All-Natural Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Kids Will Love
If you’re a parent, finding dessert recipes that are both delicious and made with ingredients you feel good about serving your little ones can be a challenge. This all-natural strawberry cream cheese frosting is my all-time favorite. Ultra smooth, creamy, and just the right balance of sweet and tangy, it literally melts on your tongue.
Perfect for cupcakes, cakes, pastries, or cookies, this frosting is made with real, wholesome ingredients. You get beautiful color and amazing flavor without artificial dyes, so it’s safe for little hands and tummies.
Why Parents Should Choose All-Natural Ingredients
Artificial food dyes and preservatives can sometimes cause hyperactivity or allergic reactions in sensitive children. Using all-natural ingredients like real strawberries ensures the treats you serve are safer, healthier, and still taste incredible.
All-natural desserts also teach kids early on that treats can be both fun and wholesome. With this frosting, you get a beautiful pink color and powerful strawberry flavor without any artificial chemicals.
My Secret Ingredient
To get that gorgeous pink color and bold strawberry flavor, I use freeze-dried strawberries crushed into a fine powder. This is my secret ingredient. It gives the frosting and cupcakes a natural pink hue and packs a powerful punch of strawberry flavor.
Fresh strawberries hold a lot of liquid, which can make cupcakes soggy. Freeze-dried strawberries solve that problem while keeping your desserts perfectly textured.
I usually find them at my local grocery store near the raisins and dried fruit, but you can also order them online.
Ingredients and Why They Matter
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Unsalted Butter: Adds creaminess and helps the frosting hold its shape
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Cream Cheese: Gives a tangy flavor and rich texture. Room temperature cream cheese is essential for smooth frosting
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Freeze-Dried Strawberries: My secret ingredient. Naturally pink and flavorful
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Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth
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Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting. Sift for a smooth texture
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Yield: About 4 cups (enough to frost 24 cupcakes or a two-layer cake)
Tip: You can halve or double this recipe as needed
Ingredients:
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1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
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8 oz brick cream cheese, room temperature
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15 g (about 1 cup or half of a 1.2 oz pouch) freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into a powder
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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3–4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar, sifted
Directions:
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Beat softened butter on medium-high speed until light and creamy, 2–3 minutes
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Add cream cheese, strawberry powder, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps
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Gradually add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed
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Increase speed to medium-high and beat 2–3 more minutes until smooth and creamy
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Frost cupcakes, cakes, or pastries and watch the kids’ eyes light up
Tips for Parents
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Room Temperature Ingredients Are Key - Cold cream cheese or butter makes frosting lumpy
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Adjust Sweetness - Start with 3 cups powdered sugar and add more if desired
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Piping Perfection - Holds shape beautifully for decorating cupcakes or cakes
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Storage - Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to a month
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Make Ahead - Beat frosting, store in fridge overnight, bring to room temperature, and re-whip before frosting
Fun Variations
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Chocolate Strawberry: Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder for a chocolate twist
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Berry Medley: Mix in a teaspoon of freeze-dried blueberry powder for a pink-purple swirl
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Mini Desserts: Use as a filling for cookies, sandwiching it between two soft sugar cookies
Serving Suggestions
Perfect for:
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Birthday cupcakes or cakes for little ones
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Holiday treats like Valentine’s Day desserts
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Adding a homemade touch to boxed cupcakes
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Special occasions where you want desserts to feel festive but wholesome
This strawberry cream cheese frosting is my go-to for birthdays, holidays, or any time I want desserts that are kid-friendly, delicious, and all-natural. With my secret ingredient of freeze-dried strawberry powder, you get a beautiful, naturally pink frosting that kids love and parents can feel good about.
Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever frosted a dessert any other way.
I've used this on some of my favorite cupcakes!
