This easy cream cheese frosting is the perfect dessert topping for everything from chocolate cake, carrot cake, cupcakes, brownies, bars, tarts, and more!
PREP TIME 10 minutesminutes
TOTAL TIME 10 minutesminutes
YIELD 1Frosting for 12 cupcakes or one 9 x 13 sheet cake
Ingredients
1(8 oz) brick of cream cheeseat room temperature
8tablespoons(1 stick) salted buttersoftened
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1 3/4cupspowdered sugar
Instructions
Add the cream cheese and butter to the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until they are combined and smooth. Pause to scrape the sides of the bowl a couple times as it mixes.
Add the vanilla to the mixing bowl and blend it in on medium speed.
Add the powdered sugar to the mixer. Blend on low speed until most of the dry powder has been incorporated.
Scrape the sides of the bowl and then mix on medium-high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 4 - 5 minutes.
Recipe Notes
A Note About Salt:Our family loves sweet-salty treats. I sometimes add a small pinch of Kosher salt to the cream cheese frosting to enhance that flavor.Storage:The frosting should be refrigerated once your dessert has been decorated. Make-Ahead Tips:You can make the frosting ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let the container come to room temperature and stir it with a spatula to fluff it up a bit before using to decorate.