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    Home > Recipes > Dessert

    Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

    Published: Nov 7, 2019 · Modified: Aug 26, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 20 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    2.1K shares
    light and fluffy vanilla frosting
    spreading vanilla frosting on a sheet cake
    spreading vanilla frosting over a square vanilla cake
    spreading vanilla frosting over square vanilla cake
    light and fluffy vanilla frosting

    Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting is a four-ingredient frosting with heavy cream and cream cheese. It's light and fluffy like whipped cream but holds its shape and can be piped like cream cheese frosting. spreading vanilla frosting on a cake

    Now that our family has this super simple, weeknight-friendly Vanilla Snack Cake in the rotation, we needed a vanilla frosting to go on top. Most vanilla frosting recipes I found made way too much for this snack-sized cake, so I wanted a go-to version that would make just enough frosting for an 8x8 cake or a dozen cupcakes. (This is especially important since extra frosting mysteriously finds its way into my mouth.)

    This version of vanilla frosting is much lighter than buttercream. It has a great light but sturdy texture that makes it easy to spread and can be made a day in advance and just left at room temperature to cool down before using it.

    Here’s how to make my favorite Whipped Cream Frosting!

    vanilla frosting on a beater

    Ingredients for Whipped Cream Frosting

    • Cream Cheese - Be sure to get the cream cheese that comes in a block, not the kind in a tub that has a different texture and won’t work in this recipe. Be sure to let it soften to room temperature. The flavor of the cream cheese is subtle in this frosting, but it helps the frosting to be sturdy and hold its shape. Light or Low-fat Cream Cheese will work here.
    • Powdered Sugar - This frosting uses just enough powdered sugar to lend the frosting a bit (but not too much) sweetness. Powdered sugar is sometimes also labeled “icing” or “confectioners” sugar.
    • Heavy / Whipping Cream - Look for this labeled as either heavy cream or whipping cream. Be sure to keep this chilled right up until you add it to the frosting. This gives the frosting its light and fluffy texture reminiscent of whipped cream.
    • Pure Vanilla Extract - A bit of pure vanilla extract gives it vanilla flavor. Even without this, the frosting still has great flavor.

    spreading vanilla frosting on a cake

    How to Make Vanilla Frosting Ahead

    This frosting can be made up to a day ahead. Just transfer it to any container and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down to seal the top of the frosting. When you’re ready to use it, take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before using. Let it come close to room temperature and then give it a few really good stirs with a spatula before spreading it on the cake / cupcakes.

    spreading vanilla frosting on a cake with a spatula

    Other Snacking Cakes and Frosting Recipes

    • One Bowl Chocolate Cake 
    • Easy Vanilla Snack Cake
    • Creamy Chocolate Frosting (for an 8x8 cake) 
    • Applesauce Cake 
    • Smash Cake - If you have any young people in your life that are about to turn one, this sweet little cake is the perfect thing for "smashing" into on their first birthday.

    Favorite Tools

    • Mixer - Use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer for this frosting.
    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls - My go-to mixing bowls for baking.
    spreading vanilla frosting on a sheet cake
    Print Recipe
    4.40 from 53 votes

    Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

    Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting is a simple frosting that is made with both heavy cream and cream cheese. The result is light like whipped cream but holds its shape like cream cheese frosting.
    This recipe makes enough for an 8” round or square cake or a dozen cupcakes.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: easy dessert recipe, frosting
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 141kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $2.00

    Equipment

    • Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer

    Ingredients

    • 3 oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
    • ⅓ cup Powdered Sugar
    • 1 cup Heavy / Whipping Cream, chilled
    • ½ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (optional)

    Instructions

    • Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer. Turn the mixer on medium and beat until evenly combined.
    • Turn the mixer down to medium-low speed and slowly pour the heavy cream down the side of the bowl with the mixer running. Add vanilla extract.
    • When all of the cream and vanilla have been added, increase speed to medium-high until stiff peaks form. If the frosting is too thick to spread with a spatula, add more cream 1 Tablespoon at a time.
    • Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Notes

    This frosting can be made up to a day ahead. Just transfer it to any container and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down to seal the top of the frosting. When you’re ready to use it, take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before using. Let it come close to room temperature and then give it a few really good stirs with a spatula before spreading it on the cake / cupcakes.
    Pure Vanilla Extract - While this enhances the vanilla flavor of the frosting, it also dulls the white color. If you're going for maximum white color, skip it. If you want that more pronounced vanilla flavor, add the pure vanilla extract.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 33mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

     

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    2.1K shares

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julianne

      March 29, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      I used this frosting on my husband's birthday cake and it was perfect! I placed cupcakes to form a shape and this frosting was so thick it was able to cover over and make it look like there were no cracks between them. The texture was delightful! And the lightly sweet flavor went perfectly with the strong flavor of a dark, mocha chocolate cake.

