Frostings and summer don't seem to match that good without any headaches, right? Who agrees with me?
Well, fret no more I say. This summer cream cheese frosting will relief you of those headaches.
Yes.
Summer Frosting
It's extremely hot in the summer where I live. Very. Extremely. Hot. I try to avoid doing frosted cakes during the summer. Why?
Oh don't even get me started. The typical frosting will literally start melting as I frost the cakes, no matter how fast I try to frost them. And it also doesn't hold long enough for me to proudly display the beautifully (in my opinion) frosted cakes to the guests before serving.
Do you have similar experience?
But yeah, sometimes the heart wants what the heart (or tummy?) wants. Right? And it wants frosted cake in the summer!
And comes in this summer frosting. Pardon me, it's summer cream cheese frosting. And I love it!
What do I love about it?
- It's with cream cheese! Super yum!
- It has way less sugar compared to other typical frosting. I don't like the humongous amount of powdered sugar in a frosting just for the reason to make it set or hard. The frosting ends up tasting extremely sweet. No.
- Has no butter at all. Don't get me wrong, I love the taste of butter (who doesn't?) but butter and summer equals to disaster.
- Uses a simple thickener or stabilizer, which is gelatine. Just a small amount really helps to set and helps the frosting hold.
- I can take my time and frost my summer cakes without some ninja action going on.
Tips On Making Cream Cheese Frosting
Not that you need any but here are some:
- Make sure the cream cheese is full fat. Yes, the fat will help it hold its shape.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature. Easier for mixing.
- Sift your powdered sugar. Always, please.
- Make sure your whipping cream is with at least 35% fat and have it chilling in the fridge overnight (preferably).
- Chill your frosting for 20 minutes in the fridge before using. This will make it easier to use.
Can I Use This Frosting For Piping?
Yes! And that's how this recipe came to be in the first place, to be used for piping.
As you can see, it's sturdy and hold its shape. This is my go-to summer frosting. Give it a try!
Looking For More Frostings?
Check these out:
Watch How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting
📖 Recipe
Summer Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 16 oz full fat cream cheese (450 g), room temperature
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar (80 g), sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon powdered gelatine (7 g)
- 1 ½ tablespoon water
- 1 cup whipping cream, min 35% fat (250 ml), chilled
Instructions
- Add cream cheese into a bowl and whisk until fluffy, using a handheld mixer. Now add in powdered sugar and vanilla, continue mixing and then set aside.
- In a small bowl, add powdered gelatine and water. Leave for 5 minutes for the gelatine to bloom. Then heat in microwave on low heat for a few seconds at a time, until the gelatine is fully dissolved.
- Add around 1 tbsp, more or less, of cream cheese mixture into the gelatine bowl and mix well using a spoon. Now pour the mixture back into the cream cheese mixture and immediately mix everything together. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk whipping cream until stiff peaks. Pour into cream cheese mixture and fold gently using a spatula until everything is well combined.
- Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes for it to set a bit before frosting. Give it a mix before using. This frosting will set in time so don't leave it in the fridge for too long. Happy frosting!
Notes
- This frosting will generously frost 2 layer cakes of 8 inch (20cm) or 9 inch (23cm).
- Use spoon and level method for measuring powdered sugar (if using cup measurement).
Abi says
Hi Bea...could I use this frosting in between cake layers and do this the night before? The cake will be left on a display table for 3 hours. I trialed another chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe in between cake layers and it had melted by the time I got round to cutting the cake! Hope to hear from you 😊
Bea & Marco says
Hey Abi! I haven't tried it like that, but I'd say it would be fine. But yes, test it first just to be safe especially if it's for some momentous/important occasion. Hope it helps!
Akansha says
hi, can I replace gelatin with agar agar ? If yes, how much ? Many thanks
Bea & Marco says
Hi Akansha! Yes, you can use agar agar. Check out your packet (since every packet/brand is different), and use the amount needed to set 400ml water. Hope it helps!
Milagro says
Muy buena a todos le gustó
Maria says
I used this recipe for my son's birthday in 85 degree, >85% humidity heat and the frosting held for several hours! I frosted my cupcakes the night before the party and used sprinkles (applied right after frosting) and refrigerated them overnight. I was worried about the quantity of icing at first since I ended up baking 15 cupcakes, but I had so much left over after applying a basic piped swirl (as opposed to the giant mountains of icing that is on many professional cupcakes)
Michelle says
Hello, can I make I frost my cake with this frosting and refrigerate overnight? Or do you recommend frosting same day?
Bea says
Hi! I'd recommend you to frost it on the same day. Hope it helps!
