This healthy cream cheese frosting recipe is light, fluffy, and naturally sweetened. You will love the soft, whipped texture and tangy cream cheese flavor!
Table of Contents
- What makes this the best healthy cream cheese frosting?
- Step by step recipe video
- Key ingredients
- Cream cheese frosting health benefits
- How to make yogurt cream cheese frosting
- Turn it into different flavors
- Frequently asked questions
- More healthy frosting recipes
- Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Ways to use healthy cream cheese frosting
What makes this the best healthy cream cheese frosting?
- No butter, no shortening, and no powdered sugar.
- One simple trick makes the frosting so much thicker and fluffier than similar recipes.
- It tastes like cheesecake you can eat with a spoon.
- Perfect for topping carrot cake, cupcakes, red velvet cake, or cinnamon rolls!
- You need just four ingredients, with low calorie, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, low carb, vegan, and keto options all included.
Try it on this Carrot Cake Banana Bread
Step by step recipe video
This frosting is amazing!!! I am really surprised at how little sugar I needed to add to it for it to taste awesome. Most cream cheese frosting recipes call for a TON of powdered sugar, margarine, and cream cheese so I’m very happy that this is so healthy and decadent.
Key ingredients
Yogurt or Tofu – Greek yogurt or soft tofu both work well to add thickness and creaminess. As a bonus, low fat yogurt and tofu are high in protein and low in saturated fat. For vegan cream cheese frosting, use dairy free yogurt or the silken tofu option.
Cream Cheese – You can buy block or whipped Philadelphia cream cheese (reduced fat or regular), soy free cashew cream cheese, or store bought or homemade vegan cream cheese.
Unrefined Sugar – Many healthy cream cheese frosting recipes call for pure maple syrup or honey. While you can use one of those here, the consistency of the icing will be thinner. For the best fluffy texture, I like to start with raw cane sugar and pulse in a blender or food processor until fine and powdery. Voila! An easy, healthier alternative to processed powdered sugar.
Vanilla Extract – A teaspoon of pure vanilla extract balances the tanginess of the cream cheese.
Ground Cinnamon (optional) – Add up to a half teaspoon of cinnamon for cozy warmth and sweetness without a ton of extra calories. A pinch of chai or pumpkin pie spice is also lovely.
Above, healthy cream cheese frosting tastes delicious spread on Easy Cinnamon Rolls.
Cream cheese frosting health benefits
- No trans fats, artificial flavors or colors.
- Unlike store bought frosting, this one has no corn syrup.
- An equal size serving of Pillsbury cream cheese frosting contains more calories, more fat, no protein, and over four times the amount of sugar!
- Close to two grams protein in just one tablespoon.
- Provides calcium and iron.
- Yogurt or tofu takes the place of all the butter in traditional frosting, adding creaminess and texture without all the unhealthy fat.
How to make yogurt cream cheese frosting
Step 1: Soften the cream cheese. Let the cream cheese sit out on the counter for up to an hour ahead of time. This step is especially important if you are using blocks, because it will blend more easily and smoothly when soft.
Step 2: Make healthy powdered sugar. If you are using granulated sugar, blend it alone in a food processor until it turns to fine powder.
Step 3: Combine all ingredients. Add the tofu or yogurt, softened cream cheese, powdered sweetener, pure vanilla extract, and optional cinnamon to a food processor or stand mixer. It also works in a large bowl with hand beaters.
Step 4: Blend until smooth. Process on high, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the machine. Continue blending until the mixture is thick, whipped, and super fluffy.
Step 5: Chill if desired. You can serve the healthy cream cheese icing straight away, or refrigerate until cold if you prefer a firmer texture. It will also be much more firm after sitting loosely covered in a bowl overnight in the fridge. If time permits, I love making the recipe a day in advance.
Turn it into different flavors
In addition to the aforementioned cinnamon, and chocolate and lemon variations (below), you can create endless custom frosting flavors from the base recipe.
High Protein Frosting: Blend in two tablespoons of your favorite flavored protein powder.
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: Add two drops of maple extract. Taste, then slowly add more drops if you want a stronger maple flavor.
This idea works for peppermint, coconut, or almond extract as well.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting: Replace a fourth cup of the Greek yogurt or tofu with canned pumpkin puree. Include the optional cinnamon, as well as a fourth teaspoon of ground pumpkin spice.
Peanut Butter Frosting: Replace at least one fourth cup of the Greek yogurt or tofu with creamy peanut butter. Almond butter, pecan butter, or cashew butter work too.
Coffee Cream Cheese Icing: Blend in a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder.
Frequently asked questions
While the frosting is thicker than similar healthier frostings, it contains no shortening or butter and is therefore not ideal for piping.
