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Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting

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Comments 12
Updated:May 7, 2020
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. This won’t change your price but will share some commission.
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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.

Cream cheese and real butter make a quick and easy sugar cookie frosting for your favorite cookies!
 

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!

Cream cheese and real butter make a quick and easy sugar cookie frosting for your favorite cookies!

What You Need for Sugar Cookie Frosting

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

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

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
Print this Recipe
4.88 from 8 votes
Did you make this recipe?
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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

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

  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!

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.

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)

Did you make this?
Tag me on Instagram @designeatrepeat or leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out! I love seeing what you’ve made.
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Quick and Easy Banana Muffins

Reader Interactions

12 Comments

  1. Reita says

    12/24/2022 at 7:17 am

    5 stars
    We love this recipe for our sugar cookies. Excellent consistency for spreading and piping and it tastes delicious!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      01/08/2023 at 3:40 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Reita! Thank you so much for leaving a review!

      Reply
  2. Melony says

    12/19/2017 at 7:54 am

    5 stars
    So excited to try both the cookie and frosting recipes. Do you use unsalted butter? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      12/19/2017 at 11:12 am

      Hi Melony! Yes, I use unsalted butter for both!

      Reply
  3. Robin says

    02/14/2017 at 5:47 pm

    This turned out perfect for our Valentine’s cookies. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      02/14/2017 at 9:38 pm

      Yay! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    01/30/2017 at 1:28 pm

    Looking forward to making this frosting! How does it store when refrigerated? Can I make ahead and then use immediately? Or will it need time to soften?

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      02/01/2017 at 9:14 pm

      Hi Jen! It should be fine in the fridge for a few days if you want to make ahead. Since it contains butter, you will need to give it some time to soften up to room temperature to help it spread. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    12/03/2016 at 5:27 am

    Sounds yummy! Does this frosting Harden so you so you can stack the cookies when storing?

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      12/03/2016 at 10:30 am

      I recommend popping them into the fridge for a bit to let the frosting set and then layer them in between sheets of wax paper when storing!

      Reply
  6. karli says

    03/24/2016 at 2:07 pm

    girl. can i just tell you how much i 100% adore your blog and instagram feed. it’s unlike anything else i see in my feed and i just love it and it’s totally inspiring. ps. making this frosting today with my three year old daughter. it’s a favorite frosting!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      03/26/2016 at 9:22 am

      Ahhh you’re too sweet! Thank you so much. So glad you loved the sugar cookies & frosting…one of my favorite recipes ever!

      Reply

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Melissa is a graphic designer & craft stylist living in the Midwest, specializing in easy food and paper crafts for holidays, parties, and everyday.
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