Cream cheese frosting is a delicious topping for cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods. It has a sweet, creamy, tangy flavor that pairs well with a variety of desserts. However, basic cream cheese frosting can sometimes taste bland or artificial. Fortunately, there are several ways to enhance the flavor of cream cheese frosting and make it taste fresh and flavorful.
Use High Quality Ingredients
The two key ingredients for great tasting cream cheese frosting are cream cheese and butter. Be sure to use full fat cream cheese, not reduced fat or fat-free varieties. Philadelphia brand cream cheese is a top choice for frosting because of its smooth, creamy texture. Similarly, use high quality butter with a rich taste. Unsalted butter allows you to control the saltiness of the frosting. Avoid vegetable oil spreads instead of butter.
You’ll also want to use pure vanilla extract, not artificial vanilla flavoring. Pure vanilla offers a more robust, aromatic vanilla taste. Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract is a premium choice. In addition to quality ingredients, be sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature when making the frosting. This prevents the need to microwave or melt the frosting, which can cause it to break down or become greasy.
Add More Vanilla
Vanilla is a key player when it comes to the taste of cream cheese frosting. Most recipes call for 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract per batch of frosting. For deeper vanilla flavor, try using 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla instead. You can also use vanilla bean paste, which contains vanilla beans seeds for extra vanilla taste. Just swap the same quantity of vanilla bean paste for the vanilla extract.
In addition to more vanilla, you can heighten the vanilla flavor by pairing vanilla extract with vanilla sugar. To make your own vanilla sugar, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar with the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean sealed in an airtight container for 1 week. The natural vanilla flavor will infuse into the sugar. Use this vanilla sugar when mixing up cream cheese frosting.
Boost Tanginess with Citrus
Cream cheese has a nice, tangy quality. You can really play this up in the frosting by adding some citrus flavors. Lemon, orange, and lime juice all work well for creating a bright, tangy flavor. Add around 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed citrus juice per batch of cream cheese frosting.
Citrus zest can also provide tanginess without making the frosting wet or runny. Try adding 1-2 teaspoons of finely grated lemon, orange, or lime zest.
Use Cream Cheese at Different Temperatures
The temperature of the cream cheese has a big impact on the taste and consistency of frosting. Using cream cheese at different temperatures can enhance creaminess and provide a more pronounced cheese flavor.
Beat one 8-ounce block of room temperature cream cheese until smooth. Then add another 8-ounce block of cold cream cheese from the refrigerator and beat the two together. The difference in textures makes the frosting lighter, yet with a distinct cream cheese tang.
You can also try beating in slices of frozen cream cheese along with room temperature cream cheese. The frozen cream cheese incorporates air into the frosting for increased volume.
Include Cream Cheese Varieties
Plain cream cheese works great in frosting, but you can also mix in other cream cheese flavors. Adding a little honey or chive and onion cream cheese can take the flavor up a notch. About 1/4 cup should do the trick.
Whipped cream cheese blends into frosting easily for a light and fluffy texture. For more decadence, incorporate double or triple cream cream cheese. Just take care not to make the frosting too soft.
Add Spices
Spices are an easy way to spice up cream cheese frosting. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom add warmth and pizazz. Start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground spice per batch of frosting. Taste and add more as desired.
Pumpkin pie spice blends nicely with cream cheese. Add around 1/2 teaspoon per batch of frosting, or enough to achieve the pumpkin pie flavor you crave.
Use Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs provide a subtle flavor enhancement to cream cheese frosting. Choices like mint, basil, parsley, and chives infuse the frosting with herbal nuance. Use about 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh herbs per batch of frosting.
Lemon thyme, oregano, and rosemary bring more dimension to the traditional cream cheese frosting recipe. Just use a light hand, around 1/2 to 1 tablespoon, as they can be strong flavors.
Add Espresso Powder
A touch of espresso powder gives cream cheese frosting and addicting mocha twist. The coffee flavor comes through without making it taste like a cup of joe. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of espresso powder and taste as you go until it reaches the depth of flavor you want.
To make the espresso cream cheese frosting, dissolve the espresso powder in a teaspoon of hot water before mixing it into the frosting base. This helps prevent espresso clumps.
Swirl in Chocolate
Rich chocolate and creamy cream cheese is a match made in heaven. For chocolate cream cheese frosting, mix in melted chocolate to taste. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate works best. Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly before blending it into the frosting.
Another option is to swirl chocolate ganache into the finished cream cheese frosting. For the ganache, heat equal parts heavy cream and chopped chocolate, then let cool slightly before swirling it in. This leaves delicious streaks of chocolate.’
Include Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder allows you to add chocolate flavoring without making the frosting runny. Start with 2 to 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder for a milk chocolate taste. Mix in up to 1/4 cup for a deeper, dark chocolate flavor.
Be sure to use quality, natural cocoa powder, not the hot chocolate mix that contains powdered milk and sugar. Sift the cocoa powder first to remove lumps. You can boost the chocolate intensity by using black cocoa powder.
Incorporate Coffee
The flavor combination of coffee and cream cheese is hard to beat. For a mocha frosting, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of very strong brewed coffee. Chilled coffee works best for balance with the creamy cheese.
Instant espresso powder or coffee extract also infuse a lovely mocha flavor. For a hint of coffee taste, try adding a tablespoon of Kahlua or other coffee liqueur.
