Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting – Barefeet in the Kitchen

You and I both know that frosting isn’t just some creamy decoration. This Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting might sit on top, but it improves the whole experience. Smooth without being too sweet, rich without becoming heavy, this tangy topping is everything you want. And, you can whip up a batch of it in less than ten minutes!

Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

Have you ever tried a frosting that didn’t spread easily? It reminds me of the long ago, back before I knew how easy it was to make frosting at home. Cracking open a plastic can of storebought frosting that seemed more like paste. Too dense. Too dry. Oof, thanks brain. Let’s forget that one again.

Fluffy cream cheese frosting is a different experience entirely. It’s lighter and silkier, but still has plenty of structure to stand up proudly above your cake. Just don’t skip bringing the butter and cream cheese up to room temperature so they’re easier to spread. And, that splash of heavy cream? That’s the trick that makes this frosting super fluffy.

Cream Cheese Frosting

I know that there are a lot more complicated frosting recipes out there. But, my family adores this fluffy cream cheese frosting. We’re not even apologetic about it. It reminds me of the homestyle toppings that my grandma spread on her baked goods long before social media perfection was ever a thing.

It’s super easy to throw together, even on short notice. And, the flavors are perfect. That first spoonful (just to test!) never fails to make me question why it’s been so long since I made it. The tang of cream cheese is subtle but lingers. And, because it’s less sweet than traditional frosting, it doesn’t overpower the dessert beneath it. It amplifies those flavors.

Best Cream Cheese Frosting

I don’t use the word best lightly. But, I am absolutely going to use it, here. This one absolutely rocks. If you make it, you’ll see what I’m talking about. I used it to frost this eggless spice cake, and the results were incredible.

If you want to experiment with adding a hint of flavor to this frosting, you could add a touch of lemon zest to give it some brightness. And, if you brown the butter (and cool it back down to the right temperature), you’ll get those wonderful rich, almost caramel notes.

Does Cream Cheese Frosting Need to Be Refrigerated?

This is a question that comes up more often than you’d expect. So, what I will tell you is that there are two answers. The right answer is that cream cheese is perishable, and so you should refrigerate anything you top with this fluffy cream cheese frosting.

That answer leaves us with two options, really. You can frost it ahead of time and then set it out for an hour to come back up to room temp. Or, you can make the rest of the dessert ahead of time, and just frost it when you’re ready to serve.

The other answer acknowledges that there are a lot of people who are alive and well today who ate the leftover cake or pumpkin roll that sat out overnight with cream cheese frosting. I’ll let you decide which answer is right for you!

Homemade Frostings

Any time I make a new recipe for frosting, I am giddy with the chance to tell you about all the other homemade frosting options you can try.

We take our coffee (and our frostings!) seriously around here. And, fluffy coffee frosting is a coffee lover’s dream come true. It’s perfect for chocolate cake, coffee cake, vanilla cupcakes, or you can even sandwich it between your favorite cookies.

Rich and buttery sweet caramel sauce (with just a hint of salt) makes for a silky smooth salted caramel frosting. Drizzled with just a bit of the extra salted caramel sauce, this one sates even the fiercest cravings from my sweet tooth.

Peanut butter frosting is so fluffy, easy, and delicious that you will find yourself topping everything with it. And, this whipped cream frosting is so light and airy that you’ll eat the leftovers straight from the bowl, or just put it on berries for breakfast.