Please note: This recipe was originally published in April of 2019, but we improved the recipe and photos as of April 2022. We hope you enjoy!
This delicious frosting recipe is so perfect. It's not overly sweet, with a good hint of vanilla, making it perfect for your favorite desserts.
You should also try it on these spooky cute ghost cupcakes, which are essentially spice cake cupcakes, topped with a version of this frosting, made with browned butter.
These blood orange chocolate cupcakes use this recipe + some fresh-squeezed blood orange juice and zest to bring the cupcake all together.
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Made with simple ingredients - You really don't need anything fancy to make this homemade frosting, just a few kitchen and pantry staples you likely already have on hand.
- Just as good as regular cream cheese frosting - You can fool anyone with a sweet tooth with this recipe. This low carb frosting is the perfect topping for any of your favorite desserts.
- The perfect customizable base - As we mentioned before, have fun with this base, add whatever flavor mix-ins you want to make the perfect frosting!
🧁Ingredients
You can find full quantities and nutritional information in the recipe card.
*Please note, the amounts pictured are triple what you will find for the base recipe because we were using it to heavily frost a large cake.
✏️Ingredient notes
- Full fat cream cheese & unsalted butter - Allow to sit out at room temperature for a few hours so they become nice and soft, and easy to mix. The number one issue we run into when making this frosting is when the butter and cream cheese are too cold, lumps are created in the frosting.
- Powdered erythritol - Granulated sweetener just won't work for this keto frosting recipe. The powdered sweetener in place of regular powdered sugar is the best sweetener for the perfect frosting. Our favorite sweetener to use is Swerve confectioners.
- Vanilla extract
- Kosher salt - Just a pinch, to enhance the flavor.
- Heavy cream - Optional, and used to thin the frosting if it is too thick.
📖Instructions
🔪Prep work
Before assembling, you will want to set your cream cheese and butter out on the countertop for a few hours, or even overnight, so it mixes together really easily.
In a large bowl with a hand mixer or a stand mixer, add softened cream cheese and butter. add the softened cream cheese and butter. Mix until fluffy and combined, about 3 minutes.
Sift in the powdered sugar, slowly.
Add in the vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Mix until fully incorporated and there are no lumps. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl to get everything combined.
Pour in heavy cream in a slow stream and combine if the frosting is too thick for your liking.
Use to frost cakes, and enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Room temperature cream cheese and butter are crucial to the success of this recipe.
- If there are lumps of butter and/or cream cheese in the frosting, this probably means that they were still too cold before you began mixing. You can quickly troubleshoot by placing the frosting in a large, microwave-safe bowl, and microwaving on full power for 10-15 second intervals, mixing in between.
- If the frosting is too thick, slowly add in heavy cream, about 1 teaspoon at a time.
- If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sweetener, about 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Make sure to sift in the powdered sweetener to prevent any clumps of powdered sweetener for best results.
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🥣Storage
Save this low carb cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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📖 Recipe
Keto Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces full fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened (½ cup)
- 72 grams powdered erythritol (½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional, and added to thin frosting)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, or in a stand mixer, add the softened cream cheese, and butter. Mix until fluffy and combined, about 3 minutes.
- Mix in the vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Sift in the powdered sugar, slowly. Mix until fully incorporated and there are no lumps. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl to get everything combined.
- If the mixture is too thick, slowly pour in some heavy cream and mix until the frosting is soft.
- Frost cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts with this frosting. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Room temperature butter and cream cheese will yield the best results.
- Slowly add in heavy cream to thin. If the mixture becomes too thin, add in powdered sweetener 1 tablespoon at a time.
- This recipe can be scaled up very easily to make more frosting and frost large cakes.
Nutrition
These nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy and are only estimates. We cannot guarantee the accuracy.
Samantha K says
Light and fluffy, even if you hand whip it with a giant whisk like I did. I like to add in different flavored extracts like maple, cake batter or lemon depending on what I am frosting. Anyone who loves cream cheese needs to try this frosting!
Briana says
That is amazing to hear, and good on you for whisking by hand, I'm impressed! All of these mix-ins sound fantastic!! So glad you enjoy and thanks for letting us know how it went. 🙂