Master a simple cream cheese frosting and your repertoire of wonderfully quick and delicious cakes increases almost beyond belief.
These are only suggestions, your tastes and imagination will lead you to favorite combinations that will quickly become your own.
Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
Fills and frosts two 8- or 9-inch layers or one 13x9-inch cake.
Ingredients
- 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese
- 1 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Dash salt
- 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
Preparation
Blend cheese, milk, vanilla, and salt. Gradually add sugar, beating until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency. If necessary, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Carrot or Hummingbird Cake
Include some chopped walnuts in your cake, frost with cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle top and side of cake with chopped walnuts.
Red Velvet Cake
This is a nice substitute for the traditional cooked red velvet frosting. Sprinkle the entire cake with dark chocolate shavings.
Devil's Food Cake
Make 2 layers. Use butterscotch filling and basic cream frosting. Sprinkle nuts over filling. Melt 1 bar of dark chocolate and drizzle over top of cake.
Variations of Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Before adding sugar, stir in 2 ounces melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate. This is lovely with white layers (If you have 2 layers, split them, and make a 4-layer cake.) If you need to double the recipe, do so. Sprinkle top and sides with chopped nuts.
Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting
Blend in 1 tablespoon instant coffee with cheese and milk. This is an excellent frosting and filling for a chocolate cake.
Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
Stir in 3 drops red food color and 2 tablespoons crushed peppermint candy. Sprinkle top of frosted cake with crushed peppermints.
Lemon Swirl Frosting
The substitution of butter for part of the cream cheese, along with fresh lemon juice, contributes a delicious freshness to a delicate white or lemon cake.
Fills and frosts two 8- or 9-inch layers or frosts a 13x9-inch cake
Ingredients
- 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup soft butter or margarine
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3 tsps lemon zest
- About 3 Tbsp lemon juice
Preparation
Beat all ingredients until frosting is fluffy and of spreading consistency. If necessary, stir in additional lemon juice, 1 tsp at a time.
Conclusion
Try this cream cheese frosting. When whipped into fluffy and appetizing peaks, it will proudly adorn almost any cake.
