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    Home » Dessert » Sauces, Frostings & Toppings

    Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Oct 5, 2017 · by Elizabeth Waterson · This post may contain affiliate links, which may pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Confessions of a Baking Queen!

    Jump to Recipe
    browned butter cream cheese frosting in a metal bowl

    Luscious and creamy this ultra flavorful brown butter cream cheese frosting is the perfect accompaniment to many baked goods. Served on top of apple cake, carrot cake, or banana bread bars you will love this easy frosting recipe.

    browned butter cream cheese frosting in a metal bowl

    Cream cheese is one of the most used ingredients in my kitchen, next to butter and eggs. I just adore the tang and creaminess cream cheese provides. I have over 20 Cheesecake recipes on my site because I love it so much.

    Combining cream cheese and browned butter creates an unbeatable combination of flavors in the frosting. Perfect alongside many baked goods.

    Let's get to the recipe.

    Jump to:
    • What are the ingredients for Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting?
    • How do you make Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing?
    • Can you freeze browned butter cream cheese frosting?
    • How do you thaw browned butter cream cheese frosting?
    • Recipe Card
    • Recipe Ratings & Comments

    What are the ingredients for Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting?

    • Cream Cheese softened to room temperature, this is crucial!
    • Butter browned and solidified back to room temperature
    • Vanilla Bean Paste
    • Salt
    • Confectioners/ Powdered Sugar
    • Heavy Cream

    How do you make Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing?

    First things first you are going to need room temperature browned butter, for this, I find it easiest to brown the butter the day before I plan on making this recipe. You can buy premade brown butter but it's just as easy to make it your own. I have a whole post dedicated to showing you exactly how to make brown butter without burning it!

    how to make brown butter being mixed in a clear bowl with a silver spoon on a white background

    In the bowl of an electric stand mixer beat the softened cream cheese and softened brown butter for 2 to 3 minutes on medium to high speed. You can also do this in a large bowl with a handheld mixer.

    cream cheese and browned butter in a large metal mixing bowl on a dark surface

    The mixture should be fully cohesive, light, and fluffy. Make sure to use a spatula to scrape down the sides so everything is combined.

    smooth browned butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl

    While the cream cheese is beating sift the powdered sugar into another clean bowl. This step helps prevent lumpy frosting.

    When the butter and cream cheese mixture is ready add the vanilla bean paste, salt, and half of the powdered sugar. Mix on low speed at first to prevent a powdered sugar storm in your kitchen, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes.

    confectioners sugar and vanilla bean paste add to butter and cream cheese  on a dark surface

    Turn the mixer off and add the remaining powdered sugar, so you are adding up to 3 ½ cups and heavy cream beat for an additional 3-4 minutes.

    heavy cream and powdered sugar added to brown butter cream cheese frosting in a large mixing bowl  on a dark surface

    If you desire a thicker frosting add the remaining powdered sugar. Use the browned butter frosting immediately or store it in the fridge for up to a week. To thaw frosting let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

    browned butter cream cheese frosting  on a dark surface

    Can you freeze browned butter cream cheese frosting?

    Yes, this frosting freezes just fine. Once the frosting is made place it in a freezer-safe container. The frosting can be frozen for up to three months.

    How do you thaw browned butter cream cheese frosting?

    The easiest way to thaw the frosting is to place it in the fridge overnight. I suggest re-whipping the frosting to bring it back to life.

    You could also let the frosting sit at room temperature for a couple of hours to thaw.

    Here are some of my other favorite frosting recipes:

    • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Coffee Buttercream
    • Bailey's Swiss Meringue Buttercream
    • Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

    ★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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    Recipe Card

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    browned butter cream cheese frosting in a metal mixing bow

    Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Luscious and creamy this ultra flavorful brown butter cream cheese frosting is the perfect accompaniment to many baked goods. Served on top of apple cake, carrot cake, or banana bread bars you will love this easy frosting recipe.

    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: Enough to Frost a 3 Layer Cake

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 8oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature, this is crucial!
    • 4oz (½ Cup) Butter, browned and solidifed back to room temperature
    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt
    • 437- 500 grams (3 ½-4 Cups) Confectioners/ Powdered Sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream

    Instructions

    1.  In the bowl of an electric stand mixer beat the softened cream cheese and butter for 2 to 3 minutes on medium to high speed. You can also do this in a large bowl with a handheld mixer. The mixture should be light and fluffy.
    2. While the cream cheese is beating sift the powdered sugar into another clean bowl. This helps prevent a lumpy frosting.
    3. When the butter and cream cheese mixture is ready add vanilla bean paste, salt, and half of the powdered sugar. Mix low at first to prevent a powdered sugar storm in your kitchen, then incrase the speed to medium high and beat for 3 minutes. Turn mixer off and add remaining powdered sugar, so you are adding up to 3 ½ cups and heavy cream beat for an additional 3-4 minutes.
    4. If you desire a thicker frosting add the remaining powdered sugar. Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week. To thaw frosting let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
    • Author: Elizabeth Waterson I Confessions of a Baking Queen
    • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Mix
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: brown butter icing, brown butter frosting, cream cheese frosting