Chondra says
Howdy! I’d like to make this frosting for my kids outdoor summer party. We are having a cupcake bar where guests can add their own sprinkles. Will the sprinkles stick to the frosting once its set?
Bea says
Hi! I don't think (better be safe than sorry!) that this will be the right texture for the sprinkles to stick on since it'll set in time. Sorry though!
Susan says
Thank you
Susan says
How many cupcakes can this recipe frost
Bea says
This can frost 12 cupcakes. Hope it helps.
Holly says
Is this ok to frost my cupcakes the night before, or would it be better to do them the day of? Thanks again. Excited to try!
Bea says
Sorry for the late response, we're out of the office at the moment. Regarding the frosting, I'd recommend you to frost it the day of (since the frosting has gelatine, if you wait it'll set). Hope it helps!
Maria says
Can I use a standalone mixer instead of a handheld? Thx
Bea says
Yes you can, Maria 😊.
Ellie H says
Hello!
I'm going to be doing a two tiered wedding cake this week, if I used this cream cheese frosting recipe could I frost the whole cake the night before and refrigerate it until it's time for the wedding? I'm worried that it will change/look different by the next day but I also don't think I'll have time to get it all done the day if the wedding.
Bea & Marco says
Hi! I haven't tried frosting the cake a day before, so I can't really say. To be safe, I'd rather frost it the day of, especially for something important as a wedding cake. Hope it helps!
Ellie H says
Yes it does thanks!!
Maria says
Hi. Question: can I make the frosting and leave in fridge or on counter and use the next day to frost cake?
Bea says
Hi Maria! No, the frosting needs to be used immediately before it sets, since it has gelatine. Hope it helps.
Maria says
Yes thank you it does.
Nayeli says
Hello! I was wondering if I could use Beef gelatin?
Nicolette says
Hi there,
So if I wanted this frosting to be a bit stiffer would you suggest more gelatin or more powdered sugar?
Thanks!
Angela says
Hi! Thanks for this recipe! One question though.... I'd like to cover my cake with fondant. Can I use this frosting?
Bea says
Hi Angela! Honestly I haven't worked with fondant before so I can't really say if it's suitable or not. Sorry!
Heidi Romero says
I made this frosting to use on cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday party, which was outside in Florida in June. It was close to 100 degrees and the frosting held up like a champ! Not to mention it was absolutely delicious and I got many compliments on it. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Bea says
Hi Heidi! I'm super happy to hear that 🙌! Yes, the frosting is heat proof, right 😁? Thank you so much for your feedback!
Reem says
Hello Bea, I was wondering how long this would last in the fridge? I’m a bit concerned because whipped cream on its’ own usually doesn’t last as long as cream cheese frosting made with butter.
Bea says
Hi Reem! I'd say it lasts max 3-4 days in the fridge. Hope it helps! 😁
Maria says
Hi Bea, I’ve tried this frosting last summer and it was amazing! I just wanted to know if I can put food coloring this time?
Bea says
Hi Maria! Yes, of course.
Melinda says
Hi Bea, thanks for sharing this recipe! I tested the stability of the frosting by piping a small amount into a bowl and putting it directly onto my radiator. After more than 30 minutes, the frosting didn't melt and held its shape! However, I had some leftovers that I kept in the fridge overnight. The next day, it looked like the whipped cream and cream cheese had separated. The top of the container had what looked like a whipped cream, and the bottom of the container had a gelatinous soupy consistency. I'm wondering if this has happened to you, or if there's something I did wrong in the mixing process? Thank you!
Bea says
Hi Melinda! No that never happened to me though. I had the frosted cake in the fridge for several days and the frosting didn't release liquid or separated. Trying to think what it could be. Maybe yours wasn't mixed enough?
Melinda says
Yeah, that could have been it. Maybe I was too careful when mixing the cream cheese and whipped cream together. How long does it take for yours to combine?
Bea says
It took quite a bit but no more than 5 minutes, I think. Hope you'll give it another go 🙂
Ai says
Hi Bea, I tried this frosting and it was amazing! Now I’m just wondering if I could add cocoa powder to make chocolate cream cheese frosting?
Bea says
Hi! I haven't tried it but I don't see why not. Hope it helps and glad that you liked it!
Lucia K says
Hello Bea, I just want to leave a comment saying that this frosting is my favourite compared to the ones that I have tried. I love it because it is not very sweet and it doesn't melt.
Thank you. God bless.
Bea says
Hi Lucia, that's exactly why I like this frosting so much too. Happy to know you enjoy it. Thanks for the feedback!