This cream cheese frosting is thick, fluffy, and pipeable. This easy cream cheese frosting is made without powdered sugar and is made with just 4 simple ingredients!
This is the ultimate, light and fluffy cream cheese frosting. It has a nice tang to it that cuts some of the sweetness.
I've made a lot of versions of cream cheese icing over the years, but this recipe is my favorite easy, pipeable frosting.
It's a little different than traditional cream cheese frosting because it's made without powdered sugar and without butter. Instead, it uses granulated sugar (check out my super popular whipped buttercream frosting recipe that also uses granulated sugar) and all cream cheese.
This frosting is so thick and fluffy and creamy that you'd never guess that it has granulated sugar in it.
It's perfect for topping cakes, cupcakes, or cinnamon rolls!
Ingredients
- Heavy cream - Heavy cream is also called "heavy whipping cream".
- Granulated sugar - This recipe uses granulated sugar, not powdered sugar.
- Cream cheese - I recommend using full-fat cream cheese. It's thicker and richer than reduced-fat cream cheese. I don't recommend using fat-free cream cheese.
- Vanilla extract - I like to use pure vanilla extract for the best flavoring. However, you can use clear vanilla extract to keep the frosting lighter.
How to make cream cheese frosting without powdered sugar
This frosting is so simple to make!
In a chilled mixing bowl, use either a hand mixer or a stand mixer to beat cream on high until stiff peaks begin to form. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill while you continue.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until well-combined, about 2-3 minutes on high. It's important that the cream cheese and sugar be well-combined, so don't cut this step short.
Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined.
FAQs
Yes, the frosting is pipeable.
No, the frosting stays soft and doesn't crust.
Yes, you can mix it up, covered, and chill it until you're ready to use it.
Yes, cream cheese frosting should be stored, covered, in the fridge.
Yes, you can use less whipped cream to make a thicker frosting.
Cakes that go well with cream cheese frosting
More cream cheese frosting recipes!
If you’ve tried this cream cheese frosting recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!
You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.
Cream Cheese Frosting without Powdered Sugar
Equipment
- Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened1
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a chilled bowl, beat cream on high until stiff peaks begin to form.
- Cover and chill while you continue.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until well-combined, about 2-3 minutes on high. It's important that the cream cheese and sugar be well-combined, so don't cut this step short.
- Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined.
- Chill leftovers.
Video
Notes
- The cream cheese should be soft and at room temperature. If it's too cold, it can clump up when mixed with the whipped cream.
- Nutritional values are estimates.
Shanna
Easy to make. Not too sweet and put it on homemade cinnamon rolls and it was great.
Kate
Thank you!
Jan Grant
This frosting is amazeballs! And it's super easy to make too. I love it ❤️
Kate
Thank you so much!
Jeanne
Thanks for a perfect topping to mayonnaise cake
Kate
Thank you!
Tracy
Hi there,
Can you substitute whole milk for heavy cream? Thanks!
Kate
Hi! No, that won't work in this recipe because you're going to whip the cream, and whole milk won't whip up.
Danie
I will start by saying, I am not a fan of cream cheese frosting… but I baked blueberry muffins for an order and the customer wanted them iced with cream cheese frosting. I realized I had no powdered sugar and found this recipe - it’s amazing tasting and not overly sweet like traditional cream cheese frostings. Great recipe, have it in the fridge waiting for the muffins to cool so I can ice them, hope this keeps its shape it seems a little runny even with beating the cream to stiff peaks.
Kate
Thank you!
MJ
Does this frosting freeze well? I wanted to prepare cupcakes ahead of time and freeze them, but didn’t know how the frosting would hold up once thawed.
Kate
Hi! I haven't tried freezing this frosting.
Hamish
Hi there! Could I add lemon juice to this to up the tang flavour??
Kate
Hi! I'm not sure whether that would work or whether it would break the frosting. You may have better luck with other add-ins like lemon flavoring or even lemonade powder.
Velora
Can I use evaporated milk instead of whole me up because that’s all I have
Kate
Hi! Unfortunately, I haven't tried using evaporated milk in this recipe to say for certain.
Mary Jane
Oh my gosh, I had never put whipping cream in my cream cheese frosting...until now. I will definitely use this recipe from now on. Delicious and looks good too!
Kate
Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you liked it!
Mary
Thanks for sharing hugs
Kate
You are very welcome!
R M Butler
Wow just made your wHipped buttercream frosting and put it on a lemon cake. It is awesome ?. The best I have ever made. I am a seasoned baker. Have been baking for seventy years and now will use this recipe as my go to for any tacked I bake. Thank you so much and God bless.
Kate
Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you liked it!
Molly La Breche
Thank you this came out delicious ? and I used it to write on a cheesecake for a kids birthday! Was a great hit !!! Yummy I will definitely use over and over again!!!!
Kate
Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it!
Laura
I tried your vanilla whipped frosting, and it was so good!!! This recipe was also very good! It will be my go to cream cheese frosting from now on!!! Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Kate
Thank you so much!!
Laura
I tried your vanilla whipped frosting, and it was so good!!! This recipe was also very good! It will be my go to cream cheese frosting from now on!!!
Kate
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
Janice
I love the tangy taste and very simple to make. Just wondering if this frosting will hold up if transported in a humid condition?
Kate
Thank you! The frosting sets up more once it has been in the fridge, so if you needed to transport it, your best bet would be to chill it first. Hope that helps!
Vicki D
LOVE this frosting! I presume the leftover, iced cake should be refrigerated. Have not iced cake... waiting for it to finish baking and cooling. Nice job!
Kate
Thank you! Yes, I recommend storing leftover frosting in the fridge.
Allyson
Can this be used to make a three layered cake.
Kate
This recipe makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes, so you'll need to either double or triple the recipe. If you like a thicker layer of frosting, I would recommend a triple batch. You can hover over the "12" in the serving, and a slider will pop up that will let you increase the servings, and the ingredient measurements will increase accordingly. Hope that helps!
Clare Alviola
I really love this. I lessened the granular sugar to a half cup and it's perfect!
Kate
Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it! =)
Sugardoll
Thank you for this recipe. I will admit that I added a stick of softened butter, as I feel it's part of the quintessential flavor of cream cheese frosting. I love how light and fluffy the frosting is, and that it is not too sweet (like other recipes that use powdered sugar). It's like a dreamy cream cheese mousse - I forced myself to stop after one spoonful. This will be my go-to recipe for cream cheese frosting from now on.
Kate
Thank you!
Sonia
This frosting is divine! Very fluffy & not too rich. It was a hit with my family!
Kate
Thank you so much!!
Kristine Tang
I just made this for my carrot cake and it's absolutely divine! I'm sooooo hooked! It's not too sweet like the usual icing sugar frosting recipe and the cream cheese flavor shines through while still being soft, light and creamy. Thank you so much! I was a bit nervous trying this recipe as other recipes and methods reported soupy mixture when adding unwhipped cream cheese to whipped cream but this turned out fine! I did add a pinch of salt to my frosting tho.
Kate
Thank you!! I'm so glad that it worked out well for you!
Kristine Tang
Silly me, I forgot to rate this recipe!