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @confessionsofabakingqueen on Instagram and hashtag it #cbqbakes

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

    Make sure to try my Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls

    « Swiss Meringue Buttercream
    New York Eats »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Elise says

      October 09, 2019 at 10:38 am

      Can vanilla extract be used in place of the vanilla bean paste? If so, what amount would you suggest, and would any of the other ingredient amounts need to be altered?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        October 09, 2019 at 10:43 am

        Yes, you could definitely just extract, I would do a 1 to 1 ratio. Nothing else really needs to change, the powdered sugar amount will vary depending on how soft your butter and cream cheese are, your environment temperature, and the thickness of frosting you desire. Let me know if I can help with anything else or if you do make it please let me know! 🙂

        Reply
        • Elise says

          October 11, 2019 at 12:41 pm

          Thank you! I'm literally going to make my brown butter now, and the cake later on tonight! 🙂

          Reply
          • Elizabeth Waterson says

            October 11, 2019 at 12:54 pm

            Yay! So excited to hear how it goes. What cake are you making with it?

            Reply
    2. Tamar Palgon says

      September 16, 2020 at 11:44 am

      Should this be 4oz of already browned butter (i.e. I start with 5oz) or should I brown 4oz of butter?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        September 16, 2020 at 10:24 pm

        Hi Tamar, you are correct I would brown 5oz of butter for this recipe. You want a full 4oz of brown butter to mix in with the cream cheese. Please let me know if you have any further questions, if I can help in any way or if you make the frosting! XX Liz

        Reply
    3. Tiffany says

      August 18, 2021 at 7:06 am

      Absolutely delicious! Whenever I want to make cream cheese frosting, this will be my go-to recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Gabby says

      November 23, 2021 at 9:38 pm

      Would think make a good whipped frosting with a little bit lighter texture if more whipping cream were added? Or would it just get runny?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        November 23, 2021 at 10:44 pm

        Hi Gaby, I have never tried that. I would initially worry about the butter incorporating into the cream and affecting the ability to whip. IT might work I just never have. If you want a lighter textured frosting then try my whipped cream cheese frosting! It's so good!! XX Liz

        Reply
    5. Ashley says

      September 01, 2022 at 12:34 pm

      This frosting is absolutely incredible!! It was my first time adding brown butter to a frosting and it will not be my last. I used it to top banana cupcakes filled with banana curd and the flavors were all meant for each other

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        September 01, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        Hi Ashley, thanks for this lovely review, so glad you enjoyed the frosting. The cupcake sounds delicious!! Take care. XX Liz

        Reply
    6. Abby says

      October 05, 2022 at 1:46 pm

      Hello, I want to make this cake as if for Saturday. Is it fine for it to stay that long?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        October 05, 2022 at 4:50 pm

        Sorry Abby not totally sure which cake you are referring to, but the frosting should last a few days just fine! Let me know if I can help with anything else feel free to Instagram Direct MEssage me I can reply quicker there! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Morgan Trout says

      October 06, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      i put this on top of a Guinness chocolate cake for my birthday and it was incredible. the frosting was definitely the best part and my boyfriend and i could eat it with a spoon. i will for sure be making this again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Jenne Fay says

      November 23, 2022 at 8:22 am

      No one in my family likes caramel frosting, but my mom’s jam cake recipe calls for that. So I made the cake, made a thick caramel sauce for between the layers and this for the top and sides. Perfection! The cream cheese is a great compliment to the tart jam and the browned butter lowers the sweet level since I added the caramel. Mom would be proud!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Waterson says

        November 23, 2022 at 8:28 am

        Hi Jenne, thank you so much for the lovely review. So happy that you were able to update a family favorite like this. The cake sounds just scrumptious wish I could try a slice!! Take care. XX Liz

        Reply

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    Waterson, Elizabeth Cropped Size Photo CAke copy 2

    Hiya! I am Elizabeth Waterson, welcome to my treat-filled site. After spending 15 years in the restaurant industry and growing up baking, I wanted to share my love of baking with you all. My step-by-step tutorials will help you learn how to bake at home. Confessions of a Baking Queen (CBQ) has been featured in CBS LA, HuffPost Taste, BuzzFeed, Taste of Home, and more! Here you will find loads of sweet recipes with a few savory ones for good measure. Feel free to message me with any questions! Happy Baking! 

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