      Reply
    2. Kimberly

      January 04, 2021 at 9:52 am

      Could you add almond extract to this to make it an almond icing? If so, how much?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        January 04, 2021 at 10:17 am

        Yes! It would be great that way. Since it's a small batch of frosting, I'd go easy on the almond extract. I'd start with 1/2 tsp.

        Reply
    3. C Herold

      March 19, 2021 at 8:47 am

      Do you recommend refrigerating any leftover frosted cake or can it sit at room temperature for a day or two?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        March 20, 2021 at 9:29 pm

        I do always refrigerate it once it's been frosted. I find that it stays most moist and fresh that way and, to be honest, I love this frosting cold. 😉

        Reply
    4. Sandy B.

      July 21, 2021 at 9:42 am

      5 stars
      This was the perfect frosting for my Angel food birthday cake ! Light, fluffy and not too sweet 🥰. The grandkids enjoyed helping. I wanted to replace the usual frosting that my mom used to make with heating, and then whipping Karo syrup- and this was a really good success !!!! I’m going to be using this on future baking projects. If I wanted to turn it into a chocolate version- what would you suggest ?
      Thank you making my 57th birthday a delicious occasion !

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        July 30, 2021 at 9:20 am

        So glad you liked it and happy belated birthday! I've been wanting to work on a chocolate version, but haven't played around with it yet. I'd start by adding about 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder with the powdered sugar and then just adding extra milk until it reached the right consistency.

        Reply
        • Katrina

          December 20, 2021 at 11:09 am

          5 stars
          So far this is the best light icing I have tried. Been experimenting to find a good fluffy frosting for my cupcakes. Do you happen to know how to make a chocolate version of this?

          Reply
          • Jess Smith

            December 21, 2021 at 2:28 pm

            So glad you liked it! It's only my list to create a chocolate version of this frosting - I'd like to use one too! Most buttercreams are just too sweet for me.

            Reply
    5. Brenda

      September 10, 2021 at 8:43 pm

      Hi, love the outcome of this icing. If I was to add icing colors, would it hold its texture?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        September 14, 2021 at 8:54 am

        Yes! I have added color and it does hold its shape. The gel icing colors are the most reliable since they don't add extra water, but I've used a couple drops of regular food coloring and had good success too.

        Reply
    6. Andrea

      October 10, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      5 stars
      I won’t lie, I was very skeptical about this recipe, but I desperately needed something I could frost a cake with that would stay true to form for a small wedding cake that wasn’t too sweet per request. I went through 4-5 other recipes before I tried this and I’m really mad I didn’t just make this to begin with. It came out perfect, exactly what I needed. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        October 11, 2021 at 1:25 pm

        So happy to hear this!

        Reply
    7. Lorna Terry

      December 25, 2021 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      1 cup powder sugar not 1/3 this is one of my family's oldest and most loved recipes.... goes perfect on pies too! Merry Christmas! 🎄

      Reply
    8. Mon

      February 04, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      This looks amazing, do you think it'll hold shape for being piped?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        February 08, 2022 at 8:52 am

        Yes - it can be piped and will hold its shape if refrigerated! Just bet sure to beat it to stiff enough peaks.

        Reply
    9. Ricky Tanner

      March 01, 2022 at 9:37 am

      Could I leave this cake sitting out,I really don't like cold cakes, I love the icing, I put it on a chocolate sheet cake?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        March 04, 2022 at 6:07 pm

        It shouldn't be left out for more than an hour since it has so much dairy, though it should hold its shape fine if left out for that amount of time. I also often make the frosting ahead and refrigerate it. It just needs a good stir before adding it to the cake, so you could make both components (cake and frosting) ahead and just frost right before serving.

        Reply
    10. Amber

      November 29, 2022 at 7:29 pm

      I made this frosting but it ended up being pretty liquidy. Do I just need to mix it more?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        November 30, 2022 at 7:58 am

        Yes. Most likely the you just need to give it a longer mix. I will thicken up and hold its shape the longer you mix it.

        Reply

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