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    Home » How To

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

    Published: Jun 3, 2020 Updated: Jul 8, 2020 by Alison Hope · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

    This vanilla buttercream frosting is so smooth and velvety. It pipes on to your cupcakes perfectly and spreads beautifully on cakes.

    A cupcake with buttercream frosting.

    It’s so easy to make the most smooth and velvety vanilla buttercream frosting.

    It’s an easy 4-ingredient recipe that you will love for cupcakes, cakes or cookies.

    It’s wonderful on a vanilla cake or piped onto vanilla cupcakes.

    A cupcake with buttercream frosting and a pink cupcake liner.

    How To Make Vanilla Buttercream

    Full instructions and measurements can always be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.

    • Add softened butter to the mixer and beat until smooth and pale in color.
    • Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk and beat again for a few minutes until very fluffy and smooth.
    • Pipe onto cupcakes or spread onto cake.
    Step by step process collage of making a vanilla buttercream frosting.

    Recipe Tips

    The Butter: If you forget to soften the butter first, then it’s fine, just beat it a little longer until it reaches a nice smooth texture and pale color (as pictured above). Definitely cut the butter up into small squares to make it easier.

    For Cakes: This makes enough to frost a two layer 8-inch or 9-inch cake.

    For Cupcakes: This makes enough to generously frost 12 cupcakes (as pictured) or for 18-24 cupcakes if a little less frosting is piped onto each cupcake.

    Frosting in the process of piping onto a cupcake.

    Storing and Freezing

    This buttercream will keep in the fridge for up to a week. It will get very firm in the fridge, so let it come to room temperature before piping it. You can also beat it again with your mixer to get the texture perfect if it has spent some time in the fridge.

    It is also freezer friendly for up to 3 months. Just let it thaw overnight in the fridge and then bring it to room temperature on the countertop before beating it again with your electric mixer.

    Cupcakes with frosting on a white cake stand.

    More Frosting Recipes

    1. Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
    2. Cream Cheese Frosting
    3. White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
    4. Espresso Buttercream Frosting
    5. Biscoff Buttercream Frosting

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.

    Vanilla buttercream frosting

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

    This vanilla buttercream frosting is so smooth and velvety. It pipes on to your cupcakes perfectly and spreads beautifully on cakes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 296kcal
    Author: Alison

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Butter Lightly salted, Softened
    • 4 cups Powdered Sugar
    • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
    • 4 Tbsp Milk
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the softened butter to the bowl of your stand mixer, start at slow speed and gradually increase speed. Let it whip until your butter is smooth and pale in color.
    • Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk and beat for a few minutes until very fluffy and smooth.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Butter: We used lightly salted butter. If you’re using unsalted butter then add in a small amount of salt (around ⅛ teaspoon or to taste). If you forget to soften the butter first, then just beat it for a couple of minutes longer until it’s smooth and pale in color, before adding the other ingredients.
    2. Powdered sugar is also called icing sugar. 
    3. Keep the frosting at room temperature before piping onto cupcakes or spreading onto cakes. If the weather is hot and it gets too soft then let it sit in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up slightly. 
    4. This frosting will keep in the fridge for up to a week. It is also freezer friendly. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serve | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 11mg | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 481IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @gimmethatflavor on Instagram and hashtag it #gimmethatflavor
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    About Alison Hope

    Hi I'm Alison, I'm the voice and cook behind Gimme That Flavor. I am a big time foodie and probably cooking up a storm in my kitchen right now! I'm also a cat mom. And a sweet tooth. Binge watcher of TV shows. Terrible sleeper always staying up too late....Find out more about me here.

    Gimme That Flavor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site may contain some of these links to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase through one of those links, Gimme That Flavor will receive a small commission from the purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jade

      June 24, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      This comes out perfectly every time! I love how easy it is and how fool proof the recipe is.5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Hope

        June 24, 2020 at 2:49 pm

        Thanks Jade!

        Reply

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    Alison Hope Author

    Hi! I'm Alison! Big time foodie. I'm probably cooking up a storm in my kitchen right now. I'm also a cat mom. And a sweet tooth. Binge watcher of TV shows. Terrible sleeper always staying up too late.... 

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