Name: Honey Cream Cheese Frosting (Reduced Sugar)
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Makes 3 cups
Ingredients: 12 ounces (340 grams) cream cheese, softened; 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ⅛ teaspoon salt; 6 tablespoons honey

Why This Recipe Works

But cream cheese frostings very often veer into sugar bomb territory, so overly sweet and cloying that the cream cheese tang is lost. We took it down a notch by not only using less sugar than usual, but also replacing the sugar with honey. Honey paired nicely with the tang of the cream cheese, giving this frosting a more distinct, nuanced, and well-rounded flavor profile.

Before You Begin

Do not substitute low-fat cream cheese here or the frosting will have a soupy consistency. If the frosting becomes too soft to work with, refrigerate it until firm.

Instructions

Using stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt on medium-high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

Reduce mixer speed to medium-low, add honey, and whip until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high and whip frosting until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.