Mixing together homemade frosting is a great way to turn any store-bought, packaged cupcake or cookie mix into something original. Frosting is the defining element to many sweets. Cream cheese frosting can be highly caloric, so try creating a lighter frosting by using Neufchâtel cheese instead. You won’t miss out on flavor and there’s no

guilt involved.

Neufchâtel is one-third the amount of fat as cream cheese and has a delicious flavor. The greatest thing about this easy-to-make recipe is that Neufchâtel cheese stores in the refrigerator for weeks before it expires.

In addition to using Neufchâtel frosting on chocolate cake, carrot cake muffins and sugar cookies, consider using this sweet topping as a dip for strawberries, blueberries, celery, cucumbers or on a toasted bagel.

You will actually look forward to getting your daily two to three servings of fruit and vegetables if you have frosting to dip those  healthy foods into.

To start, you’ll need to pick up two 8-ounce packages of Neufchâtel cheese and one stick of butter or margarine. Promise Buttery Spread tastes like butter and has been proven to lower bad cholesterol. You will also need confectioners sugar, vanilla extract and one medium bowl.

These items are inexpensive, can be stored for a long time and used in many other recipes.

Now you are ready to make your Neufchâtel cheese frosting. Begin by putting the cheese in the bowl and stir in one-and-a-half cups of softened butter or margarine with a fork or whisk.

Continue stirring until butter and Neufchâtel cheese are completely blended. Next, add one teaspoon of vanilla extract and blend well.

Sift two cups of confectioners sugar and carefully stir the sugar into the Neufchâtel cheese, butter and vanilla mixture. Neufchâtel frosting will delight your taste buds, and you’ll still fit into your skinny jeans after eating it.

Ingredients:

1    medium bowl

1    sifter

1    fork or whisk

2    8-ounce packages of Neufchâtel cheese

1.5  cups of butter or margarine

2    cups sifted confectioners sugar

1    teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1.    Put Neufchâtel cheese in a medium bowl

2.    Allow butter to soften

3.    Stir Neufchâtel and butter until creamy

4.    Mix in vanilla extract

5.    Sift confectioners sugar

5.    Slowly stir in sugar

6.    Spread frosting on cookies, fruit, vegetables or use as a dip

7.    Serve and enjoy

8.    Store in refrigerator after use