Cream cheese frosting, alone or on cake or cupcakes, can sit at a cool room temperature for up to 8 hours before it should be refrigerated. The frosting can be made and transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Cream cheese frosting tends to be heavier and less smooth than buttercream, which makes for a more difficult frosting. It’s better suited for filling a cake, though it can be used in any way you like.

9 Things You Never Thought to Do with Cream Cheese Frosting

1. And None of Them Involve Carrot Cake. Rich and tangy, cream cheese frosting is buttercream’s lustier, more worldly cousin.
2. Dessert Cheese Ball.
3. Fried Dumplings.
4. Oatmeal.
5. Grilled Jam Sandwiches.
6. Fruit Tart.
7. Egg Sandwich.
8. Doughnut Dip.

Food safety experts with the U.S. government say that 2 hours is the max that cream cheese should sit at room temperature. Other experts recommend no more than 4 hours.

WHY IS MY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING RUNNY? This can happen if you use a low-quality cream cheese that has a higher water content, or if you use cream cheese from a tub instead of the kind that comes in a brick. Make sure to buy the best quality, full-fat, block cream cheese you can get your hands on.

When to Refrigerate Cakes Most cakes – frosted, unfrosted, cut, or uncut – are fine for several days when properly stored at room temperature. Bring a refrigerated cake out 30 minutes to an hour before serving and let sit at room temperature.

Most cakes, frosted and unfrosted, cut and uncut, are perfectly fine at room temperature for several days. If you do refrigerate, wrap unfrosted cakes in plastic to protect them from absorbing any weird fridge smells and to protect them from drying out, and then unwrap it to warm up on the counter before serving.

In the Fridge Most kinds of cakes are safe to eat for up to four days if they are stored in the refrigerator. Cakes made or frosting with dairy ingredients should be stored in the refrigerator.

“If you do eat a food past the expiration date [and the food] is spoiled, you could develop symptoms of food poisoning,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Summer Yule, MS. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include fever, chills, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

An uncut frosted cake that’s been frosted with buttercream, fondant, or ganache can last at room temperature for up to five days. Keep it covered with a cake keeper or a bowl to protect it from dust or other particles. If your cake has already been cut into, that means moisture is already beginning to escape.

Cakes, whether kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator, should be stored airtight to keep them fresh and moist. If storing in the refrigerator, it’s best to chill the cake uncovered for about 20 minutes in the freezer or refrigerator to let the frosting harden.