• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Breakfast
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Muffins
    • One Bowl Desserts
    • Pies & Tarts
  • About Me
  • Food Photography
    • Work with Me
    • Classes and Workshops
  • Shop

Frosting & Fettuccine

Home » Recipe Search » Frosting

Jun 20, 2022(last updated December 17, 2022)

Fluffy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

5 from 1 vote
BySam Adler
Jump to Recipe

This post might have affiliate links, please check out my full disclosure policy.

Summer is the perfect time for refreshingly delicious lemon-flavored desserts. This recipe for Fluffy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is easy to follow and will result in a tart and tangy frosting that will make any cake or cupcake special!

Lemon cream cheese frosting swirled into a bowl with lemon zest on top.

Lemon is one of my favorite flavors to work with. When you’re a pastry chef, it’s easy to only focus on deep rich desserts like red velvet brownies or decadent flourless chocolate cake. But, refreshing desserts using fruit are just as good, especially in the warmer months!

If you’re looking to transform a cake or cupcake recipe into a refreshing and light summer dessert, this lemon buttercream frosting is just what you need! It is absolutely divine on top of lemon poppyseed cake or lemon cupcakes!

The mixture of cream cheese and lemon is perfect! The cream cheese gives the frosting light and fluffy texture, while the lemon adds a tart and tangy flavor that is just perfect! If you forgot to leave out your cream cheese at room temperature you can learn how to soften cream cheese quickly!

If you love lemon desserts like me don’t miss out on these lemon shortbread cookies, lemon coconut cookies, lemon meringue cookies, or strawberry lemonade cupcakes!

If you want a non dairy lemon frosting try my zesty buttercream frosting recipe.

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS RECIPE

  • With only 6 ingredients, this lemon cream cheese icing is a breeze to make!
  • Use it to top desserts like cupcakes, cake, or even cookies!
  • It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart with a lovely cream cheese flavor.
  • Lemon frosting is perfect for spring and summer celebrations!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

Ingredients for lemon cream cheese frosting.
  • Cream Cheese – Adds a soft and creamy texture to the base of the frosting along with a tart and tangy flavor.
  • Butter – Softened butter is what adds the buttery flavor and rich texture to this lemon buttercream recipe.
  • Lemon Zest & Juice – By using both the zest and the juice of the lemon, you’ll get a natural lemon flavor that is bursting with a refreshing citrus taste.
  • Confectioners Sugar – This finely milled sugar is great for mixing into buttercream frosting to thicken it and provide sweetness.
  • Milk – Helps thin out the consistency of the frosting while keeping it nice and creamy.

HOW TO MAKE LEMON Cream Cheese FROSTING

  1. Cream the butter and cream cheese: Add the softened block of cream cheese and butter into a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix the two on medium speed until evenly combined and fluffy.
  2. Add the sugar: To the creamed mixture, add the sugar slowly and mix on low speed until all of the ingredients are blended together. This should take about two minutes.
  3. Add lemon and milk: To the base of the frosting, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and milk. Mix on medium-low speed until all of the ingredients are evenly combined and the mixture is light and fluffy.
Ingredients for lemon cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
Combine butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
Lemon zest added to cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
Add lemon zest.

TIPS FOR RECIPE SUCCESS

  • Room temperature ingredients: In order to make sure the frosting blends properly, all of the ingredients should be at room temperature when you start. This includes butter, cream cheese, and milk! Learn how to soften butter quickly.
  • Scrape down the bowl: Make sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of your bowl as you mix the frosting ingredients together.
  • Start on low speed: To avoid a powdered sugar cloud, I always recommend starting on low speed when adding the sugar to the buttercream base. Once it’s all been added, you can turn up the mixer to medium-high speed and mix until light and fluffy.
  • Add milk as needed: If you find that your frosting is too thick, add a little bit of milk (one tablespoon at a time) until it reaches the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
  • Add more lemon flavor: If you enjoy more lemon flavor, add a bit more zest or a few drops of lemon flavor extract.

STORAGE AND FREEZING

Storing: Store the frosting in plastic wrap on the counter or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap if you are using within a day or two. You can also refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Freezing: You can freeze the frosting in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. When you’re ready to use, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then re-whip it in the stand mixer until light and fluffy.

Yield

This recipe makes enough frosting to frost 12 cupcakes with a piping bag and star tip or fill and frost a 2 layer 9″round cake.

WAYS TO ENJOY

Here are some of my favorite ways to use this frosting.

