Cakes and brownies can be made all the more delicious by the addition of a cream cheese frosting. However, can you extend its shelf life and freeze it. The simple answer is yes, even though it does have a high-fat content.
There are, however, certain steps to follow. If you don’t, you can end up with a crumbly mess or it can become watery. It could even end up with a rancid smell. The texture of the cream cheese frosting will be changed if it’s not frozen properly.
There is also the problem of other smells in the freezer. Cream cheese frosting absorbs the flavors of other food all too easily, so make sure that it is wrapped well and that the other foodstuffs in your freezer are also packaged well so that no flavors escape.
The advantage of freezing cream cheese, similar to buttercream frosting, is seen when you compare the shelf life of cream cheese frosting kept in the fridge with the shelf life when kept in the freezer. If you keep it in the fridge, it will only last for three to five days. However, you can keep it in the freezer for up to three months.
Now we’ll have a look at the different ways of freezing cream cheese frosting (see also Can You Freeze Cream Cheese).
How Do You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?
How to freeze unopened cream cheese frosting.
Perhaps there has been a sale at the store and cream cheese frosting is reduced in price. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. However, you won’t be able to use it all before the sell-by date so what do you do? The answer is to freeze it and in this case, it’s simple. You don’t have to transfer the cream cheese frosting into another container. Just put it in the freezer in its original container.
How to freeze leftover cream cheese frosting.
It is a little more complicated if you want to freeze leftover cream cheese frosting. You need to transfer it into either a freezer bag or an airtight container. If you are using a freezer bag, make sure that you squeeze all the air out of it. If you don’t, freezer burn could occur and the frosting will change texture and taste. It won’t harm you, but it just won’t be as tasty. Once you have done this, write the storage date on the bag with a marker. It is all too easy to forget what date you freeze items especially if you freeze a lot of food.
If you decide to use an airtight container, remember not to overfill it. The cream cheese frosting can expand when frozen and you won’t want a mess in your freezer. It is a good idea to put some cling film over the top of the container before you put the lid on. This acts as additional protection against freezer burns and it also helps to stop smells permeating the container. Once again, write the date on the container with a marker or put a label on it.
Defrosting Frozen Cream Cheese Frosting
This is easy. All you have to do is put it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Don’t defrost the cream cheese frosting at room temperature as this can turn it rancid. This is because there is too drastic a temperature change.
How to Whip Defrosted Cream Cheese Frosting
You may find that the cream cheese frosting has gone a bit watery when you thaw it out. If so, put it in a mixing bowl and whisk the frosting until it is smooth again. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, even less if you have an electric whisk. If the frosting seems to be drying out as you are whisking it, add a drop or two of milk until the consistency is smooth.
Don’t whisk cream cheese frosting if it’s only partially defrosted. This can change the consistency and it may become watery.
Conclusion
Cream cheese frosting (see also Freezing Philadelphia Cream Cheese) is a great addition to baked goods. It makes them taste even more delicious than they already are. It can turn an ordinary dessert into something special that can be served at a dinner party. There’s now no need to throw away any leftovers that you have now that you know how to freeze them.
