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    Home » Dessert » Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

    Published: Mar 18, 2019 · Modified: Dec 19, 2020 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is creamy, delicious and perfect for piping or spreading onto any cake or cupcake! Never buy store-bought frosting again!

    Wire whisk standing upright filled with confetti colored vanilla buttercream frosting

    Original post: December 2011 | Updated: March 2019

    Why This Recipe Works

    I strongly believe that buying store-bought frosting is a mortal sin. Seriously, you guys, if you do this…STOP! It is SO ridiculously easy (5 minutes! 4 ingredients!) to make your own Vanilla Buttercream Frosting that there’s really no excuse to go store-bought.

    If you are ever tempted to reach for a container, imagine my virtual hand slap. Promise me you’ll at least give homemade frosting a try. You’ll never go back to the shelves again!

    How To Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

    Step 1

    In a large bowl, mix (using whisk attachments) the butter with a hand-held or stand mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until just combined.

    Mixing bowl filled with ingredients to make frosting with

    Step 2

    Add the milk and vanilla and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes.

    Refrigerate until ready to spread on baked goods.

    What To Use Vanilla Buttercream For

    The world is your oyster when it comes to finding cupcakes, cookies or cakes to spread your batch of Vanilla Buttercream allll over. Here are a few recipes to get your wheels turning!

    • Vanilla Sheet Cake
    • Pumpkin Spice Cake
    • Classic White Cupcakes
    • Cake Truffles
    Wire whip filled with vanilla buttercream frosting

    How To Make Perfect Buttercream

    Buttercream Frosting is simple yet ridiculously tasty and it goes great spread on seriously any cupcake, cake, cookie or brownie. Here are a few tips for creating the perfect buttercream frosting!

    • Salted Butter – I ALWAYS used salted butter for my baked goods and buttercream frostings, but that is a personal preference. If you wish to reduce the saltiness, go unsalted! Also, make sure your butter is not totally melted. If you don’t have time to bring it to room temperature, microwave it for no more than 30 seconds.
    • Milk – Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated. When you reach the desired frosting consistency, you don’t need to add any more. For a less thick buttercream, you may want to increase the amount of milk used to 4-6 tablespoons. For a thicker frosting, 3-4 tablespoons is ideal.
    • Mixing – Once you have reached your desired consistency, crank your mixer up to medium-high speed and set a timer for 3 full minutes. Don’t skimp on time. Three minutes of mixing will produce such a super fluffy, creamy and perfect buttercream frosting.
    • Sprinkles – Stir in sprinkles at the end for an extra touch of fun! I love doing this when I’m baking treats for kids because…SPRINKLES.
    • Vanilla – Use real vanilla extract (no imitations!) and feel free to increase the amount to 2 teaspoons for an even stronger vanilla flavor. If you have time to plan ahead, make a batch of homemade vanilla extract!

    Buttercream Frosting Recipes

    Don’t limit yourself to Vanilla Buttercream! There are so many different flavors that can be incorporated into buttercream frosting. Here are a few of my favorites:

    • Lemon
    • Caramel
    • Peppermint
    • Raspberry
    • Chocolate

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    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is creamy, delicious and perfect for piping or spreading onto any cake or cupcake! Never buy store-bought frosting again!
    5 from 1 vote
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 334kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter 2 sticks, softened
    • 5 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp milk
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, mix (using whisk attachments) the butter with a hand-held or stand mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until just combined. Add the milk and vanilla and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes.
    • Refrigerate until ready to spread on baked goods.

    Video

    Notes

    SALTED BUTTER – I ALWAYS used salted butter for my baked goods and buttercream frostings, but that is a personal preference. If you wish to reduce the saltiness, go unsalted!
    Also, make sure your butter is not totally melted. If you don’t have time to bring it to room temperature, microwave it for no more than 30 seconds.
    MILK – Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated. When you reach the desired frosting consistency, you don’t need to add any more. For a less thick buttercream, you may want to increase the amount of milk used to 4-6 tablespoons. For a thicker frosting, 3-4 tablespoons is ideal.
    MIXING – Once you have reached your desired consistency, crank your mixer up to medium-high speed and set a timer for 3 full minutes. Don’t skimp on time. Three minutes of mixing will produce such a super fluffy, creamy and perfect buttercream frosting.
    SPRINKLES – Stir in sprinkles at the end for an extra touch of fun! I love doing this when I’m baking treats for kids because…SPRINKLES.
    VANILLA – Use real vanilla extract (no imitations!) and feel free to increase the amount to 2 teaspoons for an even stronger vanilla flavor. If you have time to plan ahead, make a batch of homemade vanilla extract!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 8mg | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
    « Chocolate Chip Cookies With Brown Sugar Recipe
    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cynthia

      March 19, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      Yum

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        March 20, 2018 at 4:52 pm

        Can’t really go wrong with buttercream!

        Reply
    2. lisaiscooking

      March 22, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Staying inside and licking spoons of buttercream when it's cold outside sounds pretty perfect. And, no, you can never go wrong with frosting!

      Reply
    3. Chef Dennis

      March 19, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      it certainly was a terrible winter, and that certainly sounds like a great excuse to make more frosting…I mean really you don't always need a cake, its a great dip for pretzels and chips!!
      hope you are having a wonderful weekend
      Dennis

      Reply
    4. Parsley Sage

      March 19, 2011 at 6:50 pm

      I may make some just to lick off a spoon! Love it 🙂

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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