  • Spread on top of Chewy Strawberry Cookies, graham crackers, or even waffles.
  • Use as a fruit dip for strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries
  • Frost Vanilla Cupcakes with Oil for a spring or summer gathering.
  • Use it to top and fill this Strawberry Basil Cake for fresh summer flavors.

More frosting recipes

  • 5 Minute Dairy Free Buttercream Frosting
  • 3 Ingredient Russian Buttercream (No Powdered Sugar)
  • 5 Minute Easy Mint Buttercream Frosting
  • 3 Minute Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
Lemon cream cheese frosting in a bowl with lemon slices on top sitting on a wooden cutting board.

Fluffy Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Summer is the perfect time for refreshingly delicious lemon-flavored desserts. This recipe for Fluffy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is easy to follow and will result in a tart and tangy frosting that will make any cake or cupcake special!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Frosting
Cuisine: American
Diet: Kosher
Keyword: lemon buttercream frosting, lemon cream cheese frosting, lemon cream cheese icing, lemon ice cream buttercream
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Calories: 290kcal
Author: Sam Adler

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese (1 bar)
  • ½ cup butter 113g softened
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar 454g
  • ½ tsp milk

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream the block of cream cheese and ½ cup butter on medium speed until evenly combined.
  • Add in the 4 cups of confectioners sugar and mix on low speed.
  • Mix until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  • Add in lemon zest, ½ tsp lemon juice, and ½ tsp milk, and mix again until combined and super fluffy.

Notes

  • This recipe makes enough frosting to frost 12 cupcakes with a piping bag and star tip or fill and frost a 2 layer 9″round cake.
  • This is the perfect frosting to go on top of lemon poppyseed cake.
  • Add milk as needed: If you find that your frosting is too thick, add a little bit of milk (one tablespoon at a time) until it reaches the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
  • Add more lemon flavor: If you enjoy more lemon flavor, add a bit more zest or a few drops of lemon flavor extract.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Fluffy Lemon Buttercream Frosting
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 290 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 121mg5%
Potassium 29mg1%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 40g44%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 491IU10%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I love when you share my recipes!!

20 shares

Filed Under: Frosting Tagged With: Cheese, Lemon

About Sam Adler

Sam Adler is a Le Cordon Bleu professionally trained pastry chef, Saveur Blog Award winner, food photographer, and food blogger over on FrostingandFettuccine.com. She has been featured in numerous online and in-print publications including Taste of Home Magazine, Saveur Magazine, The Feed Feed, and Food Blogger Pro. Sam lives in Hollywood florida with her husband, two young kids, and french bulldog. When she’s not baking and dancing in her kitchen you can find her at her favorite yoga spot.

Reader Interactions

Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

Do you love this recipe? If so, I would be so grateful if you left a star rating with your comment! Star ratings help other people find my recipes so they can make them too. Thank you for your support!

XO, Sam

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search

Hi! Im Sam Adler,

I'm a professionally trained pastry chef and food photographer.
This is a place where you will find easy yet impressive looking desserts. I also share a ton of food photography resources too! What can I say, I love pretty & delicious baked goods! Learn more about me!

As Featured In:

Logo images of media places Sam Adler has been featured in
Saveur Blog award winner for best food Instagram

samadlerphotography

👋🏻 2022! Will be celebrating this year on th 👋🏻 2022! Will be celebrating this year on the couch with this in my lap. No sharing allowed! Those 3 spoons are all mine 😂😂 

🍾🥂HAPPY NEW YEAR 🍾🥂
.
.
.
#newyearseve #2023goals #cookieskillet #skilletcookie #giantchocolatechipcookie #chocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookiephotography #foodphotographyandstyling #foodstylingandphotography #foodphotographer #foodstylist #foodstylists #castironbaking #castironskillet #castiron @lodgecastiron
Recap of all the cookie boxes!!! This year’s @ta Recap of all the cookie boxes!!! This year’s @taylorswift theme has got to be my fave (see my last reel for the explanation of each cookie!) but I have so much fun every year making these! Which one is your fave?! 

