This is my FAVORITE Whipped Cream Cheese icing recipe: 

16oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, cold. Higher the fat content, the better (I'm using 40% Ultra)

*Mod edited to remove mixing instructions which is a possible copyright violation.

BUT< it is actually for cinnamon rolls, not necessarily a cake.  But my customer wants it on her full sheet this weekend. So my questions are:

1. Could I drop a tbsp or two of meringue powder to help it crust over a bit?

2. Would 1/2 cup or so of butter help smooth it out to be more spreadable?

3. How long can a whipped frosting like this stay out of a cooled enviroment?

Thanks in advance for your help!

1.  Meringue powder does not create crust----Powdered sugar does. 

2.  Butter should help it spread more easily.

3.  Home made cream cheese should not set out.    "Cooled" environment is not enough...it needs refrigerated until serving.   I wouldn't let it set out for more than a couple hours. 

OK thanks.. 

What does the meringue powder do for the frosting then? Capt. Google Machine gives me about 500 different answers... so my ignorance is somewhat justified.

And yes, by cooled environment I meant refrigeration. Sorry for the (poor?) choice in words.

I am very new to this, so I apologize if I come off as stupid. Perhaps I am.

Your not stupid...there is a lot of different information on the internet.   It is not all wrong.

I'm  not sure what Meringue powder does to butter cream.   I think it is an unnecessary expense/step.  I only use it in my Royal Icing when making cookies.     You will see many people that think it crusts butter cream.   Your fat to sugar ratio is what you need to fix to make the butter cream crust.

Cream cheese icing can stay on a cake for days...if refrigerated. 

Hope this helps. 

It is helpful and I thank you. Sorry for being snarky. It is an intense amount of time and work to research good recipes, good advice, good ANYTHING. Contrary to most, I did not ask to be a weekend warrior... it just happened. My career as a "decorator" ended 3 weeks ago(by my own accord) and I have to date 10 cake orders since I left my position. I am in uncharted territory! I guess what I do is enough to make people want it... but I am truly just piecing this all together as I go. I have so little knowledge but if my community believes in me ? I will do all i can to deliver a good cake.  I don't know royal, gum, fondant, fillings, or flavors. I am the absolute rock bottom of decor. but I know where I am, and I know where I came from. My questions may seem juvenile but I assure you that I value this forum above anything. 

Keep gathering information from Cake Central and the internet.   There is tons of information available.    Only tackle what you are comfortable doing.   I took extreme baby steps because I was so cake intimidated.   There are so many helpful people here on cake central with different levels of experience....use them.   Most are extremely helpful.  The you tube videos are amazing also.  We were all noobs at one time.   

The cake (a full sheet graduation) was a success! The frosting turned out beautifully, although I did overmix the mast batch and had to use buttercream for my borders... the customer called me late last night and said everyone RAVED over her cake ;)  Most of them had been to 1-2 other grad parties that day with store bought cakes and I  guess they just fussed and fussed over hers!  Made my Mothers Day <3

Thanks again for your help. 

Girlisrad, I use that same recipe and it is to die for! Try it on carrot cake. I'm glad your cake was a success.

OHHH Carrot cake.... and Red Velvet!!  OH i am drooling now. 

And thank you so much  

AMade this yesterday for red velvet, delicious!! Thanks for sharing!

Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!!!  It is my husbands fav!  

I am wondering how this holds up as a filling? Thanks in advance!

AHolds up beautifully for me! Just be VERY careful not to over-whip or it will become runny... I usually barricade it in with a Buttercream border to be safe!

AMeringue powder does help form a crust. I use it all the time

Crust forms because of the fat to powdered sugar ratio.  Period.

AMeringue powder does crust icing. That's why it is used.

AAdding meringue powder does aid in crusting. I've played with icing recipes for over 10 years. Maybe the fat ratio to sugar theory has truth to it, but I know if I don't add it to my recipes, I don't have crusting.