This cream cheese icing is a sweet and simple recipe with only 3 ingredients. This icing is the go to icing for cinnamon rolls, graham cracker sandwiches, French toast, French toast casserole, pound cakes, spice breads, and more.

I love this recipe because it is just sweet enough without covering up the cream cheese flavor that I love, and it has no refined sugars! It tastes better than store bought cream cheese icing and it is healthier too.

Glass container of cream cheese icing with a spoon

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Table Of Contents

Why You will Love this Cream Cheese Icing
Ways to Use the Cream Cheese Icing
Does the Type of Cream Cheese Matter in Cream Cheese Icing?
Can I Use Homemade Cream Cheese for this Icing?
How do I Avoid Getting Lumps in my Cream Cheese Icing?
How to Store The Leftovers
Sweet Cream Cheese Icing with NO Refined Sugar
How do You Use Cream Cheese Icing?
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Why You will Love this Cream Cheese Icing

You will love this cream cheese icing as much as I do because it is a simple, fast, and versatile recipe.

This recipe is 4 ingredients long and most of them you probably have in your kitchen right now. It has no refined sugar either, so I don’t have to sift my powdered sugar.

Crem cheese icing also comes together in less than 20 minutes of work and even less with a mixer! I can make this icing almost instantly in my home whenever we want it.

This icing can be customized to add flavor to anything you are adding it to. Any spice or extract can be added and will improve the flavor. The base flavor is great by itself too if you don’t want to customize. My son would eat this by the spoonful plain or with flavors.

piece of sourdough autumn spice bread on a plate covered in cream cheese with a bite taken out of it

Ways to Use the Cream Cheese Icing

This icing is a beautiful base. You can use it for anything that is topped with icing.

We use it for cinnamon rolls, French toast, French toast casserole, and graham cracker sandwiches and so much more.

I add spices and extracts to change the flavor to compliment what I am making.

I sometimes add cinnamon and nutmeg for cinnamon rolls. Orange zest for orange and cranberry scones. Mint or cocoa powder for chocolate cake. Add any flavors that work with the food you created!

There are so many wonderful ways to use this spread. I hope you experiment and let us know in the comments what works out for you!

a block of cream cheese, a jar of honey, a bottle of maple syrup, a liquid measuring cup, and a hand mixer

Does the Type of Cream Cheese Matter in Cream Cheese Icing?

YES! If you don’t enjoy the taste of the cream cheese by itself, then you may not enjoy the taste of the final icing.

My favorite cream cheese to use is the 8oz blocks of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Their cream cheese tastes the best to me, so that is what I use.

This icing is heavily flavored by the cream cheese itself so please use a cream cheese that you and your family like as the base for success.

Can I Use Homemade Cream Cheese for this Icing?

Yes, you can. Homemade cream cheese might have extra liquid in it than store bought cheese.

Be sure to let it drain extra long if you can, and start by sweetening it with honey. Honey has a lower water content than maple syrup so it won’t make the cheese spread as runny.

If you need to thicken the mix you can add more cream cheese, powdered sugar, or some spices.

bowl of smooth cream cheese icing with a red spatula

How do I Avoid Getting Lumps in my Cream Cheese Icing?

In order to avoid getting lumps in your icing, you need to start with room temperature cream cheese.

Cold cream cheese is the main reason that people have lumps.

Another way to avoid lumps is to beat the cream cheese before adding any of the liquid ingredients. Mixing the stiff batter will help break down the lumps.

Scrape down your bowl frequently! If you leave the unmixed cheese up the sides of the bowl then you will have chunks that will mix in later.

You can pass your icing through a mesh sieve if you want. It would break down the chunks of icing.

If you have lumps in your icing, you are not alone. They are so common and honestly, I leave them be most of the time. My family and friends have never mentioned any lumps in the icing.

How to Store The Leftovers

This cream cheese icing can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for a week.

The spread can be frozen for 1-2 months. When you take it out of the freezer; thaw and whip it up once more for the best texture.

Sweet Cream Cheese Icing with NO Refined Sugar

This soft cream cheese icing is our go to icing for cinnamon rolls, French toast, French toast casserole, autumn spice bread, graham cracker sandwiches, and pound cakes. We love how the flavor of the honey, maple syrup and cream cheese compliment anything that we put it on.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dessert, Homemade Kitchen Staples

Cuisine American

Servings 10 Servings of 2Tbsp

Calories 110 kcal

Equipment

1 Liquid Measuring Cup
1 Bowl
1 Mixer or whisk you can do it by hand, it is easier with a mixer
1 Set of Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

8 Ounce Cream Cheese room temperature
¼ Cup Maple Syrup
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 Pinch Salt optional

Instructions

Soften the cream cheese.
You can put it on the counter a few hours before you want to make the icing, or you can remove it from the foil and heat it in the microwave for 30 second increments until it is room tempurature.
Add the softened cream cheese to the bowl and mix it, until it is smooth.
Add in the salt, maple syrup, and honey. Mix until well blended.
It will look like a liquid now, but once it goes back into the fridge it will stiffen.
Chill and spread on cinnamon rolls, graham crackers, and so much more!

Notes

You could substitute maple syrup or molasses for the honey as a different flavor option.

You can add any spices you like to this.

I start with ½ teaspoon of spice and taste to add more. Here are ideas:

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Vanilla Extract

Cloves

Cardamon

Mint

Orange Zest

Lemon Zest

Almond Extract

Keyword Beginner Recipe, Cinnamon Roll Icing, Cream cheese icing, Easy, Easy Icing, French toast icing, No Refined Sugar, Simple Icing, Simple Spread, Spread

How do You Use Cream Cheese Icing?

Let us know in the comments down below what your favorite ways are to serve cream cheese frosting!