Cream cheese topping

[Yorky]

You know the stuff I mean, goes on the top of carrot cakes and is very yummy and (ahem) totally calorie free

I cannot make it!
My carrot cake rocks, but I am apparently incapable of getting the topping right.

Please, kind people, your words of wisdom. (And don't suggest the yucky ready made plastic stuff in tubs)

I read a recipe recently that said equal parts of philadelphia and mascarpone, with double that weight of icing sugar, a pinch of cinnamon and a squeeze of OJ or lemon - forget which. not made it myself but thought it sounded good. It was a topping for carrot cake. If it's too runny you just keep adding more calorie free icing sugar until it's the right consistency. Also, if it goes in the fridge, it firms up a bit.

Think you have to use high fat versions, as low fat have water in, and won't firm up again after being blended.

125g cream cheese, 250g icing sugar, 1-2 tbsp lime juice. Absolutely delicious, tastier than the sum of its parts!

Is this one any good?

This sounds nice as well.

Just make sure you use full fat cream cheese or it will go runny.

By the way, that's nigella 's recipe, not mine! I have tried and tested it though

Full fat, bugger.
Guess who didn't read the packet when she picked it up grrr

why full fat? can I not thicken it with a full packet of icing sugar?

Can't remember the details but I use the Hummingbird's cream cheese topping and it's delish :)

Yup must be full fat it doesn't work otherwise - think that must be ur problem!

"can I not thicken it with a full packet of icing sugar?"

No, the sugar just dissolves. Low fat cream cheese always goes runny when you blend it and is useless for frosting.

Shame the DC ate my delicious carrot muffins before I got chance to ice them!
Better luck next time!

I've only managed to get it right once I need to do more practice, but the time it did go right was undated butter at room temp so it is nice and soft and full ft Philadelphia at fridge temp and icing sugar sifted. The secret seems to be to NOT OVER-BEAT the cream cheese, if over beaten will make it runny instead of thick...,

Undated= unsalted