Orange Cream Cheese Frosting Made with Fresh Juice and Zest

Made with fresh orange juice and zest, this orange cream cheese frosting has a bright citrus flavor and a thick, pipe-able texture. It comes together in about 5 minutes and is perfect for spreading on cakes, swirling onto cupcakes, or dressing up cookies that need a little extra pop.

Zesty Cream Cheese Frosting That Beats the Original

This frosting is a little sweeter than a lemon cream cheese frosting recipe, but the orange flavor is still just as bright. You’ll want to use fresh orange juice and zest for real orange flavor, as bottled juice won’t have that same vibrant taste. 

You’ll make this frosting just like any other classic cream cheese frosting with a base of room temperature butter and cream cheese, and powdered sugar, but you’ll add a splash of orange juice and a bit of orange zest. 

Once you make an orange and cream cheese frosting, you can spread it onto your favorite holiday cake or pop it into the fridge to harden slightly so that you can make beautiful piping on moist vanilla cupcakes. Also keep it in mind to frost some copycat cranberry bars. It’s so versatile.

This batch makes enough for a three-layer cake or a generous amount for cupcakes, so you won’t find yourself scraping the bowl to cover the last few swirls. 

You Need 3 Key Ingredients for Orange Frosting

This zesty cream cheese frosting is so simple to make. Make sure to check the recipe card for the full ingredient list.

• Dried Cranberries are a fun addition to sprinkle on top of orange frosting, the two are a classic combination.

Your New Favorite Frosting in 5 Minutes

Step One: Make the Frosting Base

Step Two: Finish with Juice

This orange cream cheese frosting is an easy way to add bright citrus flavor to your favorite desserts without any extra fuss. Whether you spread it on a cake or pipe it onto cupcakes, it’s smooth, sturdy, and packed with real orange flavor, no shortcuts required.