Luscious Cream Cheese Buttercream is smooth and spreadable. It holds its shape and can be piped. Perfect for cookies, cupcakes, and cakes.
There are several desserts that simply beg for cream cheese buttercream, such as carrot cake, banana cupcakes, and pumpkin cookies! This frosting will bring your desserts from delicious to outstanding.
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Cream Cheese Buttercream Ingredients
Cream cheese buttercream is made with only five ingredients that are readily available. Once you make your own buttercream, you’ll never want to use the store-bought kind again!
- Butter: We used salted butter in this cream cheese buttercream recipe since we always have it on hand, and it allows us to skip adding the salt separately. If you want to use unsalted butter, be sure to add a pinch of salt to the buttercream. Allow the butter to soften at room temperature for the smoothest buttercream.
- Cream Cheese: Look for a full-fat, high-quality cream cheese for the best results. Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature. Softened cream cheese will give you the smoothest frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Measure out eight cups of powdered sugar (this is about one 2-pound bag) and then sift it after measuring. Sifting the powdered sugar gets the lumps out and makes the buttercream smooth.
- Half-n-Half: We used half-n-half for the liquid in this recipe because we always have it on hand. If you prefer using heavy cream, you may need a little more. Or if you want to use milk, you may need a little less.
- Vanilla: The vanilla extract adds flavor to the buttercream. It also makes it a little creamier in color. Look for pure vanilla extract for the best results.
How To Make Cream Cheese Buttercream
Cream cheese buttercream is easy to make as long as you have a little patience and follow all of the steps. Allow the butter and cream cheese to soften at room temperature, sift the powdered sugar, and add the powdered sugar a little at a time.
Sift the Powered Sugar: Once you’ve measured out 8 cups of powdered sugar, it needs to be sifted. You can use a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl or a sifter. If you find small clumps of powdered sugar left in the sieve, use your fingers or the back of a spoon to press the clumps through the sieve. Set the powdered sugar aside.
Beat the Butter and Cream Cheese: Use a mixer to beat the softened butter and softened cream cheese. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed and continue beating until the mixture is smooth.
Add Powdered Sugar: You’ll need to add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture gradually for the smoothest frosting and to prevent a powdered sugar mess in your kitchen.
Pour in Half-n-Half and Vanilla: After adding about half of the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture, you may notice it getting really thick. Add the half-n-half and the vanilla and stir until combined. Then, continue adding the remaining powdered sugar gradually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, cream cheese buttercream needs to be stored in the refrigerator since it contains both butter and cream cheese. Therefore desserts topped with cream cheese buttercream also need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Cream cheese buttercream has more butter, and on the other hand, cream cheese frosting has more cream cheese. As a result, cream cheese buttercream holds its shape and is pipeable, while cream cheese frosting is looser and spreadable.
Both buttercream and cream cheese frosting are excellent dessert toppings. Cream cheese buttercream is great for a more structured look that will hold its shape, such as frosting on a layer cake or piping on cupcakes. On the other hand, cream cheese frosting is lighter and is perfect for spreading over sheet cakes and bars.
There are several things that could cause your cream cheese buttercream to be runny. First, make sure you use high-quality, full-fat cream cheese and butter that you allow to soften at room temperature but not melt. Second, only add a little half-n-half at a time when needed. Third, you need to measure the powdered sugar BEFORE sifting it to make sure you are using the right amount.
Ways To Use This Frosting
You can use this frosting on cakes, cookies, bars, and cupcakes. It’s also fantastic on graham crackers, and it’s hard to resist sneaking a spoonful every time you open the fridge.
- Pumpkin Cookies: The only thing that makes pumpkin cookies even better is cream cheese frosting!
- Carrot Cake: I’m making my carrot cake recipe for a friend’s wedding cake. Instead of using the light, fluffy frosting as I did in the original recipe, I’m using this cream cheese buttercream.
- Banana Bars: This buttercream recipe would be perfect on these banana bars instead of the maple frosting I used in the original recipe.
More Frosting Recipes To Make
- Homemade Buttercream Frosting is so much better than store-bought!
- Cream Cheese Frosting is thinner than buttercream and very spreadable.
- You can make Powdered Sugar Glaze with only three ingredients!
- Use Glace Icing to decorate cookies or pour it over cakes.
Cream Cheese Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon half-n-half
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Sift the powdered sugar after measuring.
- Beat the butter and cream cheese.
- Gradually add half of the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well before adding more.
- Add the half-n-half and vanilla.
- Continue adding the remaining powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well before adding more. Then, beat until smooth and creamy.
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