This Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting comes together in 5 minutes and is made with fresh blackberries, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest, and vanilla. It’s like a fruitier, zestier twist on classic cream cheese frosting with a bakery-level flavor that’s perfect for topping your favorite cakes and cupcakes.
The Perfect Fruity Frosting For Your Favorite Cakes and Cupcakes
We’re all familiar with a classic cream cheese frosting. But what if you could add fruit to it and make a lighter, fresher frosting for your favorite desserts? That’s exactly what this Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting is all about.
The challenge with adding fruit to a buttercream frosting is that you end up adding a lot more powdered sugar to make up for the extra liquid. Sometimes I just don’t want my frosting that sweet. I’ve found that using cream cheese will solve this problem.
It provides stability to offset the juicy berries and a creaminess you can;t get with butter alone. You’ll still add a bit more powdered sugar, but not too much.
This frosting comes together in 5 minutes and is just as simple as making cream cheese frosting from scratch. It starts with a butter and cream cheese base, followed by powdered sugar, then orange zest, vanilla, and finally, fresh blackberries.
The blackberries are spread throughout the frosting and add texture, but you can always use blackberry jam for a smoother frosting that’s infused with flavor instead. I prefer the little chunks of blackberries you get with using fresh berries.
Either way, you’ll still get that nice hint of blackberry flavor. Plus, you can make the frosting more or less purple by mixing in the blackberries or just swirling them throughout.
This frosting basically goes with any kind of cake that pairs well with blackberries, like a moist blackberry jam cake, but it’s also great to add some interest to vanilla cupcakes, a lemon bundt cake, or lemon cupcakes.
This Blackberry Frosting Takes Your Desserts to the Next Level
- Quick: 5 minutes is all it takes to make this recipe, and it turns out perfect every single time.
- Fruity: The blackberries and orange zest give this frosting a fruity makeover that adds another level of flavor.
- Simple: You only need 6 ingredients and a mixer. It’s that easy.
6 Ingredients Is All It Takes
This is what you’ll need for this recipe, but make sure to double check the recipe card for the measurements.
- Butter and cream cheese: The thick and creamy base for the frosting that adds richness and a velvety texture. Full-fat cream cheese and unsalted butter work best. Just make sure these are at room temperature before mixing, as this helps them blend in smoothly. You can soften cream cheese and soften butter quickly if you’re in a rush.
- Orange zest: This little bit of citrus just brightens everything up. It’s subtle but makes the frosting taste fresh and zesty. You can swap it with lemon zest if that’s what you have.
- Fresh blackberries: These add a fresh, fruity punch to the frosting, plus a pop of color. If you want a smoother frosting, swap them out for blackberry jam or use frozen berries – just make sure they have thawed and you have drained off all the juices.
Whip Up Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting in 5 Minutes
Step One: Make the Base
Step Two: Add Orange Zest, Vanilla, and Blackberries.
Store It Right and Make It Ahead
Storing: Store the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If the frosting hardens in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. You can also give it a quick whisk or beat it with an electric mixer to bring it back to its smooth, spreadable consistency.
Make ahead: You can absolutely make this frosting ahead of time. Just follow the recipe, store it in the fridge or freezer, and let it come to room temperature before using.
Don’t Forget!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks, room temp
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temp
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
Instructions
- With an electric mixer on medium high, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Reduce the speed to low and add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until it is smooth before adding another cup.
- Add the orange zest and vanilla and beat on high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Fold in the blackberries.
Notes
- If you want a purple frosting, mix the berries until it reaches the color you want. Otherwise, just gently fold the berries into the frosting.
