Cream Cheese Icing

Cream cheese icing goes great on lots of types of cakes: carrot, zucchini, red velvet, chocolate, vanilla or orange. To us, carrot cake has got to be the winner! Our second best choice for cream cheese frosting has got to be red velvet cake. Check out our favorite homemade red velvet cake recipe. It uses beets instead of red food coloring which is a bonus for many people. The combination of the colors and textures and taste with the red velvet cake is just fabulous.

The following recipe for carrot cake cream cheese icing came from none other than Martha Stewart:

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature1 cup confectioners' sugar1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

For a lower fat option, you could substitute with Neufchâtel, as show in the below recipe from CookingLight.com:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon light butter1 (8-ounce) package Neufchâtel cheese1 (1-pound) package powdered sugar, sifted1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Cream butter and cheese at high speed of a mixer until fluffy. Add sugar; beat at low speed until well-blended. Add vanilla; beat well.

Because of the dairy contents with this recipe, take note of your environment where you'll be serving the dessert. Will is be a summer wedding in the hot summer sun? If you're not able to chill the dessert until right before it's served, it may not be the best choice. Lots of times, the heaviness of this icing goes best in the cooler months - not only because of the temperature in the environment, but because it's just so heavy.

Be sure to check out the wedding cake gallery for some great ideas.

We also have recommended our favorite cake baking supplies to make your adventure in the kitchen that much more enjoyable.

Cheers!

Have a great cake icing?

If you have a great cake icing, please share it!