This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Updated: March 31, 2022/ First Posted: March 31, 2022Amy Palanjian 23 Comments

I’m always on the hunt for frostings that are flavorful, yet lower in sugar for cupcakes and cakes, and this Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting is the BEST. It’s easy, intensely strawberry flavored, and a lot less sweet than traditional buttercream. And it’s such a pretty color!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

It can be hard to make a frosting for home-baked goods that tastes as good as the kind you’d get at the bakery. This one though, it totally passes muster.

It’s naturally sweet from the strawberries, creamy from cream cheese and butter, and it’s a perfect match for vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, or cake.

It goes above and beyond plain Cream Cheese Frosting!

The strawberry flavor, which comes from freeze-dried berries, is intense and bright. And it makes the mixture the most amazing pink color.

It requires just a few steps to make, too, so you don’t have to worry about setting aside too much time.

Ingredients You Need

To make this easy frosting recipe you’ll need:

• Freeze-dried strawberries: These are typically sold near the dried fruit or in the produce department. They are crunchy and have had all of the moisture content removed.
• Cream cheese: I use a traditional block of full-fat cream cheese here. You’ll want to let this rest at room temperature so it’s soft to the touch.
• Unsalted butter: You’ll want to let this rest at room temperature so it’s soft to the touch.
• Pure vanilla extract
• Maple syrup: You can also use honey if you prefer. (Though avoid honey for kids under 12 months old.)

TIP: I use freeze-dried strawberries here since their flavor is intense and they don’t add any extra moisture to the frosting. Look for them at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Target, and Amazon.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s an overview of the process involved in this recipe so you know what to expect. See the full recipe at the end of the post for the specifics.

1. Grind the freeze-dried strawberries into a powder with a blender or food processor.
2. Add to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Mix with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy and evenly mixed.
4. Place into a zip-top bag and seal. Cut off one bottom corner to use as a piping bag.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting

We love to pair this frosting with my lower sugar Vanilla Cupcakes. It would also be great with Chocolate Cupcakes or my Easy Chocolate Cake.

How to Store

You can make the frosting up to 24 hours ahead. Store in a storage bag in the fridge, with as much air removed as possible and sealed, until ready to use.

Best Tips for Success

• Let the cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature for a few hours so it’s very soft to the touch. This will help it mix up smoothly.
• Grind the freeze-dried strawberries to form a fine powder. (Look for them in your store near the dried fruit or in the produce department.)
• Add ¼-½ cup powdered sugar to make the frosting sweeter if you’d like. (I sometimes do this if serving to older kids and/or adults who may expect a sweeter frosting.)
• Top with sprinkles if desired.
• Use freeze-dried blueberries in place of the strawberries if you’d like a different flavor.
• You may also like Vanilla Oat Smash Cake, Healthy Chocolate Cake, Quick Chocolate Frosting, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, and Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published March 2020.

Favorite Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Amy Palanjian

With a bright strawberry flavor and pretty pink color, this Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting is delicious and ready in minutes. You can make this up to 24 hours ahead and store in a plastic zip-top bag in the fridge until ready to use.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 10 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 197 kcal

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
• 8 ounces cream cheese (I like full fat, softened at room temperature)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick, softened at room temperature)
• 2-3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup powdered sugar optional
• sprinkles optional

Instructions 

• Place the strawberries into a blender or clean spice grinder. Grind into a fine powder.

• Add to a medium bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

• Blend well using a handheld electric mixer on high speed to make a fluffy frosting.

• Transfer to a zip-top quart-size bag. Seal. Cut off one bottom corner and pipe onto cupcakes. (You can also just use a spatula to frost onto a cake.)

Notes

• Let the cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature for a few hours so it’s very soft to the touch. This will help it mix up smoothly.
• Grind the strawberries to form a fine powder.
• Add ¼ cup powdered sugar to make the frosting sweeter if you’d like. (I sometimes do this if serving to older kids and/or adults who may expect a sweeter frosting.)
• Top with sprinkles if desired.
• Use freeze-dried blueberries in place of the strawberries if you’d like a different flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 61mgPotassium: 292mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 372IUVitamin C: 241mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 4mg

Keyword strawberry cream cheese frosting, strawberry frosting

Filder Under:1 Year Old, Desserts, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Recipes, Vegetarian