White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe by Rose Beranbaum
13 Reviews 4.4 out of 5 stars

Rose Levy Beranbaum makes this creamy, luscious frosting for carrot cake, but it would also be a perfect pairing for any spice cake. She says, "It can easily be made days ahead and yet remains moist and delicious. Cream cheese gives a slight tang to the white chocolate buttercream, balancing out the sweetness and serving as a perfect flavor and texture for the tender crumb."

Prep
20 mins
Total
50 mins
Yield
3 cups, enough for a 9" x 13" cake or 18 to 24 cupcakes
White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - select to zoom
White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - select to zoom
White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - select to zoom
White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. Thirty minutes before making the frosting, place the cream cheese and butter on the counter. Cut the butter into four pieces and coarsely chop the white chocolate.

  2. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave in 15-second bursts, stirring in between, until the chocolate is 85% melted. Stir without further heating until the chocolate is completely melted. Let cool until just slightly warm to the touch (80°F to 85°F); a digital thermometer is a helpful tool here.

  3. Place the cream cheese, butter, and crème fraîche (or sour cream) in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

  4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the cooled, melted white chocolate and pulse several times to incorporate. Add the vanilla and pulse until it disappears.

  5. Use the white chocolate frosting to decorate carrot cake, cupcakes, or any spice cake. Store any leftover frosting, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week; freeze for longer storage.

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