Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Easy to Make posted by Ashton on June 10, 2026 Pin Share Tweet Email Jump to RecipeOkay, you guys. I need to talk to you about something very important — this strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe. 🍓 It is SO dreamy, SO creamy, and SO bursting with real strawberry flavor that I literally can’t even. I’ve been on a serious frosting kick lately (my family is NOT complaining), and this one has completely taken over my baking game. We’re talking tangy cream cheese undertones, sweet strawberry goodness, and zero artificial flavors or artificial dyes. Just pure, homemade magic. If you’ve been sleeping on cream cheese strawberry frosting, today is your wake-up call, friend! Why Freeze-Dried Strawberries Are the Secret Weapon Can we talk about freeze-dried strawberries for a second? Because they are an absolute game-changer! Unlike fresh strawberries, which add excess moisture and can lead to runny frosting (the horror!), freeze-dried berries give you that strong strawberry flavor without the liquid drama. You just blitz them in a food processor until you get a fine powder — freeze-dried strawberry powder, basically — and boom, you’ve got the most concentrated fruit powder imaginable. It’s available at most grocery stores or on Amazon (yes, I’m an Amazon associate, full disclosure!). This is genuinely the best way to nail that beloved summer berry flavor every single time without stress. Fresh Strawberry Frosting vs. the Freeze-Dried Method Now, I know some of you are married to fresh berries — and honestly, I respect it! Fresh strawberry frosting is absolutely wonderful and totally doable. You’ll want to cook your strawberry purée down over medium low heat to remove excess moisture, then let it cool completely before using. A fine mesh sieve helps strain the strawberry puree nice and smooth. Pat those fresh strawberries dry with a paper towel first too! It’s a little more work, but the result is a gorgeous fresh strawberry cream cheese frosting that tastes like summer in a bowl. Just know that the freeze-dried method is the easy way if you need a shortcut — no shame in that game! How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Step by Step Alright, let’s do this! First things first — your ingredients need to be at room temperature. Cold cream cheese = lumpy frosting, and we are NOT doing that. Start with a full-fat block of cream cheese and room-temperature butter (unsalted butter, please, so you control the salt level). In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment — or a large bowl with a hand mixer or electric mixer — beat the softened butter and regular cream cheese together on low speed until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar (aka confectioner’s sugar) one cup at a time, then fold in your freeze-dried strawberry powder or strawberry purée and pure vanilla extract. See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients! What to Frost With This Delicious Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Oh gosh, WHERE DO I START. This frosting is incredible on so many things! Obviously a strawberry layer cake or strawberry cake recipe is a match made in heaven — be still my heart. 😍 It’s also ah-mazing on a birthday cake, vanilla cake, or even chocolate cupcakes for a sweet spin. Pipe it onto fresh strawberry cupcakes using a piping bag and prepare for compliments. It works beautifully on layer cakes and even single layer cake situations. If you love a gorgeous cake situation, this frosting delivers every single time. Honestly, I’d eat it off a spoon — and I have. No regrets. Weight Watchers would not approve but here we are! Pro Tips for the Best Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe A few things I’ve learned the hard way so YOU don’t have to! For best results, never skip room-temperature butter — it makes the cream cheese mixture silky smooth. If your frosting feels too thick, add a tiny splash of cream. Too loose? More powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time. You can also swap in strawberry preserves or strawberry jelly as a good alternative if you’re in a pinch — though the flavor won’t be as vibrant as real strawberries. Some people even love a raspberry cream cheese frosting riff using the same method! Store your homemade frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. This strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe is truly a foolproof winner among all the frosting recipes out there! Ways to Customize This Creamy Frosting One of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible it is! Want plain cream cheese frosting? Just skip the strawberries — done! You can also use different dried fruit powders like cherry strawberry blends for a fun twist. For a lighter option, reduce the unsalted butter slightly and let the cream cheese shine more. If you love cake mixes for your base, this frosting pairs beautifully with them — try it on a white chocolate strawberry cake or even alongside fun cupcake recipes. It also makes a dreamy filling for stuffed French toast! Basically, this strawberry cream cheese icing — aka cream cheese strawberry frosting, classic strawberry buttercream frosting’s tangier cousin — is the only frosting you need this season. Go make it right now! 🍓 Continue to Content Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Yield: 12 Servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes This dreamy, fluffy frosting is bursting with real strawberry flavor and has just the right tangy sweetness from cream cheese. It pipes beautifully onto cupcakes, spreads like a dream on layer cakes, and tastes incredible made with real freeze-dried strawberries — no artificial flavoring needed. Print Ingredients 8 oz (225g) full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature ⅓ cup (50g) freeze-dried strawberries, finely ground into powder 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream (as needed for consistency) Pinch of salt Instructions Place the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor or blender and pulse until you get a fine, vibrant pink powder. Set aside.In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for about 2–3 minutes until completely smooth, pale, and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.Add the ground freeze-dried strawberry powder and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until incorporated, then increase to medium and beat for another minute.With the mixer on low, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until each addition is fully incorporated before adding more.Add a pinch of salt and mix on medium-high speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add heavy cream one tablespoon at a time. If too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.Taste and adjust — add more powdered sugar for sweetness or more strawberry powder for extra berry flavor. Notes Freeze-dried strawberries are key — fresh or frozen berries add too much moisture and can make the frosting runny. Room temperature cream cheese and butter are essential to avoid a lumpy texture. This frosting can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator; re-whip briefly before using. For cleaner piping, chill the frosting for 20–30 minutes before decorating. Frosted cakes and cupcakes should be refrigerated and will keep for up to 4 days.
