Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

This creamy, nutty, and tangy brown butter cream cheese frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and anything between. While this frosting is perfect for fall, it can be enjoyed all year long. 

The MOST Delicious Frosting

I was working on two new fall recipes and I wanted a new and unique frosting for them. Brown butter is one of my favorite fall flavors so I thought, “Why not take my favorite cream cheese recipe and make it with brown butter and turn it into brown butter cream cheese frosting?”

So, that’s exactly what I did and this is the result. 

My friend, this frosting is incredible. My mom was here when I was making it and she and I licked the spatula and beaters and scraped the mixing bowl clean because we just couldn’t get enough. 

Cream cheese frosting is one of my favorites and the brown butter takes it to a whole new level.

In this post, you’ll see the brown butter cream cheese frosting by itself, but I’ve also used it on my cranberry pumpkin bars and applesauce cupcakes. It was incredible on both of these recipes as well.

Are you wondering …

What Does Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Taste Like?

Magic! I’m only kidding. Sort of. Ha. The browned butter adds a fragrant nutty flavor, while the cream cheese adds a creamy richness with a touch of tang. I especially love this brown butter cream cheese frosting for the fall. It pairs perfectly with pumpkin and apple flavors.

More recipes to add this frosting to:

• Gingerbread Cookie Bars
• Pumpkin Bars
• German Apple Cake
• Applesauce Cupcakes (coming soon)
• Cranberry Pumpkin Bars (coming soon)

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

• softened cream cheese
• unsalted butter
• kosher salt
• vanilla extract
• confectioners’ sugar
• milk

That’s it! Let’s whip some up. 

How Do You Make Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting?

I’ll walk you through the steps here, but for your convenience, I’ve also provided a detailed ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below. 

1. Place the butter into a small skillet over medium heat. Heat the butter until it melts. 
2. Continue to cook while stirring and scraping the pan. Once the butter near the bottom starts to brown and the butter smells nutty, remove the pan from the heat and transfer the butter to a heat-proof bowl. 
3. Let the butter sit at room temperature to re-solidify before continuing with the recipe.
4. Beat together the cream cheese, browned butter, and salt until light and smooth.

5. Blend in the vanilla. Beat to combine.
6. Add the confectioners’ sugar slowly and mix until smooth.
7. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve desired consistency.

That’s it! The only complicated part about this recipe is browning the butter. Just remove it from the heat when you start to see brown specks and smell that rich nutty flavor and you’ll be good to go! 

Happy Baking!

Whether you’re making one of my recipes or just want a new frosting recipe to try, I highly recommend this brown butter cream cheese frosting. 

I have a feeling you’ll be licking the spatula too.

Enjoy! 

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Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

This creamy, nutty, and tangy brown butter cream cheese frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and anything between. While this frosting is perfect for fall, it can be enjoyed all year long.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brown butter, cream cheese, frosting

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 21 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 958kcal

Ingredients

• 2 packages (8 oz each)cream cheese , softened
• 1 1/2 cup 3 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

• Start by browning the butter.
• Place the butter into a small skillet over medium heat. Heat the butter until it melts. Continue to cook while stirring and scraping the pan. Once the butter near the bottom starts to brown and the butter smells nutty, remove the pan from the heat and transfer the butter to a heat-proof bowl.
• Let the butter sit at room temperature to re-solidify before continuing with the recipe.*
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese, browned butter, and salt until light and smooth. This will take about five minutes.
• Add in the vanilla. Beat to combine.
• Add the confectioners’ sugar slowly, about one cup at a time, and mix until smooth.
• Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve desired consistency.

Notes

*You can place your browned butter into the refrigerator to help speed up the process. However, if your nutty butter is cold, you’ll have to let it return to room temperature before proceeding.

Nutrition

Calories: 958kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 235mg | Sugar: 122g | Vitamin A: 1466IU | Calcium: 287mg | Iron: 0.2mg