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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Dessert

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    Published: May 25, 2021 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    If you need a great Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting, then this will be your go-to. It is my Grandma’s recipe and I use it on my Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Bars and Banana Bars. Just 4 simple ingredients – cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar, blend together in a couple minutes and it is ready to use!

    a pan of bars frosted with cream cheese icing
    Table of Contents hide
    1 Using This Recipe
    2 Ingredients
    3 Softening Butter and Cream Cheese
    4 How to Make Cream Cheese Buttercream
    5 Serving
    6 Related Recipes
    7 Did you make this recipe?!
    8 Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    Using This Recipe

    This is enough Cream Cheese Buttercream to generously frost a 9×13 pan of bars or cake, or 24 + cupcakes.

    However if you are going to make a double or triple layer cake I recommend that you double the frosting recipe.

    Ingredients

    Just simple ingredients here:

    powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla

    Cream Cheese and Butter – you want both of these to be VERY Soft, to the middle, so they will blend very creamy and not have any lumps.

    Powdered Sugar – I recommend sifting your powdered sugar before adding it to the icing. It can tend to have lumps and little clumps, which will result in lumpy frosting.

    Softening Butter and Cream Cheese

    To get really smooth cream cheese icing it is crucial that the butter and cream cheese are softened all the way to the middle!

    Cream cheese will soften pretty quickly at room temperature, maybe about 3 hours.

    However butter will take a little longer. I like to leave my butter at room temp overnight to make sure it is soft to the core.

    There are a lot of “hacks” out there to soften butter, but I have not found one that actually works! If you know of one that works every time, please put it in the comments below.

    How to Make Cream Cheese Buttercream

    Start by measuring your powdered sugar and then sifting it through a fine mesh sieve.

    In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment add the softened cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla and half the powdered sugar.

    cream cheese icing on a beater of a stand mixer

    Turn the mixer on low and increase to medium-low speed as it mixes together.

    Slowly add the rest of the powdered sugar.

    Once it is all incorporated and smooth it is ready to use!

    Serving

    Use this amazing frosting on any recipe that calls for a cream cheese frosting:

    • Carrot Cake
    • Pumpkin Bars
    • Banana Bars
    • Red Velvet Cake
    • Pumpkin Cookies
    • Really anything pumpkin!!!!

    Related Recipes

    • Butter Rum Sauce
    • Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
    • Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Grandma’s Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    cream cheese buttercream in a bowl with a paddle attachment for a stand mixer

    Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

    My Grandma's 4 ingredient recipe for Cream Cheese Buttercream is a perfectly balanced and creamy frosting for bars, cakes & cookies.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Calories: 3235kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment (or hand held mixer)

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz cream cheese full fat – softened completely
    • ½ cup salted butter softened completely
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) sifted
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    • With a fine mesh sieve over a bowl measure out the powdered sugar and then sift, making sure to sift out any clumps.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or you can use a hand held mixer, add the softened cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla and half of the sifted powdered sugar.
    • Start with the mixer on low so you don't get a face full of powdered sugar. Once the ingredients start to mix turn the mixer up a notch or two.
    • Slowly add the rest of the powdered sugar.
    • Once it is all mixed and nice and smooth it is ready to use!

    Using

    • This will be enough cream cheese buttercream to ice a 9×13 pan of bars or cake, or 24+ cupcakes very generously.

    Storing

    • You can keep leftover cream cheese buttercream frosting in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
    • To use let it sit at room temp for about 20-30 minutes so it will soften a little before spreading.

    Freezing

    • You can freeze your cream cheese icing for up to 3 months.
    • To use thaw in the fridge overnight and then let it sit at room temp for 20-30 minutes before spreading.
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1recipe | Calories: 3235kcal | Carbohydrates: 429g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 170g | Saturated Fat: 102g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 494mg | Sodium: 1547mg | Potassium: 355mg | Sugar: 419g | Vitamin A: 5882IU | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 1mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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