Great news: I have found the world’s most perfect frosting recipe, and the search is over. Get ready to print this, memorize it, and tattoo it on the inside of your arm. I have personal plans to do all three. The world’s most perfect frosting falls at the intersection of cream cheese frosting and whipped cream. The cream cheese stabilizes the whipped cream frosting, making it just firm enough to be pipe-able and so deliciously creamy and rich. And the tang of cream cheese is just something we absolutely love. We really shouldn’t relegate cream cheese frosting to Easter only. Yes, we can’t get enough of it on carrot cake cupcakes, and if we use a bit of brown sugar in hummingbird cupcakes, it becomes something different but still delicious.
How to make Whipped Cream Frosting with Cream Cheese
The most important thing when making whipped cream cheese frosting is understanding how much temperature of ingredients matters. The cream cheese needs to be softened just to room temperature, and the heavy cream needs to stay super cold. To soften cream cheese, I open the package, slice it into 8 pieces and let it rest at room temperature for a few hours. Do not use whipped cream cheese in place of the brick of cream cheese. Here is a great article on the differences between regular cream cheese and whipped cream cheese in baking. You might scan the ingredient list and wonder if I’m forgetting anything. Yes, this really is a frosting recipe without butter! Just in case you don’t have any butter in your house, you can still have frosting that is better than a bakery! If you’re short on ingredients, check out all of my frosting recipes here on this site.
The Ingredients
Cream Cheese. One 8-ounce package of cream cheese. Open the package, and slice it into 8 or so pieces, and then let it rest at room temperature until fully softened. Powdered Sugar. Just one cup. It seems like a small amount compared to the amount of frosting this recipe makes, but I promise it’s just the right amount of sweetness. Vanilla. Real vanilla extract is the best flavor enhancer. Salt. Just the smallest pinch to balance the flavors. Heavy Cream. One and a half cups of full-fat heavy whipping cream. No substitutes, or the frosting won’t whip up fluffy and pipe-able.
The Directions
- Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on low speed until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and salt and start on LOW so it doesn’t fly out everywhere. Slowly increase the speed and beat until fully incorporated.
- Turn the stand mixer to the highest level it will go, and begin to slowly stream in the heavy whipping cream while it runs. It takes me at least 1-2 minutes to drizzle in all of the cream. I aim to pour it into the bottom of the bowl.
- When all of the cream is in, let it beat a few more minutes, until it starts to thicken up. It will hold lines from the beaters, and it will hold a stiff peak when you lift up the beater. It should have the consistency of mousse (thicker than a pudding), and not be soupy at all. However, do not overheat or it will turn soupy again. Keep an eye on it, and stop when it’s firm, pipeable and holding its own shape. If you’re looking for a chocolate version, don’t miss my Chocolate Whipped Cream as a frosting.
Tips for making Whip Cream Cream Cheese Frosting
Ways to use Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
In the pictures, this frosting is piped onto my eggless chocolate cupcakes. We have used this combinations at so many kids’ birthday parties. It’s lovely for a baby shower or wedding shower on my wedding cake cupcakes. I truly love this on my mini vanilla cake as my own birthday cake of choice. The frosting is sturdy enough to pipe flowers or roses for decoration. If your birthday cake must contain chocolate (I live with people who feel this way), my mini chocolate cake works, too.
How to store Cream Cheese Whipped Cream Frosting
You can absolutely make this whipped cream cream cheese frosting a day or two ahead, and keep it covered in the fridge. Right before you want to use it, you will need to re-whip it with the beater of your stand mixer or just a hand mixer. You might also love my strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe, if you need something pink! Or, my lemon cream cheese frosting is great, too. Make-Ahead: Can be made 1-2 days ahead and kept covered in the fridge. Re-whip before usingCream Cheese: One 8-ounce block of cream cheese, do not use the already whipped cream cheese.Heavy Cream: It must be full-fat heavy whipping cream. No substitutes, or the frosting won’t whip up fluffy and pipe-able.
