Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese frosting is a creamy cheese based frosting which can be used to frost cakes such as red velvet cakes, carrot cakes and chocolate cakes. It is easy to make and require only a few ingredients. In this recipe I have added a secret ingredient which adds some freshness and uniqueness to the frosting. This ingredient is orange zest.
Carrot Cake covered with Cream Cheese Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
(1) 16 Ounces of Cream Cheese (454 Grams or 2 Packets)
(2) 113 Grams, Unsalted Butter (1/2 Cup)
(3) 460 Grams, Confectioners (Icing) Sugar (4 Cups)
(4) 1-1/2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
(5) The Zest of 1 Medium Sized Orange
Note: The cream cheese and butter should be at room temperature. This is very important or you will end up with a lumpy frosting.
PROCEDURE:
(1) In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the butter and beat until it is creamy, about 2 minutes.
(2) With the mixer running at low speed, add the cream cheese in blocks and beat until incorporated.
Note: Try to keep your mixer at low or medium speed. Cream cheese becomes very thin if over beaten. Your goal here is not to incorporate a lot of air into the batter as you would with butter cream frosting but to make sure the ingredients blend well.
(3) Next, add the confectioners sugar in 1 cup increments, beating after each addition. After the lest addition, crank up the speed a bit and beat just until you achieve a smooth frosting, about 20 seconds. Again, do not over beat or your frosting will be too thin.
Note: Do not add all the sugar at once or it will spread out of the mixing bowl and make a mess.
(4) Finally add the grated orange zest and the vanilla extract and mix just until it is combined.
The frosting is ready to be used on your cakes or desserts. It can also be used to fill fruits.
You can try this recipe out with some Red Velvet Cake. Recipe here.
Spice things up and serve cakes in balloon glasses topped with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot Cake Served in Balloon Glasses and topped with Cream Cheese Frosting and Toasted Walnuts
You can also try out my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and Whipped Cream Frosting.
Cake Covered with Buttercream Frosting and Decorated with Buttercream Flowers
Terry Adido is passionate about showing people how easy it is to recreate restaurant quality meals in the comfort of their kitchens. With a style of cooking he refers to as Afro-European Fusion, his meals are influenced greatly by French and Italian Cuisine with a West African twist. If you love good food, you are in for the ride of your life.
Thanks but I failed woefully at this frosting even though I followed the instructions… I shall try again though.
Sorry to hear that. Remember not to over mix it.
you are just wonderfull 🙂
Thanks Faiza
I love your posts, they are very easy to understand and practice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. God bless you.
You are welcome. Thanks.
Please is there a way to make this cream cheese because I haven’t seen it anywhere here in nigeria. Won’t mind if u know where I can get it in nigeria. Thanks
Though creamcheese can be made at home, I however am not aware of the process.
Can be found in almost all supermarkets in Nigeria. Check shop rite or The Spar
Beautiful creation Terry. Please what is a orange zest?
The outer yellow portion of an orange peel.
dear terry can i use margaring in place of unsalted butter or do a 50-50 ratio of unsalted butter and margarine.
what can one use in place of vanilla extract
Any other flavoring of your choice or just leave it out.
hi terry I need to cover carrot cupcakes with cream cheese with 1m nozzle plz tell how many cupcakes would this amount pipe
Hi. I have no idea.
Merry Christmas!
Nice recipe thanks for sharing, pls do u have any tutorial on how to make buttercream flowers?
Thanks Yemisi. No I do not.
Thanks Terry. Please can I use white margarine instead of unsalted butter?
How long can my cream cheese frosting last at room temperature before going bad?
Does cream cheese frosting melt (at room temperature) on cakes like whipped cream?
I suppose white margarine might work. I would say 5 hours tops. It does not melt. It gets very soft.
You are the best
Thanks Nike.
Hi Terry, thank you for your easy to comprehend recipes. Please aside from the types of cakes mentioned earlier in the post, red velvet cake, carrot Cake, et cetera, can cream cheese frosting be used to frost all types of cakes? Secondly, please are there certain types of frostings best for certain types of cakes, or any type of frosting can be used for any type of Cake, with good results? Thank you.
It depends on your preference. I for one wont use it on a vanilla cake. It can work for chocolate cakes. I tend to stick to buttercream for vanilla and chocolate buttercream for chocolate cakes.