The best frosting ever this whipped cream cheese frosting is made by whipping heavy cream into a sugar and cream cheese base. Like whipped cream but better this frosting recipe will become a new favorite, trust me! Step-by-step photos show you how to make this tasty treat!

I've been making this frosting and versions of it for years. The first time you saw it on my blog was on these Strawberry Chocolate Cupcakes in 2014, in that recipe, I fold strawberries into the cream cheese whipped frosting, it was magical.
I most recently wanted to use this frosting recipe for my Banoffee Pie Cupcakes. Whipped cream cheese frosting is not an overly sweet frosting, it's not like traditional cream cheese frosting or buttercream. The flavor and texture are much more like a thicker version of whipped cream, the consistency is perfect.
I dare you not to love this frosting!
The only thing to keep in mind is that this is a cream-based frosting so it will not hold up well in a warm environment! I highly advise keeping whatever you use this on in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Also, I have tried making this in a large bowl with a handheld mixture and I do not have success, I always have success when I use my electric stand mixer though. So I highly recommend only using an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
This frosting recipe would be perfect on cake or cupcakes or in layer cakes
Let's get to the recipe.
Ingredients
- Full Fat Cream Cheese. It is crucial that your cream cheese is completely softened to room temperature. If your cream cheese is not softened then it will create small lumps and that is the worst, you will not end up with a smooth creamy frosting. Make sure to use full fat!
- Granulated/ Caster Sugar. Some recipes will call for confectioners sugar but I find delicious results with granulated and granulated sugar does not make a huge mess like powdered sugar!
- Pure Vanilla Extract. Use the real stuff, trust me!
- Heavy Whipping Cream. Make sure you buy heavy whipping cream or double cream not just whipping cream. And make sure it is chilled and kept in the fridge until just before you are going to use it otherwise your cream will not whip properly.
You could add some lemon extract for a lemon-flavored cream cheese frosting.
Instructions
Since I am based in California generally my kitchen is warmer so I will often place my mixing bowl in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before making the frosting so that its nice and cold and the cream whips properly.
In the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment whisk the cream cheese, vanilla, and granulated sugar for 3 minutes.
Make sure to scrape down the bowl once or twice to ensure everything is being evenly incorporated. If your cream cheese was not completely softened to room temperature then you will get lumps of cream cheese here, not what you want!
While the mixer is still on medium-high speed very slowly pour/stream in the heavy cream directly into the cream cheese mixture. Do not pour it all in at once.
Once all of the cream is added make sure to scrape the bowl down with a rubber spatula to make sure there are no cream cheese bits stuck to the bottom of the bowl and not incorporating into the whipped cream.
Whip for another couple of minutes after the cream has been added until you get a thick whipped cream texture do not over mix. You want stiff peaks!
The frosting is so light and fluffy, you will want to swim in it!! LOL
Use the frosting right away, store leftovers in the refrigerator. I find that if you frost a cupcake the whipped cream cheese frosting will sit fine on the cupcake overnight in the fridge but if you leave the frosting in the bowl it will deflate. So I highly recommend using this right away.
I like to add it to a piping bag with a large round tip.
I prefer the whipped cream frosting with the full two cups of heavy whipping cream but if you prefer a thicker frosting less whipped cream-like feel free to reduce the heavy cream down to 1 ½ cups. If you want defined piping for a cupcake or cake recipe then I would use 1 ½-1 ¾ cups of cream. If you wanted to dye the frosting I would suggest using gel food colors, be careful they are very potent.
In my banoffee cupcake recipe as you can see the frosting is just piped on in a basic pattern, this was a 2 cups of cream frosting. This frosting would also be perfect on top of carrot cake cupcakes.
More frosting recipes
This brown butter cream cheese frosting is scrumptious.
Chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream is so delicious and not as sweet as American Buttercream.
One of the most popular recipes on my website is this coffee buttercream frosting recipe.
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
The best frosting ever this whipped cream cheese frosting is made by whipping heavy cream into a sugar and cream cheese base. Like whipped cream but better this frosting recipe will become a new favorite, trust me! Step-by-step photos show you how to make this tasty treat!
- Total Time: 15
Ingredients
- 8oz Cream Cheese completely softened to room temperature
- 100 grams (½ Cup) Granulated/ Caster Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 16oz (2 Cups) Heavy Whipping Cream
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment whisk the cream cheese, vanilla, and granulated sugar for 3 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the bowl once or twice to ensure everything is being evenly incorporated.
- While the mixer is still on medium-high speed very slowly pour/stream in the heavy cream. Whip for another couple of minutes after the cream has been added until you get a thick whipped cream texture do not over mix. You want stiff peaks. Use the frosting right away, store leftovers in the fridge.
Notes
I prefer the frosting with the full two cups of heavy whipping cream but if you prefer a thicker frosting less whipped cream-like feel free to reduce the heavy cream down to 1 ½ cups.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cream cheese whipped cream frosting, stabilized whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, whipped cream with cream cheese
Armi Gazala says
Trying to stay away from buttercream frosting because of the calories and I sometimes flavor it. Can this cream cheese frosting be flavored to, for example, coffee??
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Armi, I have personally never flavored the frosting with coffee- my suggestions would be to make a very concentrated coffee flavor as I do in this coffee buttercream recipe. And potentially add some more confectioner's sugar to this frosting to accommodate the additional liquid. Since this is a very soft frosting keep in mind it's not good for cake/ cupcakes that need to sit out. Please let me know if I can help with anything else or if you try the recipe! XX Liz
Myrka Rodriguez says
Hi! Is this Frosting stable enough to frost a cake without worry of over working it?
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Mykra, I have used it to frost a cake but more of a naked/rustic style frosting. If you're looking for clean, hard lines this isn't the frosting for it. And I wouldn't use it in a larger than two-layer cake as the weight of the cake against the soft frosting doesn't go well together. All that to say this frosting is one of my favorites- I love to use a vanilla sponge some macerated strawberries and this frosting! Please let me know if you have any other questions or if you try the recipe would love to know what you think! XX Liz
Chris says
Can I use on cheesecake prior to serving?
Chris jones says
Can I top a cheesecake prior to serving?
★★★★★
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Chris, I have used a very similar recipe on top of my Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe-check that post out! Please let me know if you have any other questions or if you try the recipe, I would love to know what you think! XX Liz
Christine says
Would this work with cheesecake? Frosting prior to serving
★★★★★
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Christine, I have used a very similar version of this on my Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe-check that post out! Please let me know if you have any other questions or if you try the recipe, I would love to know what you think! XX Liz
Emily says
Hey would this hold for sugar cookies?
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Emily, since it is a very light whipped cream frosting it wouldn't be my first choice. But if you do try it keep in mind since it is cream cheese based it shouldn't sit out in a warm environment for long so I would frost it shortly before serving if possible for the best outcome. Goodluck baking and let me know if I can help with anything! 🙂 XX Liz