream with at least 30-35% fat content and make sure it's very cold.
• Powdered Sugar: Only use powdered sugar to ensure a smooth frosting.
• Lemon Curd: Made with whole eggs or just egg yolks for a richer and thicker cream, fresh juiced Meyer lemons and lemon zest or other variety of lemon, powdered sugar, and unsalted butter.
• Vanilla: Optionally, add pure vanilla extract or the seeds from half a Madagascar vanilla pod.

Lemon 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 all the ingredients in a medium bowl, including the egg yolks, granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Step 2: Cook over a double boiler on a saucepan with simmering water on medium low heat until the mixture thickens.

Step 3: Off the heat, add the cold butter pieces and stir them in, then strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove any solids and ensure a smooth lemon curd. Let it cool completely.

Step 4: Place all the ingredients—the Philadelphia cream cheese, cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, lemon curd filling, and vanilla extract—in a large bowl or in the large mixing bowl of a stand mixer.

Step 5: Whip using an electric mixer or in your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium low speed until the frosting is smooth and firm.

How To Use This Lemon Frosting

• Classic Lemon Cake: Layer it between soft lemon sponge cake layers like in this strawberry lemonade cake or this lemon meringue cake or in a lemon curd cake, lemon icebox cake etc.
• Cupcakes: Perfect as a topping with my vanilla cupcakes, lemon cupcakes or lemon curd cupcakes like these lemon meringue cupcakes, strawberry lemonade cupcakes or lemon poppy seed cupcakes.
• Carrot Cakes: Spread it on a spiced carrot cake or in this carrot bread for a citrusy twist on the traditional cream cheese frosting.
• Thumbprint Cookies: Fill thumbprint cookies with a dollop of this frosting instead of jam for a zesty surprise.
• Fruit Tarts: Use it as a filling for a pre-baked tart shell topped with fresh berries like this French strawberry tart or mixed summer fruits.
• Pound Cake: Drizzle or spread over a classic lemon bundt cake or on top of cinnamon rolls or other lemon rolls for a lemony lift.
• Cheesecake: Swirl it on top of a cheesecake before chilling, or use it as a decadent topping after baking.

Storage instructions

In the fridge: Cover the whipped cream cheese frosting with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing: The frosting does not keep well in the freezer unless it is already used as a layer in a cake or as a topping on cupcakes.

Recipe Questions

Can I make lemon cream cheese frosting without lemon curd?

Yes, you can make it without lemon curd by substituting fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon juice to taste. This will give you a fresh and zesty flavor.

How can I add more lemon flavor to the frosting?

For an extra lemony kick, add more lemon zest or a small amount of lemon extract to taste. Be careful not to make it too liquidy if using more lemon juice.

Can I color lemon cream cheese icing?

Absolutely! Although the lemon gives it a pale yellow color, you can add yellow food coloring to achieve any desired shade, perfect for themed parties or special occasions.

More Frosting Recipes

I hope you love this whipped lemon 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!

Print