Description

This creamy and fluffy sugar cookie frosting is perfect for spreading in a thick layer or piping onto cookies. Its texture is ideal for cut-out sugar cookies, gingerbread, and Lofthouse-style cookies, offering a deliciously sweet but balanced flavor thanks to cream cheese which cuts the sweetness. The frosting hardens nicely to a soft crust and is easily customizable with food coloring.

Ingredients

Scale

Frosting Ingredients

2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 oz brick-style cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional but recommended)
Optional: gel food coloring for dyeing

Instructions

Beat the butter: In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the softened butter until it becomes smooth and creamy.
Add cream cheese: Beat in the softened cream cheese until well combined and smooth.
Flavor the frosting: Mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract thoroughly to infuse the frosting with flavor.
Add powdered sugar gradually: With the mixer on low speed, add 2 cups of sifted powdered sugar. Continue to add the remaining powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time until you reach the desired sweetness and thickness.
Add food coloring: If using, mix in gel food coloring to achieve the desired color without thinning the frosting.
Decorate cookies: Spread the frosting thickly on cooled sugar cookies using a spatula or pipe it using a piping bag. Note that this frosting is not suited for intricate piping designs but works wonderfully for simple decorations or thick layering.

Notes

The number of cookies this frosting will cover varies depending on the size of the cookies and how thickly you apply the frosting.
Use softened but not melted butter and cream cheese to avoid a thin frosting that doesn’t crust properly.
Only mix until the powdered sugar is combined to prevent the frosting from separating.
Sift powdered sugar to ensure a smooth texture without lumps.
Gel food coloring is preferred to avoid adding extra liquid which can affect consistency.
For a bright white frosting, omit the vanilla extract and substitute cream cheese with vegetable shortening.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dessert Frosting
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: sugar cookie frosting, cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, cookie decorating, cut-out sugar cookies, gingerbread frosting, Lofthouse-style cookies