Cream cheese frosting is a creamy and slightly tart frosting that goes well with many baked goods. Cream cheese icing is a delicious balance of sweetness and creaminess. It can be used on carrot cake or red velvet cupcakes. This classic frosting is loved around the world for its smooth texture and delicious flavour.
Cream cheese icing is a great alternative to buttercream, which can be overly sweet, and light whipped toppings. Its signature tang gives it depth and complexity, and makes it the ideal complement for spiced, fruity or dense baked goods. The icing is also very easy to prepare, as it only requires a few ingredients and a couple of minutes of mixing.
Cream cheese icing stands out from the rest
Cream cheese icing is appealing because of its versatility and taste profile. The cream cheese’s natural tang balances out the sweetness of the icing, which prevents the frosting from becoming too sweet. The frosting’s spreadable, soft texture is perfect for rustic or refined presentations. You can use a butterknife to spread it on a cake or pipe swirls onto cupcakes.
It also keeps well in the refrigerator, so it’s a great choice for desserts you need to store ahead of time. You can customize it in so many ways. Add lemon zest to add citrus notes, cinnamon to warm up the dish, or vanilla extract for sweetness.
Basic Cream Cheese Icing recipe
It is easy to make and only requires a few basic ingredients.
- Cream Cheese (225g/8oz): Block-style full-fat cream cheese is best. Spreadable cream cheese or whipped cream can make frosting too runny or soft.
- Unsalted Butter (115g/1/2 cup): Softened butter is best for a smooth mixture.
- Powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ or icing sugar) (2 to 3 cups). You can adjust the amount depending on how sweet and thick you want it to be.
- Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Adds depth to the flavour.
The Method: Step by Step Instructions
- Soften ingredients: Let the butter and cream cheese soften for 30 minutes at room temperature. This will ensure that they mix together without any lumps.
- Cream cheese and butter: Use an electric mixer, or stand mixer, to whip the butter in a bowl until it is light and fluffy. (About 1-2 minutes). Add the cream cheese, and continue beating until it is fully combined. As needed, scrape the sides of your bowl.
- Add Vanilla: Mix the vanilla extract until it is evenly distributed.
- Add the icing: Gradually, add the icing, one cup at time, and beat well after each addition. Add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter or thicker icing. Beat the mixture until it is smooth and fluffy.
- Adjust consistency: Add a teaspoon or cream if the icing becomes too thick. If the icing is too thin, you can add more icing until you reach your desired texture.
Perfect Cream Cheese Icing Tips
- Use the full-fat version of cream cheese: The low-fat versions are softer and can be difficult to pipe.
- Don’t overmix: After all ingredients have been combined, do not overbeat the frosting. Overmixing can make it too soft, or even split.
- Chill as needed: Place your icing in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes if it is too soft to pipe or spread.
- Sift icing-sugar: If you don’t have an electric mixer and want to avoid lumps, sifting can help.
Different Flavour Enhancements and Variations
The cream cheese icing can be adapted in many ways. You can customize it in a number of ways.
- Lemon Cream cheese Icing: Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and juice to give it a zesty touch that goes well with vanilla or blueberry cake.
- Chocolate Cream cheese Icing: Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa to create a rich and tangy version of chocolate icing perfect for brownies or devil’s-food cake.
- Cinnamon Spiced Icing : Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder for a comforting, warm flavour that is perfect for apple cakes or pumpkin cupcakes.
- Maple Cream Cheese Icing : Replace part of the vanilla extract with 1-2 teaspoons of maple syrup to give your dessert a sweet autumnal touch.
Cream cheese icing: Uses and Benefits
The classic cream cheese icing can be used for:
- Carrot Cake – Possibly the most iconic combination, the tangy icing cuts through the sweetness and spices of the cake.
- Red Velvet Cake or Cupcakes- The cream cheese icing is a rich, smooth contrast to the dense cake with its cocoa flavour.
- Banana Bread or Muffins- A swirl of cream-cheese icing transforms banana bread into an entire dessert.
- Cinnamon Rolls – Cream cheese icing melts over warm rolls to create a delicious breakfast treat.
- Cookies & Bars – Spread it on blondies or between cookies.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store cream cheese icing in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep for up to five days. Allow it to reach room temperature before using and then beat it for a few seconds to restore the smooth texture.
It is possible to freeze cream cheese frosting for up 2 months. It can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. Then, rewhip it to make it fluffy before spreading.
Final Thoughts
The cream cheese frosting is a classic that can be used to add a touch of luxury to baked goods. It is easy to make and has a smooth, tangy taste that makes it popular among dessert lovers and home bakers. Cream cheese icing is the perfect combination of sweetness and tanginess. It can be used to decorate a cake layer, piped onto cupcakes or added to breakfast pastries. You’ll have endless uses for this recipe once you master it.