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Simple Cream Cheese Frosting

Updated: Oct 23, 2025 · Published: Aug 26, 2024 by Naomi Toilalo WhānauKai · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting

Simple Cream Cheese Frosting - Pani Reka Kirīmi Tīhi

Need a quick but tasty buttercream or frosting (whatever you want to call it). Then look no further than this Simple Cream Cheese Frosting. Of all the buttercreams to put on a cake, a cream cheese one is right up there with my favourites. I love that it has a subtle savoury note with just enough puehu huka (icing sugar) to bring a touch of sweetness to whatever baking I am creating. I used this recipe to cover my Sticky Caramel Date Cake and to decorate the top of the keke (cake) with.

How to make this Simple Cream Cheese Frosting:

Start this recipe by whipping together pata kūteretere (softened butter), puehu huka (icing sugar) and wanira (vanilla) until light and fluffy in colour. Add the room temperature kirīmi tīhi (cream cheese) and whip again until smooth. Koirā noa iho te mahi - that is all. It is now ready to pipe, smear or do whatever you want to do to your cakes, cupcakes or baked goods.

More recipes to try this frosting with:

This frosting would be the perfect topping for my banana cupcakes. I use a Simple Cinnamon Buttercream on my Whole Orange Almond Cake but again, this pani reka kirīmi tīhi (cream cheese frosting) would also work well. It would be delicious smeared on to my Spiced Gingerbread Loaf too.

Simple cake and cupcake decorations to try:

Are you making a cake or cheesecake but want it to stand out amongst the crowd? These White Chocolate Decorations take no time at all to make and are so easy to execute. Want to decorate my Chocolate Cake with Biscoff Buttercream with homemade māngohe (marshmallows)? It looks so beautiful and vibrant, try it here.

Want to decorate mawhene (muffins) or my Lime Pie with a whispy merenge (meringue)? Then try my French Meringue and Meringue Shards.

Videography and photography by Sarah Henderson.

Ingredients
whipped butter and icing sugar
whipped butter and icing sugar
whipped butter, icing sugar and cream cheese
whipped butter, icing sugar and cream cheese
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
A two layered vanilla cake is being decorated in with simple cream cheese frosting that is being spread on to the top of the cake. It is on a wooden board with flowers in the background.
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Cream Cheese Frosting - Pani Reka Kirīmi Tīhi

A simple cream cheese icing made with butter, cream cheese, a touch of icing sugar and vanilla. Perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes or biscuits.
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Servings 1 small layered Cake or 15 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Frosting - Pani Reka Kirīmi Tīhi

  • 120 g pata kūteretere (softened butter)
  • ⅔ C (110 g) puehu huka (icing sugar)
  • 2 teaspoon wanira (vanilla)
  • 250 g kirīmi tīhi (cream cheese, make sure it has had at least an hour on the bench to come to room temperature, this will help make a nice, smooth frosting)

Instructions

Cream Cheese Frosting - Pani Reka Kirīmi Tīhi

  • Add the pata kūteretere (softened butter), puehu huka (icing sugar) and wanira (vanilla) in to a large bowl. Whip for a few minutes until light and fluffy in colour.
  • Add the room temperature kirīmi tīhi (cream cheese). If it isn't quite at room temperature, gently smooth out the cream cheese on to a plate with your spatula to remove the lumps before whipping. Cream cheese can split if it is over whipped so this helps stop that.
  • Whip again for only a minute or so until smooth and it is ready to go! Pipe, smear or do whatever you want to do to your cakes, cupcakes or baked goods!
  • This can also be put in to a sealed container and be kept in the fridge. It needs to be brought to room temperature for 20 minutes and then whipped briefly before using if you are doing so.

Video

https://d14qqjrp3wb13p.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/11201415/cream-cheese-frosting-final.mp4

More Cake - Keke

  • A whole chilled mocha cheesecake is sitting on a pink plate, that is on a wooden board with coffee beans scattered over it. The cheesecake has a dark crust and chocolate piped cream on top, in the centre is a coffee syrup.
    Chilled Mocha Cheesecake
  • The Cheat's Bombe Alaska is plated on a ceramic cake stand surrounded by pomegranate's, a candle and a Christmas decoration. The bombe Alaska is covered in meringue and is studded with pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios.
    Cheat's Ice cream Bombe Alaska
  • A decorated smores no bake chocolate cheesecake is on a blue plate on top of a red glass cake stand. Glowing fairy lights are in the background.
    S'mores No-bake Chocolate Cheesecake
  • The Chocolate Cake with Biscoff Buttercream served on a ceramic cake stand with Naomi holding it from behind the table. The cake has golden candles that have been lit for celebration on it.
    Chocolate Cake with Biscoff Buttercream

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emma Diack

    January 31, 2025 at 9:19 am

    5 stars
    Just a question- I wondered if you would normally use salted or unsalted pata kūteretere?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Naomi Toilalo WhānauKai

      January 31, 2025 at 12:00 pm

      Kia ora Emma!
      I always use salted pata kūteretere (softened butter) as I love the flavour but if you wanted to use unsalted the recipe will not be too much different!

      Reply

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