Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

5 from 2 votes

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

This brown butter cream cheese frosting is so luscious and creamy. Brown butter gives your average cream cheese frosting a rich and nutty flavor, perfect for topping on your favorite cakes and cupcakes! If you’re looking for something a little different from your traditional cream cheese frosting, give this recipe a try!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Ingredients

▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter - 113g
▢ 8 oz cream cheese - softened (226g)
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 3 cups powdered sugar - 330g

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Instructions

Cut the unsalted butter into small pieces. Heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Place the pieces of butter into the skillet.
Cook, stirring frequently, as the butter melts. It will begin to foam up. Keep stirring.
Cook for an additional 5-6 minutes, stirring constantly. The foam will subside and the milk solids will settle to the bottom of the pan and turn brown. Stir to prevent the milk solids from burning.
Once the butter turns an amber color and has a nutty aroma, remove it from the heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl. Let cool and solidify before continuing.
Add the softened cream cheese and solidified browned butter to a large mixing bowl.
Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix to combine, about 1 minute.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth and creamy and you've reached your desired consistency. If for some reason you need to thin out the icing, add a tablespoon of milk. If you want your icing to be thicker to pipe onto cupcakes, you may want to add more powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time.
Use brown butter cream cheese frosting to frost cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

This frosting recipe will frost 12 cupcakes or a 9x13-inch sheet cake. If you want to frost a 3-layer 8-inch cake, you will want to double the recipe.
You can make the browned butter in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze browned butter for up to 3 months. Just let sit out at room temperature before adding to the softened cream cheese.
You can store leftover brown butter cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Let sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften before using.

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