Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

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This whipped cream cheese frosting is deliciously light, the ideal silky consistency for cake decorating, and so easy to make! I love that it comes together with just four ingredients in about five minutes. It’s a not-too-sweet frosting that’s perfect for anyone who proclaims they are “not a frosting person” – it essentially tastes like whipped cream frosting with subtle notes of cream cheese, which makes the flavor a little more complex. It’s absolutely delicious with my strawberry shortcake sheet cake and berries and cream sheet cake, and I can’t stop thinking of more cake flavors to pair it with (I’ll list a few suggestions below)! 

Why You’ll Love Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting 

• Deliciously light. There isn’t much sugar involved in this frosting, which keeps it super light and just the right amount of sweet. If you’ve had whipped cream frosting before, it essentially tastes like that but with undertones of cream cheese. 
• Quick and easy to make. This frosting comes together with just four ingredients in about 5 minutes, and I love that the dairy in the recipe needs to be cold instead of room temperature. That means you can whip it up on a whim! The only thing that you’ll need to plan ahead is placing your mixing bowl in the refrigerator beforehand. 
• Silky and stable for cake decorating. The cream cheese in the recipe stabilizes the whipped cream frosting and creates a silky smooth consistency that’s ideal for cake decorating. It’s easy to fill and frost cakes with, or pipe onto cupcakes!

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

There are just four ingredients that go into this whipped cream cheese frosting recipe:

• Full-fat brick-style cream cheese. This is the stabilizer for the frosting, providing structure and keeping the frosting from losing its shape or deflating over time. It’s really important to use full-fat brick-style cream cheese frosting for this recipe. Other kinds of cream cheese frosting (like the spreadable kind in tubs or low fat varieties) contain too much water and will not allow the frosting to set up properly. 
• Heavy whipping cream. Beating the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks is what adds volume and 
• Powdered sugar. A little powdered sugar is added for sweetening the frosting and adding structure.
• Pure vanilla extract. To enhance the flavor.

How to Make Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1: Chill the mixing bowl. Pop the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large metal bowl if you’re using a hand mixer) into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes so it’s nice and cold before you start. 

Step 2: Whip the cream cheese. Add the cold cream cheese to the chilled mixing bowl and beat on medium speed with the whisk attachment until it’s creamy and smooth. 

Step 3: Add the powdered sugar. Mix in the powdered sugar until combined. 

Step 4: Add the vanilla and heavy whipping cream. Mix in the vanilla, then turn the mixer to high speed and slowly add the heavy whipping cream in a steady stream. It helps to pour it down the side of the bowl so you don’t have the cream flying everywhere while you’re adding it. 

Step 5: Beat until stiff peaks form. Once all the heavy whipping cream is added, continue beating for about 30 seconds, until your frosting reaches stiff peaks. You can check for this by dipping your whisk attachment or a spatula into the frosting and ensuring that it comes out with a peak that stays even when turned right side up. If the peak flops over, keep beating for another 30 seconds and repeat. 

Step 6: Use the frosting immediately. For best results, use the frosting right away. You can technically store it in the refrigerator ahead of time, but it will soften and deflate slightly. 

Recipe FAQ

• What if I can’t find brick-style cream cheese frosting? It’s really important to use full-fat brick-style cream cheese frosting for this recipe. Other kinds of cream cheese frosting (like the spreadable kind in tubs or low fat varieties) contain too much water and will not allow the frosting to set up properly. The best substitutes for cream cheese will be mascarpone cheese or you can make the whipped cream frosting from my black forest cake which is stabilized with gelatin. 
• Can I substitute the heavy whipping cream with whipping cream or light whipping cream? Since the heavy whipping cream (also known as heavy cream) has 36% milkfat, it provides the most structure for this frosting to set up. I wouldn’t use anything with less milkfat because the consistency will be softer (or may not set up at all). 
• Can I color this frosting? Yes, you can add gel food coloring but refrain from liquid food coloring here. 

• Is whipped cream cheese frosting okay in hot weather? The cream cheese stabilizes the whipped cream frosting so that it’s thick and silky for frosting or piping, and will hold its shape as long as it’s kept chilled. That said, it’s not technically something you’d want to display for hours at an event in hot weather. I recommend keeping any cake/cupcakes you frost with this whipped cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator until you’re close to serving time.  
• How long can a cake/cupcakes with whipped cream cheese frosting be left at room temperature? Up to 2 hours, after which you’ll need to place them in the refrigerator. 
• Can I make this frosting ahead of time? It’s best the day of, so for best results I would whip it up right before you plan on using it. It comes together in minutes with cold ingredients, so it doesn’t take much time. If you need to make it ahead, you can technically store it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator, but it will lose some volume/stability the longer it sits.
• How long can I store a cake with whipped cream cheese frosting? After frosting your cake (or cupcakes), you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Cakes to Pair with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

If you need inspiration on cake and cupcake flavors to pair with whipped cream cheese frosting, here are some of my favorite ideas:

• Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
• Berries & Cream Sheet Cake
• Bakery-Style White Cake
• Berry Chantilly Cake
• Vanilla Cupcakes
• Chocolate Cupcakes
• Lemon Sheet Cake or Lemon Cupcakes 
• Black Forest Cake

I can’t wait to hear what you pair this whipped cream cheese frosting with! Let me know in the comments below (don’t forget to rate the recipe!) and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create!