Can You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?: Cream cheese frosting is a go-to frosting for just about every popular dessert. It’s a simple frosting made with just cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and sugar. It can be used for frosting cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more!
Due to its diverse uses, it’s best to keep cream cheese frosting ready beforehand. But you might wonder: how do I store excess cream cheese frosting? Can you freeze it? Read on to find answers to all your questions about freezing, thawing, and the shelf life of cream cheese frosting. Let’s get started!
- Can You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?
- How To Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?
- How To Thaw Cream Cheese Frosting?
- How Long Does Cream Cheese Frosting Last?
- What To Do With Leftover Cream Cheese Frosting?
- Can you use salted butter in cream cheese frosting?
- Can cream cheese frosting be colored?
- How long does it take for cream cheese to get to room temperature?
- Why is my cream cheese frosting separating?
- Can you eat cream cheese frosting left out overnight?
- Is cream cheese good for you?
Can You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?
Yes! Cream cheese frosting contains a lot of fat, so it freezes well. Cream cheese frosting can be stored for up to 3 months in an airtight container in the freezer. Then you should thaw the cream cheese frosting in the fridge because it is not safe to leave this frosting at room temperature. For thawing, move it from the freezer to the fridge the day before you plan on using it.
As most cakes and desserts freeze quite well, you can also freeze this frosting along with the cake or other dessert as their topping. Cream cheese might crumble a bit when frozen and thawed, but with the additional ingredients in the frosting, the crumbly effect can be brought down to a minimum. Keep reading this article to get tips on how to bring the frozen and thawed cream cheese frosting back to its original consistency and taste.
How To Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?
To properly freeze cream cheese frosting, prepare it according to the recipe and use the best quality ingredients. Then, follow the below-given steps to freeze your cream cheese frosting:
- If you are making a really big batch of cream cheese frosting, start by dividing it into smaller portions to get the amount needed to ice each cake. Then you can freeze each portion separately. This way, you won’t end up with too much frosting being thawed out in one go. Also, it’s not recommended to refreeze cream cheese frosting that has been previously frozen.
- First, scoop the cream cheese frosting into freezer bags and remove most of the air by pressing the bags flat.
- Then seal the freezer bags, put a label on them, and date them. To save space, store the bags in the freezer by stacking them.
- Alternatively, if you prefer to freeze your cream cheese frosting in containers, scoop the frosting into a freezer-safe container and then place a layer of plastic wrap on top of the frosting to avoid freezer burn. Tightly close the container, label it, and date it, then freeze.
You might be interested in knowing about buttercream frosting as well so why wait! look at our article on Can You Freeze Buttercream Frosting and clear your ambiguities.
How To Thaw Cream Cheese Frosting?
The thawing of frozen cream cheese frosting requires some planning, as you will need to take the cream cheese frosting out of the freezer the day before you wish to consume it. When it’s time to use your frosting, follow the below-given steps:
- The safest way to thaw cream cheese frosting is in the refrigerator. A day before using the frosting, remove the container or freezer bag from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
- You should never thaw frosting on the counter, as the uneven temperature can cause harmful bacteria to grow.
- While thawing, you may notice that the frosting has become watery or has a bit of a crumbly texture. To solve this issue, put the frosting in a large bowl and beat it vigorously using an electric mixer or a whisk to return it to its original texture.
- Finally, your frozen cream cheese frosting is ready to frost any dessert!
Leaving the cream cheese frosting to thaw in the fridge overnight is the safest way to do so because in this method the frosting won’t be exposed to temperatures that might increase bacterial growth. This gentle thawing process will also not ruin the texture of the cream cheese frosting and will keep it as close to its true texture as possible.
On thawing, the cream cheese frosting might get crumbly and watery. To fix this, simply use an electric mixer to beat the frosting back to its creamy, light texture. Remember, once the cream cheese frosting has been thawed and kept in the fridge, it should be used within 3 days. This way, you’ll get the best quality and taste, plus a cream cheese frosting that is still safe to be eaten.
How Long Does Cream Cheese Frosting Last?
