• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Cheap Eats
  • About
    • About Good Cheap Eats
    • Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Me
  • Members Only
    • Login
    • Club Homepage
    • Club Resource Library
    • Downloads
    • Live Club Events
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog
  • SHOP
    • Purchases
    • Cookbooks
    • Planner
    • The Good Cheap Eats Club
    • Meal Plans
    • Holiday Helps
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Recipes
  • Budget Strategies
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Join the Club
  • About
  • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Recipes
    • Budget Strategies
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Join the Club
    • About
    • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Dessert » Frozen Treats & No-Bake Desserts

    Sweet Cream Cheese

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

    FacebookTweetPinPrint
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    cupcake with sweet cream cheese topping on white plate, with text overlay.

    Sweet Cream Cheese is so simple, but packs such a great punch for elevating simple desserts, baked goods, and sweet bagels. With just cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and milk, it comes together in just minutes.

    Serve this creamy sweet topping as an alternative to whipped cream on cake, brownies, or cupcakes or as a creamy fruit dip for strawberries, apples, and cookies. It’s fantastic on Gingerbread or Lemon Cupcakes drizzled with Lemon Sauce and a great Bagel Toppings.

    lemon cupcake topped with sweet cream cheese with pitcher in lemon sauce in background. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Best Uses for This Recipe
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Sweet Cream Cheese

    If you’re looking for an easy dessert topping or creamy dip for cookies and fruit, this Sweet Cream Cheese is just the thing. With just four ingredients that are easily pantry staples, this recipe mixes up quickly and tastes amazing.

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. You can whip up this topping in just minutes.

    It’s versatile. Whether you serve it as a cream cheese dip or a topping for desserts, there’s no end to the ways to serve this recipe.

    Ingredients

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

    ingredients for sweet cream cheese laid out on white table.

    cream cheese – You can use full fat or Neufchâtel cream cheese. Just make sure you’ve got the cream cheese softened for easy mixing.

    powdered sugar – I go fairly light with the sugar in this recipe, but you can add more to taste. It should be powdered sugar for easily dissolving or you can use maple syrup or honey.

    vanilla bean paste – I love the flavor punch you get from vanilla bean paste and the little flecks of vanilla bean look cool in the Sweet Cream Cheese. You can also use vanilla extract or another favorite extract if you prefer.

    milk – You need just a bit of milk or heavy cream to help smooth out this cream cheese and make it more spreadable. Add more if you’d like to make it a dip recipe. 

    Variations

    I love this vanilla bean cream cheese, but you can take the flavor profile in many different directions. Flavored Cream Cheese is super easy to make. Consider adding in any of the following:

    • ground cinnamon
    • pumpkin pie spice
    • apple pie spice
    • instant coffee or crushed coffee beans
    • cacao nibs
    • citrus zest, such as lemon or lime
    • jam, such as strawberry or raspberry
    • another extract such as almond, coffee, or maple

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make this:

    mixing bowl with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and milk.
    sweet cream cheese in mixing bowl.

    In a mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese with the milk, sugar, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Add more milk if you want a thinner texture.

    Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve this as a topping for brownies, cake, and cupcakes, as a dip for fruit or cookies, or as a filling for cream puffs, cake, or crepes.

    Promptly refrigerate leftovers and consume within four days. Freeze for longer storage in an airtight container.

    FAQs

    Can you buy sweet cream cheese?

    You can purchase it or make it yourself. Chances are making it yourself is cheaper.

    What goes well with sweet cream cheese?

    It is great on bagels, muffins, cookies, and cakes. It also works well as a fruit dip.

    Can you freeze sweet cream cheese?

    Wrap cream cheese well and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

    pan of gingerbread with dish of sweet cream cheese and lemon sauce.

    Best Uses for This Recipe

    • carrot muffins in basket with bowl of cream cheese
      Carrot Muffins with Honey Cream Cheese
    • Gingerbread on a plate with fork
      Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce & Cream Cheese
    • pair of cornbread waffles topped with blueberries and whipped cream on a white plate near a stack of waffles.
      40+ Easy Brunch Ideas & Recipes
    • close-up of strawberries on cream cheese on bagel half.
      24 Bagel Toppings for an Easy Brunch Party

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    lemon cupcake topped with sweet cream cheese.
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    5 from 1 vote

    Sweet Cream Cheese

    Sweet Cream Cheese is an easy topping that will take brownies, cakes, and other desserts to the next level.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time38 mins
    Total Time58 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 59kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • large mixing bowl
    • hand mixer

    Ingredients

    • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
    • 1 tablespoon milk
    • ¼ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with the milk, sugar, and vanilla. Blend until smooth.
      1 8-ounce package cream cheese, 1 tablespoon milk, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    Serve Sweet Cream Cheese as a topping for brownies, cake, and cupcakes, as a dip for fruit or cookies, or as a filling for cream puffs, cake, or crepes.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on a ½ ounce serving. Promptly refrigerate leftovers and consume within four days. Freeze for longer storage in an airtight container.
    Variations: I love this vanilla bean sweet cream cheese, but you can take the flavor profile in many different directions. Consider adding in any of the following:
    • ground cinnamon
    • pumpkin pie spice
    • apple pie spice
    • instant coffee or crushed coffee beans
    • cacao nibs
    • citrus zest, such as lemon or lime
    • another extract such as almond, coffee, or maple

    Nutrition

    Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 20mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.02mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!
    « Lemon Sauce for Desserts
    Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe »
    FacebookTweetPinPrint

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    cooking for one
    cooking for many banner
    cooking to freeze banner

    Best Easter Recipes

    • plates on table with squares of cinnamon coffee cake, next to baking pan on towel.
      Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe
    • overhead shot of lemon wedges and a small pitcher of lemon sauce on a white platter.
      Lemon Sauce for Desserts
    • closeup of an easter oreo with crosses piped over a blue sky.
      Easter Oreos
    • easter pretzels on a tray with other easter candies and Easter eggs.
      Easter Pretzels
    • easter bunny cinnamon roll and Easter egg biscuit on white plate.
      Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls
    • goblets of raspberry sherbet punch on a white table.
      Sherbet Punch

    Take the Pantry Challenge

    • badge that says, I'm taking the pantry challenge at Good Cheap Eats
      Prepping for a Pantry Clean Out
    • overhead shot of cans and boxed ingredients in a flatlay.
      How to Stock the Pantry on a Budget
    • homemade light brown sugar in white bowl.
      90+ Pantry Staples You Can Make Yourself
    • bowl of soup with spoon of vegetables.
      What to Make for Dinner When There’s “Nothing” to Eat

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Good Cheap Eats