Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 100 g unsalted butter; 160 g cream cheese; 360 g icing sugar; 25 g freeze-dried strawberries; pinch of salt; 1/4 tsp strawberry extract

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Whip up this luscious Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting using six ingredients. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a burst of berry flavor from the freeze-dried strawberries, making it a perfect frosting or filling option for desserts like cupcakes, cakes, pies and bars. Make it in 10 minutes.

Philadelphia strawberry frosting in a bowl.

This is my go-to strawberry-flavored frosting. It is rich in strawberry flavor and tangy, thanks to the addition of cream cheese—this strawberry frosting pairs well with chocolate cakes, vanilla cakes and cupcakes. You can also try my favorite easy cream cheese frosting recipe for carrot and banana cakes.

Table of Contents

What I Love About This Recipe

This frosting has a delicious, strong strawberry flavor.
It has a pretty pink color.
It can be made in three simple steps.
This berry frosting has a lusciously smooth texture making it great for filling and frosting desserts.
It can be made ahead of time.
The ingredients are budget-friendly.

Ingredients

Unsalted butter: The butter should be at room temperature for a smooth texture.
Cream cheese: Use good quality full-fat cream cheese. It should also be at room temperature.
Icing sugar: Sift the sugar to remove the lumps and excess dirt.
Freeze-dried strawberries: I used shop-bought freeze-dried strawberries for this recipe but you can also use homemade freeze-dried strawberries.
Salt: A pinch of salt to balance out the sweet berry flavor.
Strawberry extract: To intensify the strawberry flavor.

Equipment

Mixing bowl
Handheld whisk
Spatula
Sieve

Recipe Variations

There are different ways to make strawberry cream cheese frosting. Some people use fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries, strawberry jam or puree instead of freeze-dried strawberries. However, the recipe may vary slightly depending on these swaps.

How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Whisk 100g of unsalted butter with 160g of cream cheese until combined.

1. Unsalted butter and cream cheese in a whisked in a bowl.

2. Then add 120g (one-third) of the icing sugar and whisk until combined. Repeat this step with the remaining sugar.

2. Add icing sugar to butter and cream cheese mixture in a bowl and whisk.

3. Add 25g of freeze-dried strawberries to the cream cheese frosting, add a pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp of strawberry extract and whisk for another 2-3 minutes or until smooth or spreadable.

3. Add freeze-dried strawberries, strawberry extract and whisk until combined.

4. Use this strawberry cream cheese frosting for cake, cupcakes, to fill donuts, pies, tarts and more.

cupcake frosted with strawberry cream cheese and a sliced strawberry.

Tips and Tricks

Room temperature: Ensure that the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature before making this frosting. This will guarantee that the frosting has a smooth and fluffy texture.
Measuring scale: When making desserts, it is best to use a weighing scale to help you avoid pitfalls and ensure that your results are accurate.
Make ahead: This frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to one month.

FAQs

Is cream cheese frosting the same as buttercream?

No. Cream cheese frosting is made with butter, cream cheese and icing sugar, while buttercream is only made with butter and icing sugar. Both can be used for frosting cakes and other desserts.

Why is my frosting runny?

Frosting can become runny due to the addition of too many liquids or hot weather. Whatever the case may be, you can thicken the frosting by adding cornstarch.

How to store?

Refrigerate in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to 3 days. Once you are ready to use it, whisk for a few minutes to make it fluffy and spreadable. Freeze strawberry frosting in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours or until softened, then whisk for a few minutes when you are ready to use it.

Thanks for reading this recipe, comment below if you made this and let me know how it went! Follow @simshomekitchen on Instagram, take a photo, tag and hashtag it with @simshomekitchen.

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