Buttercream Frosting is easy to make with my simple tips and tricks! Take your cake and cupcake recipes from ordinary to extraordinary with real butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt!
The secret to the very best cakes and cupcakes is to make your frosting from scratch and it isn’t hard to make at all! With my very easy tips, you can make your own buttercream frosting in any flavor at home – easily!
When it comes to the best buttercream frosting, this frosting recipe needs to be at the top of your list! It’s perfect for birthday cakes, vanilla cupcakes, sugar cookies, and more! This is such an easy recipe and you’re going to have success making it the very first time!
Buttercream Frosting
I have been told time and time again – no matter what cake recipe I use, either a box mix cake or homemade cake recipe, that the buttercream frosting is the best part! It is light, fluffy and never tastes too sweet or sugary.
It really is the perfect recipe and YOU can make it, too! Just follow my easy steps below and you’ll be on your way to amazing cakes and cupcakes at home!
I’ve been making this easy buttercream frosting for years and I love the fluffy consistency. This classic recipe has a perfect consistency and makes enough frosting that you may even have some leftover frosting to just eat right up with a spoon! A little bit of frosting as a snack never hurt anyone, right?
Ingredients for Buttercream Frosting
The first step is to gather your ingredients. You’ll need:
- REAL butter – don’t skimp here. Buy good quality, unsalted butter. Land O Lakes is my favorite!
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla – again REAL Vanilla Extract is best here
- Whole Milk
- Salt
You’ll need softened butter for the right consistency for frosting. You can set your butter out on the counter to soften it for about an hour before you’re going to need it. You can also soften butter in the microwave in 10-second increments.
Make sure to flip your butter over each time you add 10 secs. You shouldn’t need more than 20 seconds. DO NOT melt or soften for too long!
Once your butter is softened, it’s time to get started!
To Make The Fluffy Buttercream Frosting:
Step 1: Beat the butter
Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
Step 2: Add in the sugar
Reduce the speed to low, slowly add powdered sugar, and beat until fully incorporated and smooth, about 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the paddle and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Step 3: Add the vanilla
Add vanilla and salt. Mixing completely.
Step 4: Add the milk
Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until it’s a smooth consistency. Turn mixer to high and beat until light and fluffy.
That’s it! At this point you can use it as vanilla frosting or add in different flavors. Here are my favorite mix-ins!
Mix-Ins for Buttercream Frosting Flavors:
- Chocolate: 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Peanut Butter Frosting: ¾ cup peanut butter
- Lemon: zest of 1-2 lemons
- Coffee: 1 tablespoon instant espresso dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
- Pumpkin Spice – 2 tablespoon pumpkin spice
Frequently Asked Questions For Making Buttercream
Do you have to refrigerate a cake with buttercream frosting?
Buttercream frosting made with small amounts of milk is safe to leave out at room temperature for two to three days. Buttercream made with cream cheese, however, is not safe to leave out and should be refrigerated.
How long is buttercream good for?
I’ve found that Buttercream Frosting is best when used within a week of making. Just add to an airtight container and store in your fridge until you’re ready to use it. For best results, allow to come to room temperature or slightly chilled and then whip again before frosting cakes.
What mixer attachment should I use for Buttercream?
I’ve found that using a stand mixer is best for making buttercream. I like the paddle attachment to make the fluffiest buttercream. If you need to use a hand mixer, just beat, beat and beat until you have a fluffy frosting!
I also like using a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. When I’m mixing at high speed, some of that classic vanilla buttercream gets thrown up on the sides and a spatula is the easiest way to get it back down into the bowl.
What’s the best way to thicken runny buttercream icing?
It’s easy to thicken runny buttercream icing – just add more confectioners sugar! Don’t overdo it though! Just add 1/4 of a cup at a time – mixing in between adds. You can also pop your bowl into the fridge for about 10 minutes to thicken up.
How can I make Cream Cheese Frosting?
To make Cream Cheese frosting, cut the butter in this recipe in half and add a block of cream cheese. That’s it! It’s easy to make! You can also flavor it by adding in the mix-in ideas above!
Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 5 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- dash of salt
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Reduce the speed to low, slowly add confectioners, and beat until fully incorporated and smooth, about 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the paddle and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Add vanilla and salt. Mixing completely.
- Add milk one tablespoon at a time until it’s a smooth consistency. Turn mixer to high and beat until light and fluffy.
Video
Nutrition
Take your baking to the next level with these tips!
Holly McGregor
Ten stars. I couldn’t stop eating it until I ate so much that u felt sick from all the sugar. My only suggestion is to use a little more vanilla than the recipe calls for. My family loved it and will definitely be making again.
Linda
Hi Kasey, how much buttercream do you think it takes to ice a double 12 inch cake. Lol!🙊
Cozetta Hallman
😋😋😋😋soooo good👌
Peggy Guillory
Does your buttercream frosting recipe make enough to frost a two layer cake and also use as the filling for the cake?
Peggy Guillory
Thanks, Kasey, for responding to my question. Will let you know how it works out.
Monica
So how much does this make? I can’t see the response. Thanks!