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Cream Cheese Frosting

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If you love Cream Cheese Frosting, give this one a try! Cream Cheese Frosting for cinnamon rolls or cupcakes. Simple, delicious and a favorite of ours!

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

 

“Best. Ever. This will be my go-to recipe from here on out.” – Rachel R. 

 

One of my greatest weaknesses and biggest pet peeves is junk frosting on cinnamon rolls.

I know that that many people prefer a a runny powdered sugar concoction they call “icing” for cinnamon rolls, but not me.

When it comes to cinnamon rolls I want a really good FLAVORFUL cream cheese frosting.

Over the years I have tried a LOT of “Cream Cheese Frosting” Recipes.

Sadly they all tasted more like sugar than cream cheese and I always felt the amount of cream cheese called for was far too little.

 

Banana Cupcakes - landscape photo of hand holding a cupcake close up to camera lens.

 

It’s moments like this that lead me to begin a recipe creation.

Now Cream Cheese Frosting is simple.

It’s a matter of 4 ingredients.

Cream Cheese.

Butter.

Powdered Sugar.

Vanilla.

Now you can always add in an extra one to thin it out if it’s too thick and I prefer heavy whipping cream personally.

With a recipe with so few ingredients it wasn’t hard to test out various amounts of ingredients in order to get the perfect flavor.

 

Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

 

And for me it was simply MORE CREAM CHEESE.

I add in an entire package of cream cheese – all 8 ounces.

I always hated in other recipes where it only calls for a few ounces of cream cheese and I’m stuck with half a package sitting in my fridge collecting dust.

Adding in all 8 ounces was a win-win in my opinion.

So once I perfected my recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls – which is TO DIE FOR, then it was time to figure out a cupcake cream cheese frosting.

 

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

Back to the drawing table.  I tried multiple recipes again and various manipulations and eventually came right back to my favorite.

I learned that cream cheese frosting in general, created by anyone…just isn’t very shelf stable unless you add in a TON of crisco.

YUCK!

Who wants Crisco cream cheese frosting.

I mean besides the grocery store bakery.

Yes it does make it much more stable but it also makes it taste disgusting.

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies - close up of finished cookie with banana slice on it.

 

Hardly the Cream Cheese Frosting flavor I am looking for!

And so I fell back on my old favorite – my cinnamon roll cream cheese frosting.

And instead of adding the milk, I left it a bit thicker and BAM, it was perfect.

It does pipe and it does taste great but it is a little more finicky than other frostings.

One trick that works well for me is that after I make the frosting (when I’m doing it for cupcakes) I put my frosting in the fridge for 30 minutes before piping it onto my cupcakes.

 

Banana Bars

 

This helps it so it’s more firm and easier to pipe.

Overall this is THE BEST FROSTING EVER.

I’ve had countless comments left on social media and this website raving about it and I’m so glad everyone else agrees that this is SO DANG TASTY!

If you love Cream Cheese Frosting as much as I do, then give this one a try!

It really is perfect for cinnamon rolls, banana bars, cupcakes, sheet cakes and so much more!

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting - Large pile of cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream (or milk) - IF using for cinnamon rolls. If using for cupcakes, do NOT add as you want a stiffer frosting.

Instructions

In a bowl cream together cream cheese & butter.
Add vanilla and confectioners sugar.
Blend until smooth.
If using for cupcakes stop here and frost cupcakes.
If using for cinnamon rolls, add heavy whipping cream and blend well. Spread over cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.

Notes

This should make enough for 12 normal sized cinnamon rolls or cupcakes.

 

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Lisa Aguilera

Friday 5th of October 2018

Thank you so much for your absolutely delicious recipe this is the recipe I would be using from now on it was a hit thank you again. ❤️

Janelle

Saturday 2nd of March 2019

Lisa, I am so glad this was such a success! I love this frosting recipe also! Hope you check out more recipes on Num's the Word!

Stefie

Saturday 22nd of September 2018

Super good cream cheese frosting! Me lovin' it :) Thank you!

Janelle

Sunday 3rd of March 2019

Stefie, I love this cream cheese frosting recipe! So happy that you love it too! Thanks for your comment and hope you check out more recipes on Num's the Word!

Kristen

Friday 14th of September 2018

Thank you for the recipe! I made this to go on cinnamon rolls. My cream cheese was a smidge short of a full package. I used 4 tsp of buttermilk (too lazy to wash my tablespoon), my rolls were sweet so I lessened the sugar to 1 1/2 cups, all other ingredients the same - thick and yummy!

Janelle

Tuesday 5th of March 2019

Kristen, so happy that this turned out for you! I love this frosting on cinnamon rolls! Thanks for your comment! Enjoy!

Ginny C

Saturday 2nd of July 2016

Sounds wonderful!!!

Janelle

Sunday 3rd of July 2016

Thanks Ginny! It's a must have for any cinnamon roll or cinnamon roll bread!

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