This Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting is rich and sophisticated, blending velvety cream cheese with nutty brown butter for a deeply flavorful topping. It comes together in just minutes using cream cheese, brown butter, sweet powdered sugar, vanilla bean, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream. Perfect for frosting cakes, cupcakes, or bars, luxurious yet easy to make.

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.

Browned Butter + Cream Cheese = Flavor Factor

Cream Cheese Softened to room temperature, it adds tang and creaminess, balancing the sweetness of powdered sugar.
Browned Butter Provides a toasty, caramel-like depth. The butter should be completely re solidified back to room temperature before mixing to maintain texture.
Vanilla Bean Paste & Salt Vanilla brightens the flavor profile, while a small pinch of salt accentuates the richness.
Powdered Sugar & Heavy Cream Powdered sugar adds sweetness and structure, while heavy cream lightens the frosting for easy spreading.

Whip, Frost, Admire

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

cream cheese and browned butter in a large metal mixing bowl — Beat the softened cream cheese and softened brown butter until smooth.

smooth browned butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl — Beat the softened cream cheese and softened brown butter until smooth.

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

confectioners sugar and vanilla bean paste add to butter and cream cheese — When the butter and cream cheese mixture is ready add the vanilla bean paste, salt, and half of the powdered sugar.

heavy cream and powdered sugar added to brown butter cream cheese frosting in a large mixing bowl — When the butter and cream cheese mixture is ready add the vanilla bean paste, salt, and half of the powdered sugar.

If you desire a thicker frosting add the remaining powdered sugar.

browned butter cream cheese frosting on a dark surface

Recipes to use this frosting in

This warm and cozy frosting is perfect with my pumpkin cinnamon rolls, apple layer cake, or this carrot layer cake.

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

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