Is cream cheese frosting healthier than buttercream?

Joe Ford

Is cream cheese frosting healthier than buttercream?

Powdered sugar buttercream is OK as long as it's made with real butter. Cream cheese frosting is denser, wetter, and more difficult to decorate with, and it takes so much powdered sugar to make it stand up that it's extremely sweet. (Although the kid in me loves the cream cheese flavor and the overload of sugar.)

Does homemade cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Cream cheese frostings need to be refrigerated for food safety reasons. A baked good frosted with cream cheese frosting should also be refrigerated. Cream cheese frosting can sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours safely.

What is difference between frosting and icing?

Frosting is usually used to coat the outside of cake. It has a buttercream-like texture and a more buttery taste. The Williams-Sonoma cookbook Cake states that “icing is generally thinner and glossier,” while its counterpart frosting is “a thick, fluffy mixture, used to coat the outside of a cake.”

Can you freeze a cake with cream cheese frosting?

Yes! Because of the high fat content, cream cheese frosting freezes quite well. This frosting can stay frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Also, most cakes and desserts freeze quite well and you can freeze this frosting along with the cake or other dessert it's topping!

Can cream cheese frosting be left out overnight?

So there's your answer. You can leave a cake with cream cheese frosting out overnight (the sugar will help preserve it) but if your kitchen is too hot, don't take the risk. Stick it in the fridge!

Can you freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting?

Carrot cake is actually ideal. And its traditional icing — cream cheese frosting — is also ideal for freezing. Let it freeze until solid — at least four hours. Then remove and wrap securely in plastic wrap and a final layer of aluminum foil.

Can cupcakes with cream cheese frosting be left out?

Yes. Cream cheese frostings need to be refrigerated for food safety reasons. A baked good frosted with cream cheese frosting should also be refrigerated. Cream cheese frosting can sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours safely.

How do you soften cream cheese frosting?

Don't worry, it's easy to soften cream cheese pretty quickly. Cut your cream cheese into four cubes and place onto a heat-safe plate. Microwave for 10 seconds and voila, softened cream cheese. You can soften the butter the same way but only nuke for 10 seconds.

What is the difference between buttercream frosting and cream cheese frosting?

Powdered sugar buttercream is OK as long as it's made with real butter. Cream cheese frosting is denser, wetter, and more difficult to decorate with, and it takes so much powdered sugar to make it stand up that it's extremely sweet. (Although the kid in me loves the cream cheese flavor and the overload of sugar.)

What can I do with extra cream cheese?

Classic cream cheese frosting with cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.