#cookieboxes #cookiebox #cookiegifts #cookiegiftbox #holidaycookies #taylorswift #TaylorSwiftcookies #homemadecookies #customcookies #cookiedecorating #cookiesofinstagram #cookiedesign #cookiephotography #holidaycookiebox #holidaygiftsets #holidaygifts #ediblegifts #swiftie #swiftiesforever #taylornation @taylornation
ARE YOU READY FOR IT?! 2022 Cookie Box is @taylors ARE YOU READY FOR IT?! 2022 Cookie Box is @taylorswift themed!! 
1. “Like a rainbow with all of the colors” sprinkle cookies 
2. “Lover” heart sugar cookies 
3. “Lavender Haze” shortbread (made with lavender and a pearly shimmer powder)
4. “Midnight” cookies AKA my chocolate brownie cookies 
5. “Red lip classic” sugar cookies 
6. More midnight cookies- (dusted with powdered sugar to look like the midnight cloudy sky)
7. “Bejeweled” sugar cookies (Navy bc black fondant was out of stock)
8. @taylorswift famous chai cookies 

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating and hope you have a happy New Year’s Day!
.
.
.

#cookiebox #taylorswift #taylorswiftcookies #holidaycookiebox #swifties #swiftie #swiftieforever #holidaycookies #cookieseason #cookiedecorating #cookiebox #cookieboxes #taylorswiftlover #taylorswiftlyrics #taylorswiftvideo #sugarcookies #shortbread #browniecookies #christmascookies #christmascookiebox #lavenderhaze
#ad This year for Chanukah we’re switching it up #ad This year for Chanukah we’re switching it up from classic sufganiyot to make these fun donut fries! Puffy, golden, and delicious, dip your “fries” into melted chocolate or raspberry jelly and celebrate all week long! @aldiusa makes it super easy with their amazing selection of high quality products at seriously unimaginable prices. Run to your nearest @aldiusa to find all the ingredients you need to make these and have a Happy Chanukah!
Find the recipe below!

#ALDILove
Prep time: 1 hr 45 mins
Cook time: 1 min
Yield: 40 donut fries
2 pack Baker’s Corner Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water
1/3 cup Sugar
2 Simply Nature Grade A Organic Cage Free Brown Eggs
2 tbsp Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup Carlini Pure Vegetable Oil
5-6 cups Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Kosher salt
½ cup Baker’s Corner Powdered Sugar
For Dipping:
1 cup Baker’s Corner Dark or Milk Chocolate Morsels
Simply Nature Organic Raspberry Preserves
Method:
•Mix the yeast with water in a mixer bowl and let stand for 10 mins until frothy. Add the
sugar, eggs, vanilla, and oil to the bowl and mix until well combined.
•Start adding only 5 cups of flour and salt, and knead/mix on medium speed in a stand mixer
fitted with the dough attachment for 5 minutes until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. If the
dough seems sticky, add ¼ cup flour to the dough until it no longer sticks to the bowl when
mixing.
•Let the dough rest in the bowl for an hour to double in size. 
•Punch down the dough and remove it from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Using a
lightly floured rolling pin, roll it out into a rectangle. About 18”x 15” and 1/2 of an inch in
thickness. 
•Using a pizza cutter, cut in half vertically. Then slice thin strips horizontally. You want them
thin as they will puff up while frying.
•Let the fries rest for another 15 mins. 
•Meanwhile, using a deep fryer or a large pot, heat your oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the donut
fries 30 seconds per side, then drain on a paper towel.
•Dust the donut fries with powdered sugar and set aside.
•Microwave 1 cup of dark or milk chocolate for 30 seconds at a time until melted. Scoop
jelly into another bowl. Dip the fries in the chocolate or jelly!
Happy birthday @taylorswift 👸🏼 hope it feels Happy birthday @taylorswift 👸🏼 hope it feels like a perfect night and you’re not weepin in a party bathroom. IYKYK
.
.
Also here’s to wishing me getting those tix!
.
.
.
#swiftie #swifties #happybirthday #taylorswift #taylorswifttickets #birthdaycake #birthdaycakes #birthdaycandles #caramelcake #carameldripcake #caramelbirthdaycake #cakephotography #cakephotography📷 #cakedecorating #cakedesign #cakesofinstagram #cakepic #cakepictures
I sure do like these gingersnap cookies babe 😂 I sure do like these gingersnap cookies babe 😂 

.
.
.
#gingersnaps #gingersnapcookies #gingersnap #christmascookies #christmascookie #holidaycookies #holidaycookie #cookierecipes #tinyhands #holidaybaking #cookieseason  #cookiesofinstagram #cookiegram #cookielover
Load more please Follow me on Instagram!

Categories

Archives

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Web Stories
  • Privacy Policy

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Disclosure Policy

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work with me

Copyright © 2023 Samantha Adler | Frosting & Fettuccine | Support by Foodie Digital

20 shares