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    Home » Dessert » Frozen Treats & No-Bake Desserts

    Sweet Cream Cheese

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    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. This is great to go with your summer baking or holiday desserts.

    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

    This is a great addition to your table of Easter Dessert Recipes!

    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.
      50+ Easy Brunch Ideas & Recipes
    • close-up of strawberries on cream cheese on bagel half.
      24 Bagel Toppings for an Easy Brunch Party
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    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.
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    5 from 2 votes

    Sweet Cream Cheese

    Sweet Cream Cheese is an easy topping that will take brownies, cakes, and other desserts to the next level.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time38 minutes mins
    Total Time58 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 59kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
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    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? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
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    jessica from good cheap eats

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

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