
White food gel, like AmeriColor Bright White Gel Paste Food Color, can be used to bring out more vivid colors in your baked goods and frostings.

Just note that it will add a bit of color and darken your frosting a tad. Not at all! I use the clear because it doesn’t add any color to the frosting – but you could always use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (aff link) for an even deeper flavor. You do NOT want to use spreadable cream cheese, like what you would use for bagels. Some off-brands have a very odd texture that is less than appealing – and since cream cheese is the star of this recipe, you want the best quality you can get. I always use a regular full-fat cream cheese brick, and I opt for a high-quality name brand, like Philadelphia. What type of cream cheese is best for frosting? I like to add Bright White food gel paste to my cream cheese frosting to eliminate a little of the yellowish hue that naturally comes with butter-based frostings. White food gel paste (optional) – This is totally optional, and purely a personal preference.Powdered sugar – Adds sweetness and structure to the frosting, and can be scaled up or down based on your personal preference for sweetness.Clear vanilla extract – I use clear vanilla extract in my frosting since it doesn’t add any color to it – but you could always use pure vanilla extract.And make sure it’s room temperature butter! If you’re not sure what that means, check out this post about what it is and why it’s important. Unsalted butter – Adds structure and flavor to the frosting.Room temperature blocks of cream cheese, not the spreadable kind you use on bagels. Cream cheese – Because, you know, cream cheese frosting.That said, in the context of cream cheese, cream cheese frosting is used to frost cakes and cupcakes, and cream cheese icing is often used on cinnamon rolls and other pastries. It can also be used as a decorative element on cakes. Icing is thin and glossy, and is most often used to ice cookies.

It can also be used as a filling in between the cake layers of a layer cake. Frosting is thick and fluffy, and is most often used to frost cakes.This can be confusing because so many people use the terms “frosting” and “icing” interchangeably! They actually are two different things. What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing? Thankfully, it’s a quick and easy recipe with four simple ingredients, and I might actually do that one of these days. I could probably give him three different baked goods in the same day with this piled on top, and he’d tell me every. And I know I might be a little biased here, but… this is actually the best one.Įvery time I put this on something and give it to my husband, he talks about how much he loves it.

I know, I know – you’ve probably seen plenty of recipes out there titled “The BEST cream cheese frosting”. This homemade cream cheese frosting recipe is easy to make, slightly sweet, tangy, and will quickly become your new favorite frosting! It pipes beautifully and holds its shape – you’re going to be putting this frosting on everything (especially red velvet cupcakes).įor a less tangy option, try my mascarpone whipped cream or the cannoli frosting on these pistachio cupcakes.
