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When I set out to make a strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe with the best, bold flavor, I experimented with freeze dried strawberries, strawberry jelly and strawberry puree. I decided that my favorite used a combination of freeze dried and fresh strawberries. This combination is the best of both worlds!
This strawberry cream cheese frosting is creamy, tangy, and packed with strawberry flavor. The freeze dried strawberries add a lot of strawberry flavor without adding excess liquid, while the 2 tablespoons of fresh strawberries add that authentic fresh strawberry flavor.
I have been obsessed with plain cream cheese frosting for a while now, but this strawberry cream cheese icing is on another level!
This pink frosting recipe is the real deal thanks to the perfect combination of fresh strawberry purée and freeze dried strawberries.
It pairs perfectly with so many recipes, including my easy strawberry cake recipe, and is a perfectly pink creamy frosting for any Valentine’s Day themed treats. Use this frosting on strawberry cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, birthday cake and more!
Why you’ll love this Cream Cheese Strawberry Frosting
- 7 simple ingredients
- Under 10 minutes to make
- Perfect topping for any dessert
- Creamy, fluffy texture
- Uses real strawberries blended into a fresh strawberry puree
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the full recipe with measurements.
- Full fat cream cheese
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Powdered sugar – also called confectioners’ sugar
- Freeze dried strawberries
- Fresh strawberries
What are freeze dried strawberries?
Freeze-dried strawberries are a shelf-stable fruit that has undergone a special freeze-drying process to remove nearly all of its moisture, making them crunchy. You can usually find them near the trail mix at the grocery store.
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
This strawberry frosting recipe makes enough frosting to frost a 9×13 inch cake, a two layer 8 inch cake or 24 cupcakes.
- Blend freeze-dried strawberries. In a blender or food processor, blend the freeze dried strawberries into a fine powder. Set aside.
- Blend fresh strawberries. In a blender or food processor, blend about 3 large strawberries until you have strawberry puree. It’s okay if there are chunks! Alternatively, finely chop the strawberries. Set aside.
- Mix cream cheese and butter. Place the softened cream cheese and unsalted room temperature butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat together for 1-2 minutes, until whipped and fluffy.
- Combine remaining ingredients (except strawberries). Add in the vanilla extract, salt, and 2 cups of powdered sugar, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.
- Adjust to taste. Taste the frosting and if you prefer it more sweet, add in 1 more cup of powdered sugar.
- Add strawberry ingredients. Add in the freeze dried strawberry powder and 2 tbsp of pureed strawberries, beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- Top and enjoy! Use as frosting on cake and cupcakes. Store in a sealed container in the fridge if using later.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing Tips
- Vanilla extract. The small amount of vanilla extract in this recipe give the frosting a perfectly balanced, but not overpowering flavor.
- Room temperature. Use room temperature butter and cream cheese for creamy results.
- Pair this frosting with Strawberry Cake Mix Cupcakes for big strawberry flavor!
Cream Cheese Strawberry Frosting Variations
- Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese: Mix in a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and a bit of lemon zest for a bright, tangy twist that enhances the strawberry flavor.
- Honey Strawberry Cream Cheese: Sweeten your cream cheese with a tablespoon of honey for a naturally sweet and floral flavor, which balances beautifully with the strawberries.
- Strawberry Cinnamon Cream Cheese: Stir in a pinch of cinnamon for a warm, spiced flavor that adds depth and complements the strawberries’ sweetness.
- Strawberry Coconut Cream Cheese: Add shredded coconut for a tropical twist, bringing a fun texture and extra flavor to the cream cheese spread.
- Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cheese: Swirl in a bit of melted dark chocolate or cocoa powder for a decadent strawberry-chocolate combination—perfect for spreading on toast or using in desserts.
- Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese: Mix in a splash of almond extract for a nutty undertone that complements the sweet strawberry flavor.
How to store Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing
You can store this frosting recipe in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. The frosting will thicken in the refrigerator as it gets cold. Place the frosting on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature, and then give it a quick whip with an electric mixer before using.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
If your frosting is runny, it may have been over whipped. To fix it, add more powdered sugar in small increments until you have the right consistency. However, adding too much powdered sugar will make for a sweeter frosting.
This frosting can become lumpy if the cream cheese or butter were cold when you mixed the frosting together. Be sure to use room temperature ingredients. If you forget to set them out in advance, a quick way to get cream cheese and butter to room temperature is to microwave them for 5 second intervals until soft.
You can leave this frosting out on top of cake, cookies or cupcakes for up to 8 hours. After that, it is recommended that you refrigerate it.
More Frosting Recipes
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Homemade Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 oz full fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 oz freeze dried strawberries, blended into fine powder
- 2 tbsp pureed / finely chopped strawberries, it’s okay if there are chunks
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, blend the freeze dried strawberries into a fine powder. Set aside.
- In a blender or food processor, blend about 3 large strawberries until you have strawberry puree. It’s okay if there are chunks! Alternatively, finely chop the strawberries. Set aside.
- Place the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat together for 1-2 minutes, until whipped and fluffy.
- Add in the vanilla extract, salt, and 2 cups of powdered sugar, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.
- Taste the frosting and if you prefer it more sweet, add in 1 more cup of powdered sugar.
- Add in the freeze dried strawberry powder and 2 tbsp of pureed strawberries, beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- Use as frosting on cake and cupcakes. Store in a sealed container in the fridge if using later.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
I was just wondering if I can’t find freeze dried strawberries can I use strawberry flavored gelatin instead?? You are ,after all, pulsing the freeze dried strawberries into a fine powder..
Hi Nancy! Great question. The flavor profile would be very different as freeze dried strawberries are real strawberries and strawberry flavored gelatin is artificial. The strawberry jello will also dye the frosting a bright red color. Some things to keep in mind. I’m not sure I would recommend it.
Wow, just wonderful. I’ve baked all my life and don’t like to use store bought cake mixes, (it’s pride, because today’s cake mixes are quite good) I’ve always used plain cream cheese on my strawberry cakes because I’ve never cared for other recipes I’ve found. When i read this, this one was different! It actually sounded good. I was not disappointed. This recipe is fabulous and so very pretty! Only change I did was instead of pureed strawberry, I used the reduction I had left from the strawberry cake. This will be my forever recipe. Now I have to check out the rest of your recipes! Thank you