Easy Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

This cream cheese frosting recipe is an all time favorite – I love that tangy and sweet topping on red velvet and chocolate cupcakes. My easy cream cheese buttercream frosting is as tasty, if not more, than store or bakery-bought!

I’ve broken down this recipe into just a few steps and use only 4 ingredients. It’s so creamy and can take additions like color and flavor well, so be sure to add it to your recipe box.

RELATED READING: Easy Marshmallow Frosting Recipe (Delicious and Decadent)

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, we love to roll up our sleeves and get to baking our favorite desserts in the kitchen. I’m well-known for my extensive original cupcake recipes and popular vanilla cupcake recipe base (so easy, the kids can make it on their own).

This week, I am sharing my much-loved cream cheese frosting recipe. Is it ground-breaking? No. Is it a must-have for your recipe box? Yes.

If you need to grab a few supplies before you can make this recipe, bookmark this page to make it easy to find when you are ready. A quick share to Facebook or a save to a recipes pin board really helps out this site, as well.

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RELATED READING: Decadent Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Tips For Making Cream Cheese Frosting

• Take the butter and cream cheese out of the fridge a couple hours before you are ready to start baking. This allows them to come to room temperature.
• You can use the microwave if you forget to take the butter and cream cheese out of the fridge. Put each in its own bowl and microwave at about 40% power for 15-20 seconds; check each before microwaving again. Glow slow and be sure not to melt them or the frosting will break.
• We believe that each ingredient plays an integral part in a recipe. Choosing the right brand gives you the flavor you need for the best outcome. We love to use unsalted Kerrygold butter from Ireland. Its milk has a higher fat content and this leads to an incredible flavor.
• Typically, cream cheese here in the US has a fat percentage between 35%-55%. If you have the choice, grab a package with the higher fat content to lend a creamier texture to your frosting.

Ingredients For Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

Below are the ingredients to make our easy cream cheese frosting recipe. Before you head to the store for ingredients, check the pantry and fridge to see what you have on hand. Read the tips section above for information on the best butter to use for this recipe.

• Cream cheese softened to room temperature
• Unsalted butter, softened (can use sweet cream butter)
• Powdered Sugar (sift or make sure clumps are gone)
• Vanilla Extract
• Vanilla Cupcakes or Red Velvet Cupcakes

How To Make Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

Each step for this frosting recipe is listed below to make it easy to follow. Keep this page open while you are creating your cream cheese buttercream frosting. If you would rather have a printable recipe, scroll down and select the print button.

Place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla into a mixing bowl used for a stand mixer.

Using a paddle attachment, beat the ingredients for about 2 minutes on high or until light in color and fluffy.

Gradually add in the powdered sugar. Continue to beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until it is smooth and forms small, stiff peaks.

Once the frosting is the consistency you like, spoon the frosting into a piping bag and begin to frost your cupcakes.

Notes For This Easy Buttercream Frosting

• When decorating cakes and cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, we recommend using a large piping tip for cupcakes and a jumbo tip for your cakes. You can find these at any craft or grocery store.
• How do you know when your frosting is the right consistency for piping? You are looking for a frosting that is smooth and forms small, stiff peaks when you lift the beaters from the bowl.
• If you want the silkiest frosting, you can substitute ultra-fine baker’s sugar for the powdered sugar.
• You can prepare this frosting in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Make a stiff frosting without additional sugar by adding 1 tablespoon of corn starch and blend in well. You can use a small bit more, but taste before adding.

More Frosting And Cupcake Recipes

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting: One of my husband’s favorite flavor combinations is chocolate and peanut butter and we’ve perfected it.
• Easy and Delicious Twix Cupcake Recipe: Twix candy bars are a fan favorite and these cupcakes are going to blow your mind!
• Butter Rum Cupcakes Recipe with a Surprise: This cupcake recipe is one of the tastiest you will ever make. They are mouth-watering.

Please Save or Share this Popular Frosting Recipe

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