Hold my spatula – cream cheese frosting just got better!
Caramel is at the forefront of popular flavors. Salted caramel lattes, caramel-drizzled apple pie, and salted caramel popcorn are just a few of my favorite caramel-infused treats. But I’m not the only one who’s caramel crazy. According to financial reports, the caramel market is steadily growing and may even double in the next decade. It’s certainly a sweeter investment than gold!
But have you ever thought about using caramel for frosting?
Once you try it, you may never go back to vanilla. Rather than playing the role of supporting actor, this recipe transforms frosting into a fellow star alongside your cake of choice. The light, creamy texture and notes of buttery caramel make every bite feel decadent.
A Caramel Creation…In Only 10 Minutes!
Caramel frosting sounds like something you’d request in a bakery, but you can make it at home and be licking the spatula within 10 minutes. The recipe calls for 5 ingredients, many of which are kitchen constants: cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, confectioner’s sugar, and—the “secret” ingredient—caramel sauce. The best part about this caramel sauce is that it can be store-bought. No slaving over the stove to keep your own caramel sauce from burning!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
How to Make Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Beat the cream cheese and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer or a handheld mixer on medium speed. Aim for a smooth and creamy texture, it should take about 1 minute.
Step 2: Add the caramel sauce and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat the mixture on medium speed until well blended.
Step 3: Add the sugar gradually, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed after each addition to prevent a sugar cloud in your kitchen. If the frosting is too thin, add a bit more sugar until you reach the desired thickness.
Step 4: Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat the frosting for up to 2 minutes. This will add some air into the frosting, making it fluffy.
FAQs & Tips
Caramel cream cheese frosting can be made ahead of time and safely stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, this will cause the frosting to harden, so you’ll need to set it out for about an hour before using it. Once it warms up to room temperature, it should be easy to spread on baked goods.
Yes! Like regular cream cheese frosting, it can be used to create gorgeous (and delicious) swirls.
Runny frosting is an easy fix. Simply add powdered sugar or corn starch in ¼ cup increments until you reach the desired consistency.
To really bring out the salty, buttery notes of this caramel frosting, be sure to use salted butter. The only thing better than caramel is salted caramel!
The main difference is the dairy used in the recipe. Cream cheese frosting calls for, well, cream cheese, while buttercream uses heavy cream or milk.
With a sweeter flavor, buttercream pairs well with nearly any dessert, while the tang of cream cheese frosting is typically reserved for moist cakes like red velvet and carrot cake.
Serving Suggestions
Caramel cream cheese frosting is a delicious topping for cupcakes, cakes, and cookies! Cake flavors that pair well with this recipe include chocolate, white, yellow, pumpkin, and, of course, caramel. And it doesn’t just have to be on top! Like regular cream cheese frosting, you can also use its caramel cousin for cake layering. This caramel frosting is also great for topping off chocolate chip, butter, pumpkin, and sugar cookies.
Want to be extra fancy? Instead of sprinkles, top your cupcakes or cookies with a caramel-filled candy, like a Rolo.
Easy to make and absolutely delicious, this caramel frosting is sure to become a staple for your baked goods. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Happy frosting!
The Best Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar divided
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer or a handheld mixer on medium speed. Aim for a smooth and creamy texture, it should take about 1 minute.
- Add the caramel sauce and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat the mixture on medium speed until well blended.
- Add the sugar gradually, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed after each addition to prevent a sugar cloud in your kitchen. If the frosting is too thin, add a bit more sugar until you reach the desired thickness.
- Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat the frosting for up to 2 minutes. This will add some air into the frosting, making it fluffy.
Nutrition
