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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
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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

  • A cupcake topped with whipped chocolate ganache frosting.
    From Scratch Chocolate Ganache Frosting
  • Pink cherry frosting in a small bowl with 2 fresh berries on top.
    Simple and Quick Cherry Frosting
  • 4 photos of different cupcakes in a grid.
    15+ Quick and Easy Cupcake Frosting Recipes
  • A piping bag with frosting next to un-frosted cupcakes on a pink tiled surface.
    How To Thicken Frosting Quickly
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 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes 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.

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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.

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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!

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Sam Adler | Food Photography & Styling
Not my usual style but since it was a holiday week Not my usual style but since it was a holiday weekend I thought it was fitting! Also yes I know the cheese is not melted but this was the way the client wanted it, so that’s the way we did it! This shoot got its inspo from a show on tv- can you guess what it is!? 

Also- I’ll be going live again with Jamie from @foodbloggerbossco today at 1 pm EST! We figured we had such a good time last week we’re gonna do it again! We’re trying to make this a weekly thing where we answer and talk about 1 question pertaining to food photography and or blogging for 10-15 mins. So welcome to our next ten minute talk! See you soon!
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Going LIVE at 1pm EST today with @foodbloggerbossc Going LIVE at 1pm EST today with @foodbloggerbossco to talk about how i set up my baking food blog frostingandfettuccine.com to run on its own during maternity leave and how it’s been has been bringing me my highest income to date! 

🚨spoiler alert*🚨this did not happen overnight!

Success with anything is really about consistency, strategy, and implementation. Excited to share all the juicy details with you so soon! 

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My latest, most delicious recipe- meet ✨💚Aver My latest, most delicious recipe- meet ✨💚Avery Silas 💚✨ 2 months old now! Needless to say our lives have changed a lot recently and we are all still adjusting! Chase has basically turned into a teenager 🤯🥹 and Adrienne is a full blown hippy, flower child, and mini #swiftie - lol to her fake hair, braid that stayed in for 6 weeks and the tattoo on her arm (🆘 😂). And bc not everyday is all perfect photos and happy kids I threw one screaming pic in there for good measure 😂. 

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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
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