This one is easy. Just blend one third cup sifted cocoa powder into the recipe, and increase the vanilla extract to one and a half teaspoons. Thin with a teaspoon or two milk of choice (or brewed coffee!) if needed.
Sure. You can try blueberry, strawberry, or lemon yogurt too. If using vanilla Greek yogurt, omit the vanilla extract in the recipe.
Cover leftovers tightly and refrigerate for up to five days. The icing is free of preservatives, so it shouldn’t sit out at room temperature for more than a few hours.
In general, I do not recommend freezing homemade frostings, because the texture after thawing is never as creamy.
Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese or vegan cream cheese (225g)
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt or silken tofu (180g)
- 1/2 cup unrefined sugar (80g) or 2/3 cup powdered monk fruit (can also sub 1/3 cup pure maple syrup)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5g)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for up to an hour to soften, so it will blend more smoothly.
- 2. If using granulated sweetener, blend it alone in a food processor until it turns fine and powdery.
- 3. Process softened cream cheese, tofu or yogurt, sweetener, vanilla extract, and optional cinnamon in a food processor or stand mixer, or with hand beaters in a large bowl. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides, and blend until smooth and fluffy.
- 4. Serve right away, or refrigerate until cold for a thicker texture. The healthy cream cheese frosting is also much firmer after sitting loosely covered overnight in the refrigerator.
- 5. Store any leftovers after a day in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Video
Notes
Ways to use healthy cream cheese frosting
what to do when no cream cheese for frosting? help please
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/healthy-recipes-frostings-and-nut-butters/
I just made this…and ate it in one sitting. It was THAT good. It doesnt even taste healthy either! 🙂
I saw you said “sweetener of choice” but I didn’t see an amount. Could you clarify that part please? Thank so much. 🙂
Peoples’ tastes are so different that it’s impossible to give an amount that everyone will like. Just use a little, taste, add more as needed.
This is exactly what I was looking for! I made a healthy carrot cake and needed some healthy cream cheese frosting. Thanks! I am still licking it off my fingers
I just tried this recipe and was slightly disapointed in the outcome. The tofu flavor still came through no matter what I did to try and remove it. Also, I was expecting a thicker, more cream cheese-like frosting.
What tofu did you use?
trans fat lies in mostly packaged foods, of which I don’t eat often, so I don’t have to worry too. But if were making a cake and using already made frosting, I cringe a little because of all the trans fat. But really, if you avoid packaged snacks you avoid trans fat.
I made a coffee flavored version of this! I just added instant coffee a little at a time until it tasted like coffee frosting. Delicious!
Katie,
First of all I’m a huge fan of your recipes they are delicious lifesavers for us health-conscious vegans with a MAJOR sweet tooth!
I made this recipe tonight as a topping for some butternut squash that I roasted with SF maple syrup and cinnamon. Initially I put 2T on it but I think I went back for more THREE times! It was great. Thank you!
This was amazing! I haven’t had anything with cream cheese since before I became vegan about a year ago. This is way better than anything I remember. I will have to get some non-vegan opinions tomorrow. I hope they like it as much as I do because it is going on my health conscientious friends birthday cake.
This was amazing! I made this icing for a dinner party last night and put it on a Key Lime Cake. The great part was that all of the non-vegan people there LOVED it. I couldn’t find any Mori-nu, but I used some Nigari Silken Tofu from Trader Joe’s and it worked perfectly! No soy aftertaste whatsoever.
I love your recipes and enjoy following all your blogs. By any chance do you have a frosting recipe for someone who can’t have dairy or soy? I can have small amounts of soy but absolutely no dairy. I’m making carrot cake cupcakes for Easter and where I will be able to eat the cupcake, I would reeeeeeaally like to enjoy a frosting. Can u help me? 🙂
Hi Danielle,
Here is a link to all my frosting recipes. Many are soy-free, and all are dairy-free :).
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/category/healthy-frosting-recipes
Do you think using plain, unsweetened soy yogurt instead of the tofu? My local natural food store carries soy yogurt, but not silken tofu.
I love your website! It’s great! The recipes are amazing.Thank you for bringing such delicious and healthy recipes!!!deliciou
S
Looks perfect for the vegan redvelvet cake I’m making for my son’s first birthday! How much sweetener do you recommend? Obviously to taste but a starting point? Thank you!
Hi Ellen,
For frosting I think I would start with 3 tbsp powdered sugar or 3 NuNaturals stevia packets.
When you posted the WW points for the Carrot Cake Waffles, is that serving size 1 waffle or for the recipe which makes two? Does the points include the suggested Healthy Cream Cheese frosting or is it just for the Waffle?
Thank-you, you are doing a great service to woman-kind.
It is per waffle.
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thing concerning that.