Fluffy, creamy, and bursting with bold strawberry flavor. That’s what you’ll get when you whip up this beautiful strawberry cream cheese frosting.
I’ve made a point to create separate posts for all of my fun frosting recipes because desserts can always be made extra special with the addition of frosting! Yes, I have a brand new recipe dropping (tomorrow!) that has this strawberry frosting on top, but why not spread it on some freshly baked cookies, bars, or a cake that needs a little something?
Whip it up in just 15 minutes, and maybe even dip pretzels or vanilla wafers. YUM.
Everything you’ll need to make strawberry cream cheese frosting
You’re just 6 ingredients away from creamy, deliciously sweet strawberry frosting. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Freeze-dried strawberries: we’re actually using freeze-dried strawberries (not fresh strawberries) to give the frosting that yummy strawberry flavor and pretty pink color! They pack the most flavor punch too.
- Butter: you’ll also need butter to give the frosting its fluffy texture. I like to use salted butter for a little extra flavor.
- Cream cheese: because this isn’t a buttercream frosting, we’re also adding cream cheese! It gives the frosting that subtle tang and slightly thinner texture that distinguishes it from buttercream.
- Powdered sugar: like in all of my frosting recipes, we’re sweetening this with powdered sugar.
- Vanilla: I like to add a splash of vanilla extract to bring out the sweetness.
- Milk: feel free to use any milk you’d like to make the frosting nice and creamy.
Can I use fresh strawberries?
After testing both this strawberry cream cheese frosting and this Strawberry Buttercream multiple times each, I found that neither fresh strawberries (nor strawberry jam) gave the frosting the sweetness and strawberry flavor I was looking for.
Using freeze-dried strawberries gave the frosting a much deeper strawberry flavor, and it means that you can easily make this frosting when strawberries aren’t in season!
Try a vegan or dairy-free version
To make vegan strawberry cream cheese frosting, just use your favorite vegan / dairy-free butter and cream cheese. I like Miyokos butter and Violife cream cheese! Then be sure to thin your frosting with dairy-free milk.
Perfect strawberry cream cheese frosting in 3 steps
- Blend the strawberries. Start by blending your freeze-dried strawberries in a small, high-powered blender or food processor until they become a very fine powder. Do not blend too much though or they will turn into a paste. It should only take 20 to 30 seconds.
- Mix the butter & cream cheese. Next, whip your butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer on high until fluffy and well combined.
- Whip the frosting. Add the freeze-dried strawberry powder, powdered sugar & vanilla, and beat together starting on low and ending on medium-high until smooth. Add milk a tablespoon at a time to make the frosting nice and creamy!
Can I mix it by hand?
Absolutely! Feel free to mix the strawberry cream cheese frosting in a large bowl with a hand mixer.
Delicious ways to use this frosting
- On beautiful cakes like this Lemon Pistachio Cake, this Almond Flour Strawberry Shortcake Cake, or this Strawberry Coffee Cake
- On sweet breads or rolls like these Lemon Lover’s Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls or this Fresh Strawberry Shortcake Bread
- On cookies, bars, or muffins like these White Chocolate Macadamia Snickerdoodles, these Fudgy Flourless Almond Butter Brownies for a chocolate strawberry twist, or these Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins
- Dip pretzels for a sweet and savory combo, or vanilla wafers!
Storing & freezing tips
- To store: place any leftover strawberry cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To freeze: place the frosting in an airtight glass container or freezer-friendly bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, simply let it thaw in the refrigerator, let it come to room temp, and then re-whip it in your electric mixer.
Our favorite frosting tools
Get all of my go-to kitchen tools here!
More frosting recipes you’ll love
- Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Dad’s Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
Get all of my dessert recipes here!
I hope you love this strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup (22 grams) freeze dried strawberries
- 8 tablespoons (½ cup, 113g) salted butter, softened
- 8 ounces (224g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 ½ cup (300 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 4 tablespoons milk, to make creamy
Instructions
- In a small high powered blender: add the freeze dried strawberries and process on high for 30 seconds until they resemble a fine powder.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter and cream cheese, and beat on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes until fluffy and well combined, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Next add the freeze dried strawberry powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and beat on low speed to start, then increase to medium-high speed and mix until smooth and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add milk, a tablespoon at a time, to make the frosting a little more creamy. (Alternatively, whisk the frosting by hand.)
Recipe Notes
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
