Top sugar cookies with this creamy, rich, and flavorful cream cheese frosting for cookies! It's easy to make with basic ingredients (without milk!) and can be used to frost just about any sugar cookie recipe. Add it to thick, fluffy no roll sugar cookies or just as an easy spreadable icing on top of cut out sugar cookies.
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Up until a few years ago, I wasn't a big fan of frosting on cookies. It wasn't until I moved to Salt Lake and found the best little cookie shop named Ruby Snap that I fell in love with thick, soft cookies topped with frosting.
They have a cookie called the Mia, which is essentially a thick fluffy sugar cookie topped with a thick layer of the creamiest, most delicious beet frosting (I was skeptical of the beet at first, but it's magical).
Ever since then, I've made it my mission to replicate the cookie and although I haven't tackled a beet frosting, this cream cheese frosting paired with my no roll sugar cookies is the closest thing I have gotten to those prized little cookies.
What You Need to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Cookies
- Powdered Sugar
- Cream Cheese
- Vanilla
- Almond Extract
- Perfectly paired with: No Roll Sugar Cookies
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Cookies
Step 1: Using a mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until light and creamy.
Step 2: Keeping the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and powdered sugar. Once all the powdered sugar disappears, turn the mixer on high speed and beat for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. (Yes, this is a frosting without milk!)
Step 3: To color the icing, I recommend squeezing a dot of food coloring on a paper plate, dipping the tip of a toothpick through it, then swiping it through the frosting. This will allow you to control the amount of color you add.
Tip: For this light pink shade, I just did one swipe of red food coloring.
Step 4: Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread frosting onto cooled cookies. If not enjoying immediately, store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator (they need to be refrigerated since the frosting contains cream cheese).
Cream Cheese Frosting for Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e. 1 stick) and softened cream cheese (4 ounces) on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer (with paddle attachment) for 2-3 minutes (until light and creamy).½ cup unsalted butter, 4 ounces cream cheese
- Keeping the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), almond extract (¼ teaspoon) and powdered sugar (1 ¼ cups). Once incorporated, turn mixer to high speed and beat for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon almond extract, 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cookies and top with sprinkles!
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this cream cheese icing harden?
The frosting will develop a slight crust if left sitting out (or when refrigerated), but it won't completely harden. Which means you shouldn't stack them when they're at room temperature. For my tips of perfect stacking, see my guide on how to freeze sugar cookies.
Can I freeze cream cheese icing?
Yes, you can freeze the cream cheese in a plastic bag for up to 1 month. When you're ready to use it, thaw in the refrigerator until soft. You may need to stir it before using, as the oils may separate during the thawing process.
To freeze frosted cookies, first place the cookies on a baking tray in the freezer until the frosting hardens. Next, place the cookies in an airtight container, placing a piece of parchment paper in between each layer. To thaw, remove the cookies from the layered container, place cookies on a baking tray inside the refrigerator. For my tips of perfect stacking, see my guide on how to freeze sugar cookies.
What cookies can I pair with this cream cheese frosting?
My favorite recipes to pair with this cream cheese frosting are my Cut Out Sugar Cookies or No Roll Sugar Cookies.
laura
great recipe!
Ann Leggat
Made beautiful Christmas sugar cookies.
Cora
I'm not a huge fan of icing, but this recipe is AMAZING!!!!!!! I was looking for a kind of "cheesecake" type of icing, & this turned out even better than I could've imagined. I added about 1/2 a teaspoon of the almond extract instead of 1/4th a teaspoon (like slightly under 1/2 teaspoon). HIGHLY recommend 👌❤️🔥
Shirley
Light, fluffy, and smooth. Perfect touch of almond, not overpowering. This frosting is sweet but not over sweet. The perfect cream cheese frosting! This recipe is my new go-to.
Melissa
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Shirley! I really appreciate it!
Shirley
Light, fluffy, and smooth. Perfect touch of almond, not overpowering. This frosting is sweet but not over sweet. The perfect cream cheese frosting! Thank you for sharing!
Becky Tice
This icing turned out amazing! Great taste and so easy to make
audrey m morriso
This is very smooth & creamy. Perfect for my sugar cookies
Pettie
Thank you for the recipe!
Cathy
Wonderful topping to our Christmas cutouts! Nice texture and the bit of almond is an extra bonus. We will use this again. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Cathy!
Sandy
Easy to make and very good.
Natalie Canary
I like it but I’m not a fan of almond extract in it. Next time I’ll leave it out.
Tara Williams
Aloha,
I have made this icing for Christmas cookies for the past 4 years or so. This is such a great recipe… creamy with just a bit of tang!!! Ty for sharing 🎄
Melissa
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Tara!
Tami olson
Was looking for my familia recipe for frosting out pie dough cookies (recipe older than my 50+yrs) and this is the Closest I've gotten! Thank you for sharing this and happy frosting!
Melissa
Yay, I'm so glad this recipe was what you were looking for! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Tami!
Josh L
Excellent cookie! I’ve pinned it to my favs.
Sue Johnson
To die for!!! First time using this, very good!!
Kristi Reed
Y’all! This is the best cream cheese icing recipe I’ve ever used! Simple, and so so good! Glad I come across this!
Melissa
Yay, so glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Kristi! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Lonnie Shebuski
Excellent simple n so so delicious
Alisha J Bystrom
Great recipe! I used on a soft baked lemon cookies.... Absolutely fabulous!!
Melissa
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Alisha! Happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe!
Roxy
Super easy n great flavor
Thanks👍
Barb
How many cookies will it cover?
Melissa
12 medium sized cookies!