Skip store-bought options, and learn how to make a sweet, citrusy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting at home instead. With six simple ingredients, it comes together in minutes and is the best addition to all your favorite desserts!

I am so excited to bring you another post in our All the Healthy Things “Just the Basics” series. These posts are focused on helping you master basics in the kitchen and, hopefully, inspiring you with a few new ideas along the way.

If you are new to cooking or just need a refresher on the basics, these posts are designed to help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Once you have a handle on a few basic concepts and techniques, you can easily build upon them to create new and exciting recipes and dishes without a second thought.

If you have ever wondered how some people just seem to know how to cook without a recipe or can quickly throw together a meal in a moment’s notice, it’s likely because they have a good grasp of the basics. I want that for you! It’s my hope that every just the basics post helps you feel more comfortable so that you can enjoy your time spent in the kitchen even more!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the other how-to guides in the series.

Recipe Ingredients

Cream Cheese: this forms the base of the frosting. Make sure to use block-style cream cheese, not cream cheese from a tub, and let it soften for easy mixing. Full-fat works best!
Butter: I highly recommend using an unsalted butter for this lemon cream cheese frosting. Choose a butter that tastes good on its own.
Confectioner’s Sugar: also known as powdered sugar, this sweetens the frosting without making it grainy. Granulated sugar will not work for this recipe!
Vanilla Extract: this enhances the sweetness and infuses the frosting with a delicious vanilla taste.
Lemon: we’re using both lemon juice and lemon zest for a delicious, bright, citrusy frosting.

How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting in Minutes!

Combine. Mix the cream cheese, butter, and sugar with a hand mixer until the mixture is fluffy and no lumps remain.
Flavor. Add the remaining ingredients and mix again on high until well combined. Enjoy!

My Tips & Tricks

Soften the ingredients – allow the cream cheese and butter to sit out and come to room temperature before you begin. This makes for easy mixing and prevents your easy cream cheese frosting from becoming lumpy.
Sift the confectioner’s sugar – this isn’t completely necessary, but is a great way to make sure your frosting is completely smooth. It’s particularly useful if you plan on piping your frosting!
Thicken the consistency – if you prefer a thicker cream cheese lemon frosting, beat in extra confectioner’s sugar, using up to 1/4 cup.

Ways to Use

There are endless ways to use lemon cream cheese frosting! It works great as a topping on a variety of desserts and can even be used in some breakfast recipes to add a touch of sweetness to your morning. Some of my favorite ways to put it to use include:

Can I Use This Recipe for Piping?

Yes! For the best results, transfer it to a piping bag and let it chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes before you plan on frosting. This will make it much easier to work with!

Also, keep in mind that cream cheese frosting is not super stable and doesn’t hold up well in heat. So, you’ll want to make sure you’re planning on eating your dessert quickly, or keep it in the fridge to prevent the frosting from melting or weeping.

How to Store and Freeze

Leftover lemon cream cheese frosting will keep at room temperature for up to 8 hours. Any longer than that, and you’ll want to transfer it to the fridge to keep it fresh.

To Store: Transfer the frosting to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To Freeze: Transfer any leftovers to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, beat it for a few seconds to recombine the ingredients and achieve a creamy consistency again.

I hope this post on how to make Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is helpful! It’s surprisingly easy to make and the perfect addition to so many treats. If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

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Author: Ashlea Carver
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 cups 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Units Scale

8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

Add the cream cheese, butter, and confectioner’s sugar to a mixing bowl.
Use a hand mixer to mix the frosting until it is fluffy and the confectioners sugar is well incorporated without any lumps.
Next, add in the vanilla extract, lemon juice and zest and mix on high again until fluffy and well combined.