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Orange frosting made with cream cheese and a fresh orange that tastes like an orange creamsicle. Spread it over cake, cinnamon rolls and bread. Yum!

Some of the best cakes I have ever tasted are ones made from scratch and topped with a homemade frosting – regardless of how professional it looks. No offense to fondant lovers out there, but it’s not my kind of icing on a cake. Sure, it can mold into a work of art, but I have yet to hear someone say “oooo I just love the taste of fondant!” If I’m going to indulge in the frosting on a cake, it’s got to be worth its bite. Are you with me?

Orange Frosting

There are all kinds of yummy icing recipes out there. Some butter cream, some royal and some glazed. I started making cream cheese frosting years ago when I made my husband’s favorite lemon poppy seed cake. Over the years, I fiddled and faddled over it and somehow it began to include fresh orange zest and orange juice. It was a real winner in our home when my kids said it tasted like an orange creamsicle! I found myself spreading it on cakes, cinnamon rolls, quick breads and even crackers. Ha! Tonight I made a fast orange infused round cake for dessert and topped it with a generous spread of this cream cheese orange frosting. It brought some serious orange induced euphoria 🙂

May I introduce to you what I think is the best orange cake frosting out there?

Come on in to my kitchen!

How to Make Orange Frosting

Step 1 – Zest One Fresh Orange

The most important ingredient to this icing is in the orange itself. Begin by zesting 1 1/2 teaspoons of of zest from one large orange. Don’t skip this step! The fresh orange will add a bright citrus flavor to our icing.

Step 2 – Blend Together The Remaining Ingredients

Next, using a small blender, food processor or mixer, puree the following: 6 oz. softened cream cheese (3/4 of a one bar), 3 Tablespoons room temperature butter, 1 teaspoon orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, your 1 1/2 teaspoons of orange zest and 3/4 cup powdered sugar.

I wish you could taste the screen! It’s perfectly creamy, not too sweet and kickin’ with orange. It has a nice buttery cream color too.

Spread it on however and on whatever your heart desires. This frosting will speak for itself. It becomes just as important as what you spread it on.

Now that’s what I call frosting on the cake! Homemade orange frosting is worth every single bite.

Enjoy!

More Icing and Frosting Recipes

Orange Frosting

Author: meredith
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 10 min
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Print Recipe

Description

A creamy orange frosting made with cream cheese and fresh orange peel and orange juice. Spread it on cakes, breads and even cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients

1 1/2 tsp. orange zest
6 oz. softened cream cheese
3 T. butter, room temperature
1 tsp. orange juice
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Using a small blender, food processor or mixer, puree all the ingredients until smooth.
Spread it on your favorite baked good. Refrigerate any leftovers.