This strawberry cream cheese frosting is genuinely super dreamy and an absolute joy to use on my strawberry layer cake! The magic behind its intense, natural strawberry flavor and gorgeous pink hue lies in the use of freeze-dried strawberries. These concentrated little gems provide an unparalleled burst of berry goodness and natural color, completely eliminating the need for any artificial food dyes. You get pure, unadulterated strawberry perfection in every bite, which is a huge bonus for those looking for natural ingredients.

Beyond a classic strawberry layer cake, this versatile frosting is absolutely divine on a variety of other baked goods. Imagine it swirled high atop delicate mini vanilla cupcakes, spread generously over a elegant vanilla layer cake, or adding a vibrant finish to luscious strawberry filled cupcakes. Its rich, creamy texture and bright flavor make it an ideal complement to almost any vanilla, chocolate, or fruit-flavored dessert. The possibilities are truly endless, making this recipe a staple in any baker’s repertoire.

Why You’ll Adore This Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe!

• Effortlessly Easy to Make: Forget complicated techniques and endless ingredient lists. You only need 6 common ingredients and approximately 10-15 minutes of hands-on time to create this phenomenal strawberry cream cheese frosting. It’s perfect for both novice bakers and seasoned pros looking for a quick yet impressive dessert topping. The straightforward process means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your delicious creations.
• Bursting with Authentic Strawberry Flavor: The secret weapon here is freeze-dried strawberries. By grinding them into a fine powder, you get an incredibly concentrated, intense strawberry flavor that truly packs a punch. Unlike fresh or frozen berries, freeze-dried strawberries contain no excess moisture, ensuring your frosting remains perfectly thick and stable while delivering a vibrant, natural pink color without a single drop of artificial dye. This method provides the purest strawberry essence, making your desserts undeniably delicious.
• Incredibly Versatile for Cakes or Cupcakes: This luscious frosting is wonderfully adaptable, making it excellent for frosting everything from celebratory layer cakes to individual cupcakes. Its creamy consistency spreads beautifully, creating a smooth and appealing finish. While it’s slightly softer than a traditional American buttercream due to the cream cheese, which means it’s less ideal for intricate piped decorations, it’s absolutely perfect for spreading, swirling, or creating charming dollops. It’s the ideal choice when you want maximum flavor and a delightful texture that melts in your mouth.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Creating this irresistible strawberry cream cheese frosting requires a handful of carefully selected ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving its perfect flavor and consistency. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Freeze-Dried Strawberries: These are the star of the show! You can readily find freeze-dried strawberries at many popular retailers like Trader Joe’s, Target, or even conveniently online via Amazon. The key benefit of freeze-dried strawberries is their concentrated flavor and complete lack of moisture. This makes them perfect for grinding into a fine powder that infuses the frosting with intense strawberry goodness without making it runny. I am often asked if fresh or frozen strawberries can be used instead, but I strongly advise against it. Both fresh and frozen berries contain too much water, which would destabilize the cream cheese frosting and result in a thin, soupy consistency. Stick to freeze-dried for the best results!
• Confectioners’ Sugar: Also widely known as powdered sugar or icing sugar, this finely milled sugar is essential for achieving a smooth, lump-free frosting. Its fine texture dissolves easily into the butter and cream cheese mixture, providing sweetness and body without any grittiness. It is crucial to sift your confectioners’ sugar before adding it to the frosting. Skipping this step can lead to a lumpy frosting, no matter how much you beat it. Sifting ensures a silky-smooth finish that’s a hallmark of a professional-quality frosting.
• Cream Cheese: For this recipe, always opt for full-fat cream cheese. The higher fat content of full-fat cream cheese provides a richer flavor and a much firmer, more stable texture, which is vital for a cream cheese frosting that holds its shape. Low-fat or whipped cream cheese varieties have a higher water content and will make your frosting runny and difficult to work with. Ensure your cream cheese is cold when you start mixing, as this also contributes significantly to a stable and thick consistency.
• Unsalted Butter: Good quality unsalted butter adds richness, flavor, and structure to the frosting. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall salt content of the recipe. Ensure your butter is at room temperature – not melted, but softened enough to easily indent with your finger. This allows it to cream smoothly with the cold cream cheese, creating a homogenous base for your frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances the overall sweetness and complexity of the strawberry flavor. Use good quality vanilla for the best results, as it truly makes a difference in the finished taste.
• Salt: Just a small pinch of salt is vital to balance the sweetness of the sugar and to bring out the vibrant flavors of the strawberries and cream cheese. Don’t skip it, as it prevents the frosting from tasting one-dimensional and overly sweet.

Essential Top Tip for Cream Cheese Stability!