Add Caramel
Buttery caramel melds perfectly with tangy cream cheese. Swirl caramel sauce into finished cream cheese frosting using a spoon or spatula. Homemade or store-bought caramel sauce both work well. Dulce de leche caramel sauce has a particularly good flavor.
You can also add about 1/4 cup of caramel baking bits to the cream cheese as you mix it to create caramel ripples throughout the frosting.
Include Nutty Flavor
Nuts provide great texture and flavor in cream cheese frosting. Try adding 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, or macadamia nuts. Toast the nuts first for more crunch and nutty intensity.
Nut butter is another option for nut flavor. Swirl in peanut butter, almond butter, or any other nut butter for layers of flavor. Nutella works perfectly to make a chocolate hazelnut cream cheese frosting.
You can also use nut liqueurs, like amaretto, hazelnut, or almond extract for nutty flavor without the texture of nuts.
Use Different Types of Sugar
Powdered sugar is standard in cream cheese frosting, but you can also use coconut sugar, brown sugar, or maple sugar. This provides a nice flavor twist. Simply swap out the same quantity of these sugars for the powdered sugar.
Maple syrup or agave nectar add sweetness, while thinning the frosting consistency. For rich caramel flavors, mix in dulce de leche.
Include Powdered Sugar Slowly
Adding the powdered sugar too quickly into the cream cheese can cause the frosting to become heavy and dense. Instead, gradually mix in the powdered sugar in halves. Beat in the first half until combined, then add the other half.
You can also sift the powdered sugar before adding it, which prevents over-mixing and density. Stop mixing once all the sugar has been added. Overbeating causes excess air incorporation, leading to a grainy or hard frosting.
Let the Finished Frosting Sit
Allowing the finished cream cheese frosting to sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature helps improve the taste. This allows time for the ingredients to fully incorporate for balanced flavor. The brief rest also prevents the cream cheese from curdling or becoming crumbly.
For even more pronounced flavors, cover the bowl of finished frosting and refrigerate overnight before using. The chilling time enables the ingredients to meld.
Adjust Consistency with Milk or Cream
Cream cheese frosting should have a smooth, creamy texture that easily spreads over cakes and cupcakes. If your frosting turns out too thick and stiff, thin it by mixing in a splash of milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half. Add a tablespoon at a time until reaching the desired consistency.
Thinning with a little milk also lightens the tangy cream cheese flavor to create a nice balance. Too much liquid, however, can make the frosting runny and compromised.
Add Cornstarch for Stability
Cornstarch helps thicken the frosting consistency for better spreading ability and stability. Mix in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with the powdered sugar before adding to the cream cheese. The cornstarch absorbs excess moisture for a smooth texture.
Make sure the cornstarch fully dissolves into the powdered sugar to avoid clumping. Too much cornstarch can make the frosting dry, so use a light hand.
Whip in Whipped Cream
Lighten dense cream cheese frosting by folding in some whipped cream. Whip 1/2 cup of cold heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Then gently fold it into the finished cream cheese mixture.
The airy whipped cream makes the frosting lighter and fluffier without compromising the cream cheese flavor. Dollop on extra whipped cream for even more moisture and a creamy mouthfeel.
Include Cream
Heavy cream or half-and-half add moisture, smoothness, and richness to cream cheese frosting. For lighter frosting, substitute 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the heavy cream for part of the butter. For more decadence, add a couple tablespoons of cream on top of the normal butter amount.
Cream dilutes the tangy flavor of cream cheese a bit. Avoid replacing too much butter with cream or the frosting can become runny or greasy.
Use Neufchatel Cheese
Neufchatel cheese provides many of cream cheese’s best qualities in a lower fat form. You can replace all or just half of the cream cheese called for in frosting recipes with Neufchatel. It whips up light, creamy, and smooth.
Neufchatel does have a milder flavor than regular cream cheese. Add a pinch of salt to compensate for the reduced tanginess. Light cream cheese is another alternative, though the lower fat can make frosting wet.
Blend in Mascarpone
Mascarpone cheese adds delicious flavor complexity and moisture to cream cheese frosting. Mix in a few tablespoons to a half cup of mascarpone along with the cream cheese. The Italian cheese has a sweet, creamy taste that pairs perfectly with tangy cream cheese.
Since mascarpone is soft, be careful not to make the frosting too thin. Also be mindful that unpasteurized mascarpone can curdle if overmixed.
Use Ricotta Cheese
For a fluffier, lighter texture, try swapping in 2 to 4 tablespoons of ricotta cheese for a portion of the cream cheese. The ricotta cheese boosts creaminess and dilutes the tangy flavor of cream cheese.
Add about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to prevent the ricotta from making the frosting grainy. Whipped ricotta cheese works best for easily incorporating into the frosting.
Finish with Flavorings
Here are some final flavor additions you can mix into the completed cream cheese frosting right before using to really make the flavors pop:
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fruit jam
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Taste test your finished cream cheese frosting and tweak flavors as needed for your preferences. The possibilities are endless for customizing this versatile frosting into something special!
Conclusion
With just cream cheese, butter, and sugar, it’s easy to make basic cream cheese frosting. But you can really amplify the flavors and make it irresistible by using the techniques in this article. Quality ingredients like real cream cheese, butter, and vanilla make a difference you can taste.
Spices, herbs, citrus, chocolate, caramel, coffee, and nuts introduce delicious complexity. Whipping in air lightens the texture beautifully. Letting the frosting rest allows the flavors to meld further. With all these great ways to optimize cream cheese frosting, you may find it hard not to eat it straight from the bowl!
