A magical take on cream cheese frosting! A hybrid of magical (ermine/flour) frosting & cream cheese frosting, this recipe is firm, pipeable, & more stable.

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting | Baking a Moment

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting

*This post originally published on September 9, 2013. I thought it was due for an update! So, I’ve included new photos, added a how-to video, and given some more detailed instructions and tips for success. Hopefully you’ll enjoy this cream cheese frosting as much I do!*

I am always on the lookout for new frostings to try. There are so many different ways you can top your cakes and cupcakes, from American style buttercream to Swiss Meringue Buttercream to Seven Minute Frosting, I’ve tried (and loved!) them all!

So when I first heard about Magical Frosting (aka: ermine frosting, cooked flour buttercream, or boiled milk icing), I wasted no time trying it out.

It’s really good!  Very fluffy, and smooth.  I liked it a lot!

But the one thing that really struck me about Magical Frosting was how well it held up.  It really holds its shape, doesn’t weep or slump or get all melty.  It got my wheels turning…

I love a good cream cheese frosting.  There are so many things that just require it.  Red Velvet.  Carrot cake.  Lemon Cupcakes.  But a lot of times, it can be a little loose and gloopy.

So naturally, I set out to try and make a Magical Cream Cheese Frosting.  And guess what?  It worked.

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting | Baking a Moment

Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting

WHAT IS MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING?

Magical cream cheese frosting is basically just a hybrid of magical frosting (aka: ermine frosting) and regular cream cheese frosting. It’s made with no powdered sugar. Instead, you cook a sweet, thickened milk mixture and then whip cream cheese and butter into that.

WHAT DOES MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING TASTE LIKE?

This frosting has a really pronounced cream cheese flavor. It’s really tangy and just sweet enough.

But the magic is in the texture. It’s super fluffy and smooth. Because it’s made without powdered sugar, there’s no grittiness whatsoever. It’s light as a cloud and so silky!

HOW TO MAKE MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

To make this unique icing, start by cooking up your roux.

In a small pot, whisk sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt together until combined. Then, slowly dribble in the milk, while whisking. It’s important to go slow for this step, so you don’t end up with a lumpy roux!

Magical Cream Cheese Icing Whisking Milk

Cook this mixture until it starts to bubble and thicken. Just be sure to whisk continuously, so it heats evenly. Again, you don’t want lumps! As soon as it comes to a bubble you’ll see it transform into a really thick, almost gluey mixture.

Magical Cream Cheese Buttercream Thickened Roux

Strain the roux into a heat-safe container, and pop it into the fridge to chill. It needs to be cold before the next step.

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting Straining

Once you have it good and cold, add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture on medium-high speed, adding the cream cheese just a tablespoon at a time. Let each tablespoon of cream cheese become completely incorporated before you add the next one.

Cream Cheese Frosting for Piping

When all the cream cheese has been added, do the same thing with the butter. One tablespoon at a time, until your buttercream is smooth and fluffy.

The final step is to crank up the mixer to high, and whip that frosting until it’s super light and airy. You’ll see the icing nearly double in volume, right before your eyes!

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting

WHAT KIND OF CREAM CHEESE SHOULD BE USED FOR THIS FROSTING?

I recommend using the highest quality, lowest moisture-content cream cheese you can get your hands on. The higher the moisture content, the harder it will be for this buttercream to hold its shape.

That’s why I only use the kind of cream cheese that comes in a brick.

If you can only get tub cream cheese where you live, by all means give it a try if you like. But I can’t guarantee that you’ll have exactly the same result.

IS THIS CREAM CHEESE FROSTING PIPEABLE?

As you can see in the video below, this magical cream cheese frosting is totally pipeable! It pipes like a dream, and holds its shape very well.

It’s a little stiffer when it’s cool, so if you’re working with it on a very hot day, you might want to chill it beforehand.

Cream Cheese Ermine Frosting

DOES THIS FROSTING CRUST OVER?

Because it does not contain any powdered sugar, this frosting will not crust like a classic cream cheese frosting would. It does however become a little drier on the surface, as it sits exposed to air. So it’s not completely soft on the outside either.

CAN THIS FROSTING BE TINTED?

You can tint this frosting if you’d like! I would recommend using gel paste icing colors. They are highly concentrated so you only need a tiny bit, and they won’t add a lot of excess liquid to your cream cheese frosting.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

HOW MUCH FROSTING DOES THIS RECIPE MAKE?

