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National Cream Cheese Frosting Day

Food · December 13

Cream cheese frosting, the tangy, soft topping made from cream cheese, butter and sugar that belongs on carrot cake, red velvet and cinnamon rolls.

National Cream Cheese Frosting Day falls on Sunday, December 13, 2026. That is 47 days away.

Cream cheese frosting is what happens when butter and sugar meet something with a little sourness. Soft cream cheese is beaten with butter and powdered sugar, often with a splash of vanilla, until it turns smooth and spreadable.

The tang is the point. Plain buttercream can taste like sweetness and not much else, while cream cheese frosting has a slight sharpness that keeps each bite from feeling heavy. It pairs well with spiced and earthy cakes. Carrot cake is the classic home for it, and red velvet, pumpkin bread and banana cake are close behind. Many people also spread it over warm cinnamon rolls, where it melts into the swirls.

It is a softer frosting than most, so it does not hold sharp piped shapes for long on a warm day. Bakers often chill a frosted cake before slicing to keep the layers neat. Because it contains dairy, leftovers usually go in the refrigerator rather than sitting out on the counter.

Making a batch takes only a few minutes with a mixer or a sturdy whisk. The cream cheese and butter work best at room temperature, and lumps tend to appear when one of them is still cold. Some cooks add lemon zest, cinnamon or a spoonful of maple syrup to shift the flavor a little.

A bowl of it rarely survives without someone running a finger along the spatula.

Ways to celebrate

• Frost a carrot cake or a tray of carrot cupcakes.
• Spread cream cheese frosting over warm cinnamon rolls.
• Try adding lemon zest or cinnamon to a small batch.
• Share a slice of red velvet cake with a neighbor.
• Use leftover frosting as a dip for apple slices or graham crackers.

Dates

All national days on December 13

Also on December 13

• National Guard Birthday
• National Cocoa Day
• National Day of the Horse
• National Violin Day

Categories: Food days