Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter

Perfect for adding onto cupcakes, cakes or cookies, this cream cheese frosting without butter is so delicious that you won’t believe it contains no butter!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

With just a few ingredients, you can make incredibly rich and creamy cream cheese frosting without butter that holds up better on brownies and cookies! Whether you are making something special for this weekend's celebration, or planning ahead for the upcoming holiday season, this no butter cream cheese frosting recipe makes it easier to bake with less butter.

No Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

Whether you’re topping off cupcakes or adding to cheesecake bars, this dreamy, creamy no butter cream cheese frosting is sure to become your go-to when it comes time to finish things off in style!

• Powdered Sugar
• Cream Cheese - Use full fat cream cheese.
• Vanilla extract - You can also use lemon extract, almond extract, or any you like to make different flavors. Maple extract is amazing on our Crumbl Pumpkin Cookies!

Need your cream cheese to soften faster?

Don't use the microwave, it overheats too easily. Simply cut your cream cheese into small cubes and spread out on a plate. The extra surface area will allow the cream cheese to naturally soften very quickly.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter

1. You will start with allowing your cream cheese to come to room temperature. This will make is much easier to whip your cream cheese frosting to a light and fluffy mixture.

Mix Cream Cheese and Powdered Sugar

2. Add the room temperature cream cheese to a large mixing bowl.
   
3. Add some of the powdered sugar. Mix on slow (so you don't send powdered sugar everywhere) until the cream cheese and powdered sugar are incorporated.
   
4. Add the vanilla extract and mix in.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Whip Until Fluffy

5. Add the remaining powdered sugar and again, mix on slow until the powdered sugar is mixed in.
   
6. Increase the speed of your mixer, and beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture until it becomes creamy, smooth, and fluffy.

PRO TIP: For a thinner, icing type of frosting, slowly add cream in 1 tablespoon increments and mix with your mixer. Stop when you reach your desired consistency. Icing will typically need about 2 - 3 tablespoons of cream for a consistency that will let you drizzle.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Frost or Pipe Cream Cheese Frosting

7. Frost your cookies, bars, cake, etc now, or fill a piping bag if you are piping frosting on your baked good!

PRO TIP: For firmer frosting, refrigerate for about 20 minutes. This will allow your piped decorations to have sharper lines.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Serving Suggestions

When frosting cookies, brownies, and cinnamon rolls, I prefer this no butter cream cheese frosting over my classic Easy Cream Cheese Frosting recipe using butter. Cream cheese frosting without butter holds up better on baked goods, especially in the warmer months.

Use this delicious frosting with our TikTok Cinnamon Rolls and Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting, the frosting sets better and is easier for serving! it's also perfect for our Pumpkin Bars, Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Substitutions

You can also use Neufchatel cheese, as it is almost identical to cream cheese. another delicious substitution is Mascarpone cheese. Cream cheese is made with milk, while Mascarpone is made with cream.

Variations

I love frostings with different flavors. I made a cinnamon buttercream for my Crumbl Cinnamon Churro Cookies, but they would also be amazing with cinnamon cream cheese frosting also!

• Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting - See our separate recipe for Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting, or make it a no butter cream cheese frosting also simply by adding 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon when you add the powdered sugar to the whipped cream cheese.
• White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - Melt some white chocolate chips and slowly whip in with the softened cream cheese. Slowly add the powdered sugar and milk, and beat until smooth and creamy.
• Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls Frosting - Use this no butter cream cheese frosting recipe, except add ¼ cup milk after mixing in the powdered sugar. You may not need the full ¼ cup, mix until you get an icing that is thick but can be smeared easily.
• Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting - Use our Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe, or simply add ½ cup of creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese and whip until smooth. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Good equipment makes any baking or cooking task so much more enjoyable. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this recipe.

• KitchenAid Hand Mixer
• KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Storage

Store excess frosting in a covered container and keep refrigerated for easily up to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Food Safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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