Video:How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

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Transcript:How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

Hi, I'm Gretchen Siegchrist for About.com Food, and I'm going to show you how to make cream cheese frosting. This is a simple and delicious recipe that is great on all types of cakes and cookies.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

For this recipe we will use:

• 8 oz. of cream cheese, the standard size that you get in the grocery store. It is important to use normal cream cheese, not the softened or whipped kind.

We will also be using:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1 tsp. of vanilla
• 3 cups of confectionary sugar

You will also need a mixing bowl and an electric mixer.

Cream Cheese Frosting Temperature

The temperature of the ingredients is very important in the recipe. The butter should be soft, at room temperature, but the cream cheese should still be cold. If the cream cheese is too soft, it will be difficult to get your frosting thick enough.

Mix Ingredients Together

Begin by beating together the butter and cream cheese. After the cream cheese and butter are combined, add the vanilla and mix it in. Sift the confectionary sugar before measuring it. You can do this by shaking it through a mesh sieve on to wax paper. Then, pour it into a measuring cup. It will be lighter and more aerated, which will make for a fluffier frosting. There is no need to be exact with the confectionary sugar. You can just add a little, and mix it in and then keep on tasting until the frosting is the sweetness and consistency that you like.

Adjusting Taste and Consistency

Now comes one of the best parts of frosting making, we get to taste it and see if it is ready. That is good, but I think it could use a little more sugar. We will add another 1/4 cup, and then try it again. You want the frosting to be smooth, but be careful not to over mix it. If you do, the frosting will break down and become grainy. If your frosting is too thick, add a little bit of milk to thin it out. If it is too thin, you can thicken it with a little more confectionary sugar.

Storing Cream Cheese Frosting

After your frosting is mixed, it is ready to use immediately. Or, you can put it in an air-tight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at food.about.com.