If you’re located in Europe or any region where cream cheese typically comes in tubs rather than the firmer block-style packets commonly found in North America, pay close attention to this tip. Cream cheese sold in tubs often contains more moisture, which can significantly affect the consistency of your frosting, making it too soft or even runny. To counteract this, gently pat your tub cream cheese dry with several layers of paper towel before adding it to your mixer. This simple step is the easiest and most effective way to remove that excess moisture, ensuring your strawberry cream cheese frosting achieves the perfect thick, spreadable, and stable consistency you desire. Don’t skip this if you want a frosting that holds up beautifully!

How to Craft Your Dreamy Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting: Step-by-Step Guide

Making this delightful strawberry cream cheese frosting is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a perfect, creamy result every time:

Step 1: Cream the Base. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using a large bowl with an electric hand mixer), begin by beating the room-temperature unsalted butter together with the cold, full-fat cream cheese. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth, light, and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Make sure there are no lumps of butter or cream cheese visible, and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is thoroughly combined.

Step 2: Incorporate the Sweetness. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar to the creamed butter and cream cheese mixture, one cup at a time. Start on a very low speed to prevent a cloud of sugar from forming, then increase to medium-low speed, mixing until each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next. This slow addition helps to create a smooth, lump-free frosting and prevents the mixture from becoming too airy too quickly.

Step 3: Add the Flavor and Color. Once all the powdered sugar is smoothly mixed in, it’s time for the star flavors. Add the finely ground freeze-dried strawberry powder, the pinch of salt, and the vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat on low speed initially to combine, then increase to medium speed and continue beating for another 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light, fluffy, and the strawberry powder is evenly distributed, giving the frosting a beautiful natural pink color. Scrape down the bowl one last time to ensure everything is perfectly blended.

Step 4: Frost and Enjoy! Your glorious strawberry cream cheese frosting is now ready to use! For the best texture and ease of spreading, use it immediately after preparation. Spread it generously over your cooled cakes, cupcakes, or any other dessert you desire. Get ready to indulge in this unbelievably flavorful and creamy treat!

Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• Experiment with Different Freeze-Dried Fruits: One of the most amazing aspects of this recipe is its adaptability. While freeze-dried strawberries deliver a classic taste, you can easily swap them out for an equal amount of other freeze-dried fruit powders! Imagine a luscious blueberry cream cheese frosting using freeze-dried blueberry powder, a rich cherry version, or a tangy blackberry frosting. Simply follow the same steps, and you’ll have a new, exciting flavor profile. This allows for endless creative variations based on your favorite fruits!
• Always Use Cold Cream Cheese: While many baking recipes call for room-temperature ingredients, cream cheese is a bit finicky. For the most stable and thick cream cheese frosting, I strongly recommend using cold, full-fat cream cheese straight from the refrigerator. Starting with cold cream cheese helps it maintain its structure and prevents the frosting from becoming too soft or runny, especially when combined with softened butter. This is a crucial step for achieving that perfect spreadable consistency.
• Understand the Amount of Frosting: This recipe is perfectly scaled to make a generous amount of frosting, sufficient for beautifully covering a standard 2-layer cake (8 or 9 inches). If you’re planning to frost a larger cake, a tiered cake, or a very large batch of cupcakes (more than 24 standard cupcakes), you might want to consider doubling the recipe. Conversely, if you only need a small batch for a dozen cupcakes or a single-layer cake, you can easily halve the recipe. Always ensure your cake or cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
• Ensure Powdered Sugar is Sifted: This cannot be stressed enough! Powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) often clumps up due to moisture. If you don’t sift it before adding it to your frosting, you’ll end up with tiny, hard sugar lumps that are impossible to beat out, resulting in a gritty texture. A quick sift through a fine-mesh sieve will guarantee a silky-smooth, professional-quality frosting.
• Achieving the Right Butter Temperature: Your unsalted butter should be at room temperature, but not melted. It should be soft enough that your finger leaves an indentation when pressed, but still cool to the touch. Butter that is too soft or melted will make your frosting greasy and overly thin, impacting its ability to hold its shape.
• Storage and Re-softening: If you make the frosting ahead of time or have leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When you’re ready to use it, allow it to sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes until it softens to a spreadable consistency. You might need to give it a quick whip with your mixer on low speed to bring back its original fluffiness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

If you’ve enjoyed making this incredibly delicious strawberry cream cheese frosting, I would absolutely love to hear about it! Please take a moment to leave a ⭐️ rating and review below to share your experience and help other bakers discover this amazing recipe. Seeing your beautiful creations brings me so much joy, so don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @alpineella when you share your frosted masterpieces! You can also stay connected and find more baking inspiration by following along on Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok. Happy baking!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Ella Gilbert

Nutrition