Edited and updated by Pearl Franks
This is one of my all-time favourite cupcake toppings; a simple cheesecake frosting. To me, it is the best of all cupcake frostings as it is easy to create, luscious, and oozy, but don’t take my word for it as I am also biased toward this frosting.
If you love the traditional carrot cake you will know this recipe as it is the ultimate carrot cake frosting; creamy, sweet, and luscious; this is perfect for your cupcakes, but can also be used on all your cakes and biscuits.
Further, if you love layer cakes, try using the basic vanilla recipe for the cream layer, spread it with some lovely strawberry jam, and then the frosting.
In short, I am going to give you the simplest of all cream cheese frosting including a few flavor combinations that are total showstoppers for taste.
In addition to using flavor essences – remember less is more, add a drop of the essence of your choice, then taste. Repeat this until you achieve your desired taste strength. Make sure you taste the frosting when it is at room temperature as the colder something is the less taste it has.
However, if it seems that you have added too much flavor, simply add more cream cheese and powdered sugar. You will end up with more frosting, but you will have saved the recipe. Of course, if your frosting seems to be too sweet you can add a few pinches of sea salt. The saltiness will help to tone down the sweetness. In respect to the recipe you are creating, it is all about experimenting and getting an idea of what works for you and what doesn’t.
Simple Cheesecake Frosting
Equipment
- 1 Metal Spoon
- 1 Mixing Bowl or a Hand Mixer
- 1 Piping Bag or Spatula for Spreading the Frosting
- 1 Cup Measures
Ingredients
For Basic Vanilla Cheesecake Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 50 grams powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 100 grams powdered sugar
- 50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
For Salted Caramel Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 3 tbs pre-made caramel sauce
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
For Cherry Cheesecake Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 2 tbs cherry jam
For Classic Lemon Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 50 grams powdered sugar
- 1 unwaxed lemon rind grated finely
For Orange Frosting
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 50 grams powdered sugar
- 1 unwaxed orange rind grated finely
For Choc Mint Blast
- 250 grams softened cream cheese
- 100 grams powdered sugar
- 3 drops peppermint essence
- 50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
Instructions
- Mix in a small bowl or with a stand mixer until combined.
- Refrigerate for an hour to firm up, then pipe onto your favourtie cupcake and enjoy.
In the sweet world of cupcake baking, the variations of flavors, textures, and colors are boundless. From the rich, decadent chocolate ganache to the luscious zesty whisper of lemon, the variety of ingredients available to us offers thousands of unique combinations, each capable of telling its own sweet story. Whether it’s the unexpected crunch of a salted caramel topping or the warm embrace of spiced pumpkin puree, the only limit to what you can create is the breadth of your imagination.
Enjoy!