This recipe makes about 3 cups of frosting, which is enough to top 24 cupcakes, to frost and fill one 6-inch diameter triple-layer cake, one 8-inch diameter double-layer cake, or, if you stretch it, one 9-inch diameter double-layer cake.

You can double or halve this recipe no problem, if you need less or more.

CAN MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING GO UNDER FONDANT?

You can definitely use this cream cheese icing as a base under fondant. It holds its shape best when cool, so it’s a good idea to chill the frosted cake prior to covering it with fondant, so it stays nice and smooth under all that handling.

Firm Cream Cheese Frosting

CAN THIS FROSTING BE MADE AHEAD?

It’s a good idea to plan ahead if you want to make this frosting recipe. You need to allow plenty of time for the roux to chill before adding in the cream cheese and butter.

Once made, you can store the frosting in the fridge for several days, up to a week. When you’re ready to use it, it may seem a little less airy or workable from sitting in the fridge so long. It can settle and become compacted over time, but if you pop it into the mixer and fluff it back up- it works like a charm!

DOES MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?

This frosting can sit out at room temperature for a few hours, but anything longer than that and it should probably go in the fridge. It should last for a least a week refrigerated, maybe even a little longer!

Stiff Cream Cheese Frosting

TROUBLESHOOTING: WHY IS MY MAGICAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING RUNNY?

It’s all about the temperature with cooked frostings like this one. Here are some important things to remember:

  • Make sure the roux is fully chilled before mixing in the other ingredients. If it’s still too warm, it will melt the cream cheese and butter.
  • Your cream cheese should be softened, but still cool.
  • Your butter should also be soft but cool. If it’s too melty your frosting could come out soupy. Just leave it out on the counter for about 30 minutes, and it should be just right.
  • Use cream cheese with the lowest moisture content you can find. I mentioned this above, but it bears repeating. Whipped cream cheese, or cream cheese in a tub, is much softer than the kind in a brick. That soft, loose quality will translate into your cream cheese frosting. So use a stiffer cream cheese, and you’ll end up with a stiffer frosting.
  • If you’ve goofed up on the temperatures and you find yourself with runny cream cheese frosting, all is not lost! Just put everything into the fridge for about 20 minutes, then re-whip. You should see it come together pretty quickly!
This recipe takes a little bit of planning ahead.  There’s a bit of down time, cooking on the stove, waiting for things to cool, so don’t think you can just slap some cream cheese and powdered sugar together and call it a day.  But if you know you are going to need something a little stronger than the run of the mill cream cheese frosting, this may be it.
Magical Cream Cheese Frosting | Baking a Moment
Magical Cream Cheese Frosting | Baking a Moment

Cream Cheese Frosting No Powdered Sugar

Awesome, tangy, cream cheese flavor, with a whisper of vanilla and a hint of lemon, and so stable to boot!  This frosting pipes like a dream and has a super fluffy texture.  You’re going to love it!


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Magical Cream Cheese Frosting
4.27 stars (42 ratings)

Magical Cream Cheese Frosting

Servings: 24 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 2 hours
Total Time: 35 minutes
A magical take on cream cheese frosting! A hybrid of magical (ermine/flour) frosting & cream cheese frosting, this recipe is firm, pipeable, & more stable.

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Place the sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in a small pot and whisk to combine.
  • Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps.
  • Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring often, until thickened.
  • Pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, and into a heat-safe container.
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Place the cooled mixture in a large mixing bowl, along with the lemon juice and vanilla, and whip on medium-high speed.
  • Whip in the cream cheese, a tablespoon at a time, allowing each addition to fully incorporate before adding the next. 
  • Whip in the butter, a tablespoon at a time, allowing each addition to fully incorporate before adding the next.
  • Turn the mixer up to high speed, and continue to whip until very fluffy.

Notes

Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe's Magical Frosting.
This recipe yields 3 cups of frosting (enough to top 24 cupcakes, one 6-inch diameter triple-layer cake, or one 8-inch diameter double-layer cake).
A few more great frosting recipes I think you'll love:
Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 26mg, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 205IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Cuisine: Topping
Course: Dessert
Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.
Here are some other great recipes you may enjoy (just click on the pic to view the post):

Simply Perfect Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Simply Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes

Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Mint Chocolate Cookie Cupcakes

Mint Chocolate Cookie Frosting

Strawberry Cupcakes

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream

All-Natural Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

All-Natural, No Dye Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

 

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