Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Brown butter cream cheese frosting takes cream cheese frosting to the next level. This frosting recipe is made with brown butter, which adds a toasty, nutty flavor. This frosting pairs well with many different dessert flavors including carrot, pumpkin, and banana.

Ingredients for Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

• Unsalted butter – To make brown butter. Check out my baking tutorial on how to make brown butter to learn more. For this recipe, we will need the brown butter solid, but at room temperature.
• Cream cheese – Room temperature.
• Powdered sugar – Confectioners’ sugar/icing sugar.
• Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract. You can also use vanilla bean paste, if preferred.
• Salt – A pinch of salt provides some contrast to the sweetness of the frosting.

How to Make Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Make the brown butter: Check out this tutorial on how to make brown butter. Chill the brown butter in the refrigerator until solid and then bring to room temperature to soften before making the frosting.
2. Cream the brown butter and cream cheese: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl with an hand-held electric mixer, whip the room temperature brown butter and cream cheese for 5 minutes until it is light and creamy.
3. Add in the ingredients: Add in the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until combined. Then, add in the vanilla extract and salt. 
4. Whip the frosting: Turn the mixer to medium speed and whip the frosting for 2 to 3 minutes until it is smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are well incorporated. Mix the frosting on low speed for several minutes to remove any air bubbles and to smooth out the frosting.

Other Recipes You Will Love

• Cream cheese frosting
• Brown butter cupcakes
• Carrot cake cookies
• Brown butter buttercream frosting
• Brown butter chocolate chip cookies

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Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chill Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Yield: 6 cups

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Brown butter cream cheese frosting takes cream cheese frosting to the next level. This frosting recipe is made with brown butter, which adds a toasty, nutty flavor. This frosting pairs well with many different dessert flavors including carrot, pumpkin, and banana.

Equipment

• Stand mixer or electric hand mixer

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 ½ cups (568 g) unsalted butter to make brown butter
• ▢ 8 oz (227 g) cream cheese room temperature
• ▢ 7 cups (840 g) powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 tbsp (13 g) vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ tsp (0.5 tsp) salt

Instructions

Brown Butter (Make Ahead)

• Add the unsalted butter to a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted. Continue to cook the butter, stirring regularly, until the butter starts to foam. At this point, the milk solids in the butter will start to turn a golden brown color. Stir the butter constantly so the milk solids do not burn. Once your achieve a golden brown color (which will happen quickly), remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the brown butter into a heat-safe bowl immediately.
• Cool the melted brown butter to room temperature, then, cover and chill the butter in the refrigerator until it solidifies. Bring the brown butter to room temperature before making the buttercream frosting.

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the room temperature brown butter and cream cheese for 5 minutes until it is light, pale, and creamy.
• Add in half of the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until combined. Add in the remaining half of the powdered sugar and continue to mix on low speed until fully combined with the butter and cream cheese. Add in the vanilla extract and salt and mix on low speed until combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated.
• Turn the mixer to medium speed and whip the frosting for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Mix the cream cheese frosting on low speed for several minutes to remove any air bubbles and to smooth out the frosting.

Notes

• Store the cream cheese frosting in an airtight container or wrapped well with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months. 
• To use, bring the frosting to room temperature and rewhip until it is smooth and creamy.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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About Courtney

Baker | 80s Lover | Cookbook Author

Courtney is a self-taught home baker and cookbook author of “Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes”. She loves to create new and unique recipes while simultaneously listening to 80s music.

Meet Courtney