Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Maple cream cheese frosting combines cream cheese, butter, and maple syrup for a sweet and slightly tangy frosting that’s perfect for spreading on top of cookies, cakes, and cupcakes.

maple cream cheese frosting with text overlay


 

You’ll want to put it on all of your baked goods and it can be used in place of plain cream cheese frosting.

From classic carrot cake to a pumpkin cake roll , this creamy frosting can make any baked good better. Pipe it into decorative swirls or spread it in a smooth layer over the top of a cake. 

Maple cream cheese frosting is a great topping for fall and winter desserts — it adds a warm, cozy flavor that’s perfect for desserts for holiday parties or to slather over cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. But don’t limit yourself to just seasonal treats — this frosting is delicious year-round.

The best part of this frosting is how quickly you can make it. The total time to whip up this sweet maple frosting is mere minutes.

Why You’ll Love Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Maple cream cheese frosting is a decadent and delicious topping for desserts — it’s easy to fall in love with!

  • Creamy and smooth: The combination of cream cheese and butter creates a silky smooth texture that will melt in your mouth.
  • Sweetness: The maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness that complements the tangy cream cheese.
  • Versatile: Maple cream cheese frosting pairs well with a variety of flavors, including pumpkin, apple, and carrot cake.
  • Easy: With just a few ingredients and a mixer, you can whip up a batch of this frosting in nearly no time.
overhead swirl of frosting in a tart dish

Ingredients

All you need are some simple ingredients to make this velvety maple frosting.

  • Unsalted butter: This ingredient adds richness and flavor to the frosting. Make sure the butter is softened before using it in the recipe.
  • Cream cheese: Cream cheese is the main ingredient in this frosting — it provides a tangy flavor and a creamy texture. 
  • Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is used to add a sweet and slightly smoky flavor to the frosting. Use high-quality maple syrup for the best results.
  • Vanilla extract: This ingredient enhances the flavor of the frosting — it also adds a sweet aroma.
  • Coarse kosher salt: A little bit of salt balances the sweetness of the frosting and enhances the other flavors.
  • Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar thickens the frosting and makes it easier to spread. 
close up maple syrup dripping on frosting swirl

How To Make Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

With just a few simple steps, this frosting that’s full of rich flavor couldn’t be any easier! 

  1. Beat Butter. Add the butter to a medium bowl (or the large bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment) and beat until light and fluffy.
  2. Add Cream Cheese. Continue to beat while adding the cream cheese.
  3. Mix Remaining Ingredients. Once the cream cheese is completely combined, add the remaining ingredients and salt and beat them together. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula in order to incorporate all of the ingredients
  4. Get the Right Consistency. If the frosting is not thick enough, add powdered sugar and mix until it reaches the desired consistency. Pro-tip: Avoid having the mixer on high speed when adding powdered sugar to the bowl. Keep the mixer on low speed or medium speed so that it doesn’t blow out of the bowl.

What to Serve with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting is tasty on so many different treats — just spoon it into your piping bag and decorate anything from simple vanilla cupcakes and spice cake, to yellow sheet cake, or maple cinnamon rolls. You can also elevate oatmeal cookies by spreading a generous layer of frosting across the top and it’s the perfect way to create a unique rendition of a carrot cake. We used it on our Butternut Squash Cake.

You can also serve it as a dip with fruit, pizzelles, cookies, or waffle cone pieces.

close up maple syrup on mound of white frosting

Variations 

There are a few ways to switch up this simple frosting. 

  • Extract – For a different flavor profile, try changing the extract. Almond extract is perfect if you like the flavor of nuts, or for more maple flavor, try adding maple extract.
  • Sweetness – For more sweet flavor, add a touch of honey or a bit of brown sugar.
  • Chocolate – Add texture and chocolatey flavor by folding in mini chocolate chips. Try dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or bittersweet.
  • ​Different textures – To create a different texture, add crushed nuts or sprinkles.
overhead maple cream cheese frosting with maple syrup drizzle

Storage and Freezing

Since the frosting does contain dairy, be sure to keep it stored in the fridge or freezer.

Make ahead: The maple cream cheese frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Be sure to let the frosting come to room temperature before using.

Refrigerator: Store maple cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Freezer: Freeze frosting for up to 3 months in a resealable bag or freezer-safe container.

close up of maple syrup on frosting

Common Questions About Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

What is maple frosting made of?

This maple frosting is a combination of cream cheese, butter, and maple syrup, with powdered sugar for thickening, if needed.

Is cream cheese frosting different than buttercream frosting?

Yes, they are different. Buttercream frosting uses just butter (and sweetener) while cream cheese frosting combines both butter and cream cheese. 

Does powdered sugar thicken cream cheese frosting? 

Powdered sugar is an excellent thickener for cream cheese frosting.

collage of maple cream cheese frosting with walnuts

More Easy Toppings for Cake and Cookies

Frostings are a great way to customize desserts. Here are a few of our favorites.

angled frosting a yellow sheet cake with offset spatula

Chocolate Fudge Frosting Recipe

Perfect for topping your favorite cupcakes and cakes, this yummy Chocolate Frosting recipe is easy to whip up and decadently delicious!
See The Recipe!
angled shot of jar of chocolate frosting

Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

This Easy Chocolate Frosting recipe is perfection! It is light and fluffy and has the perfect chocolate touch! I use it on anything that calls for frosting.
See The Recipe!
head-on shot of two glass jars with piped whipped cream

Chocolate Whipped Cream Recipe

Quick & easy homemade chocolate whipped cream takes minutes, only needs 4 ingredients and is perfect for frosting cakes, cupcakes or on hot chocolate!
See The Recipe!
close up maple syrup on mound of white frosting

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

4.62 from 13 votes
This EASY Maple Cream Cheese Frosting recipe combines cream cheese, butter, and maple syrup for the ultimate sweet and tangy frosting!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a medium mixing bowl or the bowl of a large stand mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy.
  • Add the cream cheese, beating until fully blended.
  • Add the maple syrup, vanilla and salt, beating until no streaks remain.
  • If the frosting is too loose, add 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar until it is stiff enough to hold a peak.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

** Maple syrup thickness can vary greatly, if the frosting is too loose, use 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches a desirable consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 690 kcal, Carbohydrates: 42 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 56 g, Saturated Fat: 34 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 160 mg, Sodium: 944 mg, Potassium: 247 mg, Sugar: 36 g, Vitamin A: 2048 IU, Calcium: 159 mg, Iron: 0.2 mg
Calories: 690
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: maple cream cheese frosting
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
overhead cream cheese frosting with text overlay
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.62 from 13 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    As a Canadian-born gal, this recipes makes me feel so seen! Lol. It was incredibly delicious! Used it on vanilla cupcakes. Perfect!

  2. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh I LOVE this stuff! It’s so hard to not just sit there and eat it with a spoon, lol, but it tastes SO good on so many different baked goods.

  3. 5 stars
    I am loving the maple flavor in this cream cheese frosting. It’s a perfect topper for many of my cakes and cupcakes. Looking forward to adding this to my repertoire.