Brown butter makes everything better, and that applies to cream cheese frosting too! This brown butter cream cheese frosting is smooth, sweet, and tangy with toasty brown bits swirled throughout. These flavorful toasted milk solids add nutty caramel and toffee notes, making it the perfect icing to spread on cakes, brownies, cookies, and more.
Melt the butter in a saucepan or pot on medium-low heat. It will start to foam. Stir frequently.
170 grams unsalted butter
The butter will sizzle and eventually, white milk solids will sink to the bottom and turn golden brown with a nutty aroma. Take off the heat immediately.
Pour the brown butter into a heat-proof bowl to stop the cooking process. Chill in the refrigerator for 60-90 minutes until it reaches a softened butter consistency.
Place chilled brown butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream together on medium-high speed until smooth.
227 grams full fat cream cheese
Mix in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time on low speed until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
480 grams powdered sugar
Beat in the vanilla extract and salt on low. Increase the speed to medium and mix until thick and fluffy.
2 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
Use your brown butter cream cheese frosting on cakes, cookies, and more. Enoy!
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Notes
Butter can burn quickly, so stir constantly and keep an eye on it as it browns.Chill the brown butter before adding it to the frosting or you'll have a soupy mess.Storage: Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature and re-whip with a mixer before serving.Freezing: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let the frosting thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Avoid thawing at room temperature because the temperature change can ruin the texture.