This maple cream cheese frosting is rich, creamy, sweet and tangy. It’s the perfect cream cheese frosting for cakes, cupcakes, cookies and easy to make for any fall desserts!
Whether you top pumpkin cinnamon rolls with maple cream cheese icing or use to frost carrot cake or apple pie cupcakes, it takes any treat to the next level!
Table of Contents
Easy Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
This maple cream cheese frosting recipe is an easy twist on my favorite cream cheese frosting and is the perfect way to dress up one hour cinnamon rolls or use on all your favorite apple desserts and pumpkin recipes.
The addition of maple syrup adds a sweet and slightly caramelized flavor to the maple frosting, while still maintaining a rich tanginess from the cream cheese. This icing is the perfect combination of creamy and fluffy, plus so simple to whip up in 10 quick minutes with only 5 ingredients!
Ingredients
- Full fat cream cheese: Remember to soften cream cheese to room temperature otherwise it will not whip properly.
- Butter: Softened butter will cream better with the cream cheese for a smooth frosting. Unsalted butter is best.
- Confectioners sugar: If your powdered sugar or icing sugar has clumps, sift it first so the icing texture is smooth.
- Extract: You will need both vanilla extract and maple extract. Maple extract adds a more pronounced maple flavor than just using pure maple syrup on it’s own.
Variations
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to boost the flavor even more.
- A few spoonful’s of milk or heavy cream will give it a drippier consistency, similar to a cream cheese glaze. This would taste delicious drizzled on top of pumpkin crumb muffins or a pumpkin bundt cake.
- Mix in a Tablespoon of pure maple syrup for even more maple flavor.
Piping Tips
This frosting works great for piping on top of cookies, a cake recipe & cupcakes. It takes any fall dessert up a notch!
If you’re a beginner that wants to learn how to frost the perfect cupcakes (or cake or cookies), check out these tips below:
- Tools. I like to use a 1M star tip, a large coupler and these disposable frosting bags to pipe frosting on top of my desserts. They are simple tools that make a big difference in presentation.
- Consistency. The frosting should be thick and sturdy enough to hold a point. If it’s too thin to keep it’s shape, mix in more powdered sugar.
- Quantity. If using a tip, this recipe will frost about 12 cupcakes. I’d recommend doubling the recipe if you are making more than that.
- Cup method. Any easy, mess-free way to transfer the frosting to a piping bag is to place the tip inside the coupler and then inside the bag. Then place the bag inside a tall cup and fold over the top of the bag. Then scoop the frosting into the bag.
Ways to Use Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Frost these soft sugar cookies
- Use as a filling in pumpkin whoopie pies
- Use to frost overnight cinnamon rolls
- Spread on top of pumpkin bars or pumpkin cake
- Pipe on carrot cake cupcakes
How to Store Maple Frosting
Any leftover frosting will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It is also recommended that you refrigerate any desserts that you’ve frosted with this recipe because of the dairy in the cream cheese.
We especially love piping this maple frosting with cream cheese on top of pumpkin spice cupcakes, carrot cake cookies and frosted pumpkin cookies.
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Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter , softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar , more as needed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons maple extract
Instructions
- Whip butter and cream cheese. Combine 8 Tablespoons butter and 8 ounces cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar and maple. Add 4 cups powdered sugar slowly and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons maple extract. If necessary, add more powdered sugar until the frosting is firm enough to hold its shape but still light and fluffy.
- Frost. Frost on cupcakes, cookies or your favorite dessert.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Desserts, Frosting, Gluten-Free, No-Bake, Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Hi Jamielyn can I use pure maple sugar instead of extract ? And how much ? Thx
Hi, I don’t think maple sugar would give you quite the maple flavor like with the more concentrated extract.
Used this recipe with a vegan cream cheese and it came out perfect!!!! Saving this recipe forever!!!
Can I thin this down to make more of a glaze?
Yes, that is a great idea too!
How much does this recipe make?
It will frost about 24 cupcakes cupcakes.
Could you use maple syrup instead of maple extract?
You can use real maple syrup in replacement, but not artificial syrup.
Yes, but only real maple syrup, not artificial maple syrup.
Made this frosting today for a white cake. It is wonderful. Thanks for sharing
I’m so happy to hear you loved it, Mary! Thanks for your comment :)
I’m making pumpkin cupcakes today for my friend. I’m going to use your frosting to top the cupcakes. Looks buttery and delicious. Yum!
Enjoy! :)
The best frosting for any fall treat! Love putting this on carrot cake bread I make!
Yum, sounds delicious!