Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting

This homemade sugar cookie frosting is super smooth & spreadable, making it a perfect pair to your favorite sugar cookie recipe. I prefer to spread it the old fashioned way with a knife, but it also works well for loose piping.

I’ve always been a tub frosting type of lazy baker up until recently when I discovered a new love for concocting frostings. They’re easy to make, taste way better than canned,

easier to spread, and allow me to make one less trip to the grocery store. Which is always a good thing because at this point, my HyVee should probably just start me a tab. The sad part about how often I frequent the store is that I still never seem to have real food in the house to make a wholesome lunch – but need some sugary baked goodies? Oh, well then I’ve got ya covered.

Don’t feel like frosting individual cookies? Make my Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars in a 9×13 pan instead!

What You Need for Sugar Cookie Frosting

• Butter
• Cream Cheese
• Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract
• Powdered Sugar
• Milk
• Food Coloring, Optional

How to Make Sugar Cookie Frosting

Step 1: Beat Butter & Sugar

In a large bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer (with paddle attachment) for 2-3 minutes (until creamy).

Step 2: Add Remaining Ingredients

Keeping the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in vanilla, almond extract, and powdered sugar. Add milk, turn mixer to high speed and continue mixing for 2 minutes. If frosting is thicker than you would like, add an extra 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Step 3: Add Food Coloring, if desired

If desired, add a few drops of food coloring for a colored variation! Achieve the perfect shade of light pink by following my guide on How to Make Light Pink Frosting.

Consistency & Texture

This homemade sugar cookie frosting is super smooth & spreadable, making it a perfect pair to your favorite sugar cookie recipe. I prefer to spread it the old fashioned way with a knife, but if you’re looking for a more pipeable icing, check out my sugar cookie buttercream frosting. 

If you’re looking for a more fluid, glaze type icing to meticulously frost cookies, then instead check out my easy sugar cookie icing. But if you’re looking for a no-fuss frosting that you can quickly slather on, then this is the one! Cream cheese and real butter make this a quick and easy sugar cookie frosting for your favorite cookies!

Don’t feel like frosting individual cookies? Make my Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars in a 9×13 pan instead!

Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting

 This homemade sugar cookie frosting is super smooth & spreadable, making it a perfect pair to your favorite sugar cookie recipe. I prefer to spread it the old fashioned way with a knife, but it also works well for loose piping.

Author: Melissa Rose

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Course: Dessert

Category: Frosting

Servings: 24

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4.8 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, softened to room temperature
• 4 oz. cream cheese softened to room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons milk
• Optional: Drop of Pink Food Coloring

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer (with paddle attachment) for 2-3 minutes (until creamy).
2. Keeping the mixer on medium speed, slowly add in vanilla, almond extract, and powdered sugar. Add milk, turn mixer to high speed and continue mixing for 2 minutes. If frosting is thicker than you would like, add an extra 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached.
3. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring for a colored variation!

Recipe Notes

Makes about 1.5 cups (enough to typically frost 2 dozen cookies)

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal

Fat: 5g

Saturated fat: 3g

Cholesterol: 15mg

Sodium: 49mg

Potassium: 6mg

Carbohydrates: 15g

Sugar: 14g

Vitamin A: 180%

Calcium: 7%

My Favorite Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Easy Sugar Cookie Icing (more of a glaze)

Easy Royal Icing Recipe
(for more intricate piping, will completely harden)