By now, we know cream cheese frosting has quite a high-fat content, so it does freeze quite well. If stored properly in an airtight container, the cream cheese frosting can stay good for up to 3 months. The frosting will still be fine to use for some time, but the texture and taste will start to deteriorate, so to ensure you make the most of the frosting, use it within this 3-month period.
Cream cheese frosting can be left at room temperature for 2 hours only. If the frosting is left out for longer than this, it may become prone to bacterial contamination. You can even freeze any cake or cupcake with cream cheese frosting as a topping. And if you don’t want to eat chilled cake, you can remove it from the fridge an hour before serving, so voila, both your cake and frosting will taste as good as freshly baked.
| Cream Cheese Frosting | Shelf Life |
| On the counter | 2 hours |
| In the freezer | 3 months |
Also, once the cream cheese frosting has thawed, you should never refreeze it. Refreezing reduces the quality of cream cheese frosting and also makes the frosting unsafe to consume at a later stage because of increased bacterial growth. Refreezing may change the taste or texture of cream cheese frosting, which may then end up ruining your dessert or cakes!
Read More:
What To Do With Leftover Cream Cheese Frosting?
Here are some creative ways to use up leftover cream cheese frosting:
- Fill cupcakes, cookies, or French toast with cream cheese.
- Make a whoopie pie with cookies and cream cheese.
- Cook a graham cracker sandwich with cream cheese.
- Use it to top baked bread and cakes.
- Thin out the cream cheese frosting to make a fruit dip.
- Spread the frosting on your favorite cookies or brownies.
- Add milk to turn the cream cheese frosting into a glaze.
- Fill cupcakes, cookies, crepes, or French toast with some cream cheese.
- Freeze the frosting for the future.
FAQs on Cream Cheese Frosting
1. Can you use salted butter in cream cheese frosting?
If you only have salted butter on hand, you may use it in cream cheese frosting, but it is better to use unsalted one. One drawback of this is that you won’t have too much control over how salty the frosting turns out. When using salted butter, you might not need to add any additional salt, and you really don’t want to end up with overly-salty frosting.
2. Can cream cheese frosting be colored?
Yes, for a more colorful frosting, you can add a couple of drops of gel food coloring to your cream cheese frosting. Alternatively, you can also experiment with adding vanilla paste, cinnamon, and citrus zest. However, avoid adding liquid add-ins, as you don’t want to make the frosting runny.
3. How long does it take for cream cheese to get to room temperature?
Cream cheese contains high amounts of fat, so it doesn’t take long to come to room temperature if the room is relatively warm. Normally, this frosting takes about thirty minutes on the counter to soften significantly, and about an hour to fully come to room temperature. Also, this duration may vary depending on the temperature outside and in your kitchen.
4. Why is my cream cheese frosting separating?
Your butter or cream cheese might not be at the right temperature. If your frosting is split or curdled, most likely it is due to your butter or cream cheese being too hot or too cold. To prevent the separation of the frosting, keep the butter soft to the touch but not melted.
5. Can you eat cream cheese frosting left out overnight?
While other kinds of frosting can be left out on the counter for days, the one consisting of cream cheese shouldn’t be. Cream cheese frosting must be refrigerated, and it should not sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours. Also, if your kitchen is too hot, don’t take the risk and stick the frosting in the fridge at the earliest.
6. Is cream cheese good for you?
Cream cheese is a versatile dairy product. Luckily cream cheese is a good source of vitamin A and doesn’t provide much lactose. However, an important thing to remember is that cream cheese is low in protein and high in fat and calories, so it’s best to use it in moderation. Still, versions like whipped cream cheese are lower in fat and calories.
Wrapping Up
By following our guidelines, we hope you’ll be able to save any leftover cream cheese frosting by safely placing it in the freezer! Not only will this reduce food waste, but it also ensures you have cream cheese frosting on hand when you need it. Keep following our amazing articles like Can You Freeze Creme Brulee and others to get answers to all your food-related queries. If you’ve got any suggestions, drop us a comment below. Happy munching!