Classic Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 330 degrees F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper.
• Cream the granulated sugar and butter together in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until they're light and fluffy. Then add the molasses and mix. Add the eggs 1 at a time and mix until they're incorporated, then scrape down the bowl and paddle to make sure it is completely mixed.
• In a pitcher, combine the buttermilk, oil, apple cider vinegar, food coloring and vanilla.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, finishing with the dry ingredients. Scrape the bowl and mix again, being careful not to over-beat.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool until no longer warm to the touch, then flip the cake out onto a cardboard cake board. With a serrated knife, remove the top of the cake to make it level. Flip the cake over and remove the browned bottom or "bloom" with the serrated knife. Slice the cake into 2 layers. Layer some of the Classic Cream Cheese Frosting between the cake layers, and then top the cake with it.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together until they're soft and light. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Scrape the bowl and paddle down, then add the vanilla and salt and mix until incorporated.

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed 2 to 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
• Stir in vanilla, then stir in powdered sugar. Add more powdered sugar as needed until frosting is a thick spreadable consistency.
• Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cake or cupcakes.

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla bean paste and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in powdered sugar. Increase speed to high and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Do Ahead: Frosting can be made 5 days ahead; chill, or freeze up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature, then beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. If texture is not smooth, beat in water 1 tsp. at a time. Editor's note: This recipe first appeared on Epicurious in March 2017. Head this way for a different style of cream cheese frosting that some people call magic →

Steps:

• Beat the softened butter to a soft and even consistency. Add the orange juice, if using, then the icing sugar. Cream until you have a smooth, soft buttercream consistency.
• Add the cream cheese and work it in - don't beat it in, just slowly mix with a wooden spoon. Depending on how soft the mixture is, you may want to put it in the fridge for 10 mins at this point. If it's runny, it will firm up again. It should be spreadable and not run off the cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9-in. springform pan and line the bottom with parchment; set aside., In a small saucepan, heat beer and butter until butter is melted. Remove from the heat; whisk in sugar and cocoa until blended. Combine the eggs, sour cream and vanilla; whisk into beer mixture. Combine flour and baking soda; whisk into beer mixture until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Remove cake from the pan and place on a platter or cake stand. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and cream; beat until smooth (do not overbeat). Frost top of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, and then vanilla; mix until smooth.

Steps:

• Cream butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer. Add salt and vanilla. Slowly start to add powdered sugar at low speed.
• Once all the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn mixer to high and whip for at least 7 minutes or longer, scraping sides. If the icing seems too thick, mix in a tablespoon or 2 of the milk or cream.