Brown butter frosting

Butter: While you can use salted butter, unsalted butter is recommended for this recipe. It allows you to control the sweetness and saltiness of the frosting better.

Powdered sugar: If your powdered sugar has visible lumps, sift it before whipping it with the butter.

Vanilla extract

Cream cheese: I use Original Philadelphia cream cheese to make this Brown butter frosting recipe.

Use light-colored cookware: A light-colored pan allows you to see the color change in the butter more easily, helping you brown butter without burning it.

Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to prevent lumps in the frosting. Cold cream cheese won’t blend smoothly with the butter, which can result in a lumpy texture that’s difficult to fix.

Don’t overwhip: Avoid overwhipping, as it can lead to a grainy  texture. Once the frosting reaches a smooth, stable, and fluffy consistency, stop the mixer.

Brown the butter: Melt the butter in a light-colored pan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma. This process usually takes about 5-7 minutes, so keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.

Cool the butter: Once the butter is browned, immediately pour it into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking process.

Create an ice bath: Prepare a larger bowl filled with ice and a bit of water to create an ice bath. Place the bowl with the browned butter into this larger bowl. The ice bath will help cool the butter quickly, 

Whip the butter: Using a metal whisk or a hand mixer, whisk the butter until it becomes pale and fluffy. 

Add sugar and vanilla: Remove the bowl of whipped butter from the ice bath. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whip until the mixture is smooth and the sugar is fully incorporated.

Incorporate cream cheese: Finally, add the room-temperature cream cheese to the mixture. Whip again until the frosting is smooth and holds its shape well.

Chocolate Cake: The nutty flavors of brown butter frosting beautifully complement the richness of chocolate. Replacing classic Cream cheese frosting with brown butter frosting on chocolate cake adds depth and complexity to this timeless dessert.

Cupcakes: This frosting is perfect for piping beautiful decorative tops on Vanilla cupcakes or Pumpkin muffins.

Carrot Cake: The warmth of brown butter frosting pairs perfectly with an Easy carrot cake recipe, adding a new layer of flavor to this classic dessert.

Cookies: Use this frosting to create delicious Pumpkin whoopie pies—it’s an ideal match for fall-inspired flavors.