Cream cheese frosting is a funny thing. People like it how they like it. So even though I already have a couple of Cream Cheese Frostings on my site, on this post for The Wayfair Inn Carrot Cake and a post Cream Cheese Frosting for Topping Cakes & Cupcakes. Here’s another one. This is my Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting. I used it today for my Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake.
Cream Cheese Frosting can be so many things. It can be light as air and almost frothy, heavy and dense or anything in between. The cream cheese flavor can be very dominant in some recipes or just barely there. The frosting might be very sweet or just lightly so. Sometimes, how you make your Cream Cheese Frosting just depends on what you’re making and your own personal taste.
Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake with Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting
About Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting:
My Mom’s Cream Cheese frosting is the perfect frosting to use on a layer cake. This is the frosting she’d make when she’d make her layered Carrot Cake, which I have on my site, but I just happened to make it in a sheet pan this time. That cake is gloriousl Mom started making it in the ’60s and everyone knew it. It’s everything you could want in a carrot cake, heavy, rich and moist. And this cream cheese frosting is one that will stand up to the weight of a layered cake. The other carrot cake on my site, The Wayside Inn Carrot Cake is my StepMom, Pat’s cake and that cream cheese frosting is light and fluffy.
My Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting is on my Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake. So the amount works well for an 8″ two-layer or cake made in a pyrex/casserole type of a pan (like a 9 x 13″) or a sheet cake. Note that the amount of frosting made with this recipe on the 8″ layer cake or the sheet cake is a little modest by today’s over the top standards.
Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting is thick and dense and on the sweet side and is just a touch lighter in the Cream Cheese flavor than some, which is perfect for a carrot or a spice cake. The cream cheese flavor blends beautifully without being overtly “cream cheesy.” It’s not going to dominate the flavors of your cake. It really is a beautiful thing…
I like that Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting spreads beautifully, will nicely hold swirls or waves if you wish, or smooths just like buttercream if you’re looking to frost a cake cleanly. Which I usually never do – that takes more work and precision than I’m normally going to put out, lol. I am no cake decorator! But if you are looking for a Cream Cheese Frosting that will let you smooth the sides, and maybe decorate with chopped nuts halfway up, this is that frosting. My Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting pipes beautifully, too! Just don’t keep your beautiful creation where it’s hot – any cream cheese frosting can soften under hot temperatures.
Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake with Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting
Making Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting:
Cream Cheese Frosting is just a cinch to make, and most have only four ingredients. There’s butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. A few might have a little milk or cream blended in to lighten them, and sometimes you’ll but that’s not usual & some have a touch of salt. Every now and then, especially if Cream Cheese Frosting is going to be piped, you might see a tablespoon or two of cornstarch added. You can pipe this Cream Cheese Frosting as is, but it never hurts to add that tablespoon or so of cornstarch for a little extra insurance if you are piping Just toss it right in with the powdered sugar.
Like most simple things, you’ve gotta be spot on to get cream cheese frosting to come out beautifully. Most important? The ingredients need to be at room temperature and that’s around 70 degrees F. The butter should be able to bend without breaking & will hold an indent if you press a finger into it. The cream cheese should be room temperature all the way through. I like to take my butter and cream cheese out the night before and set them somewhere the temperature is just right. If you have to, use your microwave on five-second intervals but that’s risky. Whip the butter and cream cheese together longer than you think you should until it’s as light and fluffy as possible.
Be careful with your powdered sugar. Unless it’s a fresh bag just opened, sift it, especially if you’re doing anything decorative. Add the powdered sugar to the whipped butter/cream cheese in several additions, beating on low until it’s just about incorporated, then bringing the speed of the mixer up slowly, stopping to scrape down between each addition of sugar. Before the last addition, add the vanilla, then the sugar because the little bit of extra moister helps the sugar absorb. Easy peasy!
Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake with Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting
Saving Money on Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting:
Now is the best time of year, through New Years, to start watching for specials (and lots of coupons if you use them) for just about any baking items. Figure out what you need and pick up enough to last through Easter. Just about every baking item you can think of will be very competitively priced.
I buy lots of butter and chuck it in the freezer and I also buy a lot of cream cheese, which is usually good for months. I normally don’t freeze my cream cheese, but you can….it’s going to be fine to use in recipes. Thaw out overnight in the refrigerator.
Easy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake with Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting
Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter at room temperature
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese at room temperature
- 4 cups (1 pound) powdered sugar, preferably sifted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions
In a large bowl if using a handheld mixer or in your mixing bowl, if you’re using a stand mixer, beat together butter and cream cheese until lightened in color and fluffy.
Add powdered sugar in three additions, starting the mixing on the lowest speed and increasing speed until well incorporated. Scrape down sides before each addition. Before the last addition, add the vanilla, beat in well, then the remainder of the powdered sugar.
Frost or ice with the cream cheese frosting immediately. It will stiffen as it sits. If decorating with nuts, sprinkles, etc., decorate before the frosting sets up.
Keywords: Cream Cheese, Desserts, Family Recipe, Frosting
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I’ll be sharing Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting at Fiesta Friday #248. Our co-hosts this week are Judi @ cookingwithauntjuju.com and Alex @ Turks Who Eat.
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