Wednesday, March 5, 2008

You asked for it:
Cream cheese frosting

A commenter asked for the recipe I use for the cream cheese frosting I used on my sour cream chocolate cake and cupcakes last weekend. There's a zillion variations on this recipe, but here's the one I like. It's from Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins' The New Basics Coobook. I've had this one for so long the pages are falling out and it's now held together with a rubberband.

For a two-layer cake, I double this recipe. It never hurts to have a little of this left over; you can always color it and use it for decoration.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
[juice of 1/4 lemon: I omit this unless I'm making the frosting for carrot cake]

Cream the cream cheese and butter in a standing mixer.

Slowly add the confectioners' sugar. If my sugar is at all lumpy, I sift first. To keep it from flying around, I often cover my mixer with a dish towel, which goes right into the laundry afterwards.

Stir in vanilla and lemon juice (if using).

If you need to make this ahead of time, cover and store in the refrigerator, bringing to room temperature before using.

6 comments:

LaLa Brat said...

Yummy. Thanks!

Jen Yu said...

yup - that's the way to do it. i have a similar recipe with essentially the same proportions and ingredients. great frosting. people go gaga for it. what's crazy is that since i cook and know what goes into the things i make, it helps temper how much i eat of it... better for the arp (ass reduction plan).

Jordan said...

Oh, yum, thanks for posting that! I am about to get a standing mixer and can't wait!

Cindy said...

Jordan, a standing mixer will change your life. I love it for baking (especially pie crust), but it's really good for MEATLOAF. Cause who wants to mix it up with their hands?

Anonymous said...

Ok. Thanks. Now could you tell me how to use the frosting to make my cakes and cupcakes look as gorgeous as yours???

Tres Poshe Preppy said...

Yum, I LOVE cream cheese frosting. I sometimes make and eat just that, no cupcake, shocker!