Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

The fresh, sweet flavor of strawberry cream cheese frosting pairs beautifully with any number of cake flavors, from simple sheet cakes to show-stopping layered cakes. The ingredients are inexpensive and easy to keep on hand for whenever you want to make a special strawberry treat.

We love cream cheese frosting because it lends a little extra decadence to any cake. It’s sweet, but less so than typical buttercreams. It has a subtle tang from the cream cheese that’s especially delicious when paired with sweet, fresh strawberries. And, yes, we only use real strawberries in our strawberry cream cheese frosting!

Ingredients for Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream cheese: Before starting the recipe, make sure the cream cheese and butter are softened. Let them sit out at room temperature for about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Butter: Whenever butter is a star ingredient, I always splurge on the best butter brands, like Kerrygold or Plugra. These European-style butters have a higher fat percentage, which means more flavor. Sold!
• Vanilla extract: Feel free to use pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste here. Personally, I always use vanilla paste in my frosting recipes because I love to see the pretty black flecks suspended throughout, and they taste like little vanilla bombs.
• Fresh strawberries: Strawberries can hold a surprising amount of dirt and debris, so it’s always worth the effort to clean them. Once they’re clean, hull the strawberries so you’re left with just the flavorful, bright red fruit.
• Confectioners’ sugar: If your confectioners’ sugar is clumpy, sift it through a fine mesh sieve. No one wants a lumpy frosting!

Directions

Step 1: Beat the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt

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In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract and salt until they’re light and fluffy.

Editor’s Tip: Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients for best results. There should be no lumps.

Step 2: Puree the strawberries

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

In a food processor or blender, puree the strawberries until they form a smooth puree.

Step 3: Beat in the puree

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the strawberry puree to the cream cheese mixture, depending on how strong you want the flavor and color. Reserve the remaining strawberry puree for future baking projects.

Step 4: Add the confectioners’ sugar

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar on low speed until it’s blended into the frosting. It should be nice and fluffy. Use the strawberry cream cheese frosting immediately and refrigerate any leftovers.

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

Ways to Use Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Make strawberry cakes: This strawberry cream cheese frosting would work well with so many different strawberry cake recipes, like our ever-popular Mamaw Emily’s strawberry cake recipe or our upside-down strawberry shortcake.
• Use it in other cakes: Strawberries pair well with many different flavors, making this cake an excellent frosting for other fruity cakes, like our orange cake, banana cake or lemon sheet cake.
• Frost cupcakes: I love using cream cheese frosting on cupcakes because it pipes very well. This frosting would taste great on coconut cupcakes, strawberry-lemon cupcakes or, of course, strawberry cupcakes.
• Fill macarons: Strawberry macarons are my favorite type of macaron. Our recipe is outstanding, but it would taste even better with this strawberry cream cheese frosting as the filling.
• Glaze strawberry cinnamon rolls: Yes, strawberry cinnamon rolls are a thing, and they’re a force to be reckoned with. Omit the simple vanilla glaze in our recipe and replace it with this luxurious strawberry cream cheese frosting.

How to Store Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Cakes and other baked goods finished with strawberry cream cheese frosting should be wrapped and refrigerated to prevent spoilage. Leftover frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you make strawberry cream cheese frosting ahead of time?

Yes, you can make strawberry cream cheese frosting ahead of time. Prepare the frosting fully, then transfer it to an airtight container. If you’re using the frosting the next day, store it in the fridge. If you’re using the frosting in a month or two, store it in the freezer. Thaw the strawberry cream cheese frosting overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to use it.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Tips

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Can you use frozen strawberries in this strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries to make this frosting, but you must thaw them completely and drain all the excess water. Watery strawberries will break your cream cheese frosting’s emulsion, turning the texture from silky-smooth to gritty and grainy.

How much strawberry cream cheese frosting does this recipe make?

The recipe makes about 3-1/2 cups of frosting, enough for a two-layer cake, a standard sheet cake or 24 cupcakes.

How can you thicken strawberry cream cheese frosting?

You can thicken strawberry cream cheese frosting by adding more softened cream cheese or butter, and then refrigerating the frosting for an hour or so, giving it a stir halfway through. You could also beat in a bit more confectioners’ sugar.

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Have your cake and eat it too—with this cream cheese frosting made with fresh strawberries. The sweet and tangy flavors give any dessert that extra layer of decadence. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts