Buttercream Frosting Recipe

4.67 from 21 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 cups frosting
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This is a classic recipe for fluffy, homemade vanilla buttercream frosting. It’s made with simple ingredients the are whipped together to create the best buttercream frosting!

This recipe is perfect on all kinds of cake and cupcake recipes. We love it on our simple vanilla cupcakes!

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I could eat this straight from the bowl; it’s that good! Is there anything better than whipped buttercream? It’s like a fluffy cloud, smooth, creamy, and perfect. This recipe is ideal for frosting cupcakes and cakes, and it’s easy to make at home.

Once you try homemade buttercream, you’ll never go back to store-bought; there’s just no comparison regarding freshness, flavor, and using whole ingredients.

A cupcake topped with homemade buttercream frosting

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

  • Butter (room temperature) – I prefer salted, but you can use unsalted if you’d like.
  • Confectioners’ sugar – Also known as powdered sugar, it gives the frosting its sweetness and smooth texture.
  • Vanilla extract – Make sure to use a good-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Milk – Just a small amount of organic whole milk. However, if your frosting reaches the desired texture without it, feel free to skip the milk altogether!
Colorful buttercream frosting in a piping bag.

Adding Flavor to Buttercream Frosting

You can easily add different flavors to your buttercream by swapping the vanilla extract for another flavored extract. The vanilla gives traditional buttercream its signature taste, but changing the extract will introduce a hint of your favorite flavor.

Here are some popular flavor options:

  • Lavender
  • Lemon
  • Almond
  • Peppermint
  • Banana
  • Cardamom
  • Cinnamon
  • Coconut
Colorful buttercream frosting with a lucky charms heart

How to Make Colorful Buttercream Frosting

Want to make rainbow buttercream? It’s super simple! Just divide the whipped frosting into several bowls and dye each one a different color using gel food coloring for vibrant results.

Then, layer the different colors in a piping bag. When you frost your cupcakes, they’ll come out swirled with beautiful, colorful designs – perfect for a fun, festive touch! I used this technique for our Lucky Charms Cupcakes, filled with marshmallow cream, and they were a hit!

FAQs About Buttercream Frosting

Can buttercream frosting be left out?
Yes, buttercream frosting can be left out for a short period of time. Salted, pasteurized butter stored in an airtight container can sit out for a week or two. If your frosting contains just a small amount of milk (about a tablespoon or two), it should be fine on the counter for a few days.

Do you have to refrigerate a cake with buttercream frosting?
You don’t have to refrigerate a cake frosted with buttercream right away. Cover it with a glass dome, and it will be fine on the counter for several days. After that, it’s best to refrigerate or consume it.

Is buttercream frosting the same as whipped frosting?
Buttercream can be considered whipped frosting when room-temperature butter and sugar are beaten at high speed, giving it a light, fluffy texture.

Check out my favorite chocolate cupcakes topped with our easy, homemade buttercream frosting! There is toffee baked in the center, so good!

Let us know if you make this easy buttercream frosting by leaving a comment and review below!

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Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting.
4.67 from 21 votes

Buttercream Frosting

By: Eden
A whipped vanilla buttercream frosting recipe that works every time!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 cups frosting
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Equipment

  • Electric Mixer

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup salted butter, room temperature and soft
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar , also known as powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp whole milk

Instructions 

  • In an electric mixer, beat the butter until it's whipped.
  • Add in the sugar and continue to beat until whipped.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the vanilla and milk.
  • Continue to beat for about 2-4 minutes until the frosting is super whipped.

Notes

If you’re making 24 cupcakes, double this recipe! It will frost about 12 cupcakes and 1 round 9″ cake, as well as the top of one sheet cake. 
When making the buttercream, use high-quality butter, milk, and vanilla. This will make a huge difference in the taste of the finished product.

Nutrition

Calories: 2595kcal, Carbohydrates: 241g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 185g, Saturated Fat: 117g, Cholesterol: 490mg, Sodium: 1633mg, Potassium: 54mg, Sugar: 237g, Vitamin A: 5673IU, Calcium: 71mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

About Eden

I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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4.67 from 21 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. Alisa Carchia says:

    5 stars
    This is my new go-to buttercream frosting recipe! So creamy and delicious!

    1. Eden says:

      So happy you love it!

  2. Sara Welch says:

    5 stars
    What a smooth and tasty frosting! Looking forward to enjoying this with some cupcakes over the weekend!

  3. Allyson Zea says:

    I will eat this without anything else! looks AMAZING!

  4. April says:

    5 stars
    This frosting was so fluffy!

  5. Trang says:

    5 stars
    Totally fluffy like clouds! This is so much better than store-brought frosting.