Vanilla Bean and Cream Cheese Frosting

Irish Rose's Note:

I am submitting this to save because it just sounds so darn good! I'm also submitting this to share with you guys because it is not mine to hoard. I got this recipe from Katie on her blog Chaos in the Kitchen. If you get a chance, check out her recipes, they are great!

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 24.0 cupcakes

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 vanilla bean
• 3 -4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Slit vanilla bean in half and use tip of knife to scrape the vanilla bean paste from each side of vanilla bean pod.
2. Whip cream cheese in bowl until smooth.
3. Add butter and beat to combine.
4. Add vanilla extract and vanilla bean pod paste.
5. Beat in powdered sugar a little at a time until frosting is thick and as sweet as you like.
6. Katie mentioned that she only uses unsalted butter in her frostings and that she also "pipes" her frosting on cupcakes rather than spreading with a knife or spatula.

Reviews

[Chef #922094]

I have been a cream cheese frosting lover and user since the 1970's and this is the lightest most flavorful frosting I have ever come across. It was easy to frost my cupcakes with a pastry bag, and the lovely vanilla bean flavor was heavenly. I will not use any of my old recipes going forward, or ever search for another!!