The Best Cream Cheese Frosting

If you are looking for a delicious homemade cream cheese frosting, try this easy cream cheese frosting recipe. It is the best cream cheese frosting you have ever tasted! 

Let the record show that I absolutely love this homemade chocolate frosting. It is the easiest and best chocolate frosting I have ever tasted. I promise! Once you make it, you will never go back to store bought again. I’ve been known to eat it (ahem) by the spoonful. And until this cream cheese frosting…nothing quite compared.

But this? I am boldly proclaiming this the best cream cheese frosting you will ever taste. 

I was on a quest to find the perfect cream cheese frosting recipe when I baked these mini chocolate bundt cakes copycat recipe. The chocolate bundt cake is an amazing Nothing Bundt Cake copycat recipe, if I may say so myself. If you know anything about Nothing Bundt cakes, you know they are generously frosted with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. Mastering the copycat cakes led me on a search for the Nothing Bundt cake icing recipe. That’s how I developed this one. This cream cheese icing one tastes just like their signature cream cheese frosting. 

All you need to do is make the icing and use a pastry bag to make thick frosting lines on top of the cake and down the sides of the cake to make it look like – and taste – just like the real thing. Then you will have homemade cakes and icing that taste just like the popular nothing bundt cakes! 

This is a basic cream cheese frosting everyone should have in their recipe box. 

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What is cream cheese icing made of? 

Basic cream cheese frosting is typically made from cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar. This cream cheese icing recipe is made from 4 simple ingredients – cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. I typically use salted butter but some prefer to use unsalted butter. Whatever butter you have on hand will work. This frosting isn’t picky. 

How do you make cream cheese frosting from scratch?

Making homemade cream cheese frosting is so simple! Soften some cream cheese and beat with softened butter. This really is the trick right here. You need truly softened ingredients for the fluffiest cream cheese frosting! Add a touch of vanilla and blend in powdered sugar. Before you know it, you have the best cream cheese frosting you have ever tasted! And yes, it was made with only 4 common kitchen ingredients that you probably have in your fridge and pantry right now.

Do you need to refrigerate cream cheese icing?

This is a tricky one, because you typically don’t refrigerate cake but you do refrigerate cream cheese. What happens when you frost a cake with cream cheese frosting? I still debate on this one myself. After a bit of research, I found out the general rule is if you are serving the cake within a couple of hours, you can leave it out on the counter. 

Most food experts say not to leave cream cheese frosting out for longer than two hours before refrigerating. If your house gets hot or you bake something with cream cheese frosting in the summer, you will want to refrigerate the cake until you are ready to serve.

Can you freeze homemade cream cheese frosting?

Are you ready for this? It’s a game changer because YES, you can freeze cream cheese frosting! To freeze, simply put the frosting in an airtight container and freeze. When you ready to use your icing, let it thaw in the fridge for a day or until the frosting is all the way softened. It might separate a tiny bit after thawing. Simply use a spoon and stir it together again before frosting.

This is a handy tip if you have extra cream cheese frosting and want to save it for another occasion! Your thawed cream cheese frosting will taste just as delicious as it did before frozen. If, by chance, you find it is too runny after thawing, stir in just a tablespoon or two more of powdered sugar to quickly stiffen it up again.

What can you frost with cream cheese frosting?

Cream cheese frosting is a great frosting choice for anything spiced. This is a great cream cheese frosting for carrot cake. It is the best cream cheese frosting for pumpkin cupcakes. It is a great cream cheese frosting for any homemade cake you want to decorate. It is even a good cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls. And hands down, it is the best cream cheese frosting for any bundt cake recipe, like with these delicious bundt cakes. Red velvet cake, chocolate cake, lemon bundt cake or white chocolate raspberry bundt cake are my favorite flavors that pair with this icing. You really can’t go wrong when choosing to frost something with cream cheese frosting!

Before I jump to the recipe, here is one more important tip.

Make sure to soften your cream cheese and butter on the counter for several (2-3) hours before making your frosting. If you make it with cold butter or cold cream cheese, you will end up with lumps in your frosting. Sometimes I try to hurry the process and microwave ingredients to soften them. Don’t microwave your butter or cream cheese for this recipe! It will change the consistency. Your goal is room temperature, softened cream cheese and butter, that indents slightly when you press it with your finger.

Once your cream cheese and butter are softened, you are ready to make your nothing bundt cake icing!

I hope you love this amazing cream cheese frosting as much as I do. It’s delicious on cakes, cupcakes or anything really. A good cream cheese icing is amazing, and I’m so happy I have this easy recipe now.

Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 1/2 – 4 cups powdered sugar

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting:

Soften cream cheese and butter on the counter for 2 hours, or until ingredients are soft to the touch.

In a stand mixer, cream the cream cheese on medium speed until it is all soft.

Add the butter and beat with cream cheese until combined. Add vanilla.

Add powdered sugar, 1/2 a cup at a time, beating on low speed until thoroughly combined. Check the consistency at 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar. Add more powdered sugar (4 cups total) if you want a thicker frosting.

Enjoy your delicious cream cheese frosting! Use a knife to spread the frosting or a piping bag with large piping tip to pipe the frosting on your dessert of choice.

Additional Notes:

Cream cheese frosting should be stored in the refrigerate until ready to serve.

This nothing bundt cake icing recipe makes enough icing to frost 24 cupcakes, 18 mini bundt cakes, or an 8 inch double layer cake. If you are making a layered cake, you may want to make a recipe and a half, or double the recipe, to make sure you have enough for a generous layer of cream cheese frosting. Happy baking! 

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