Buttercream frosting is sweet, creamy, versatile, and the perfect frosting to decorate your favorite cakes and cupcakes! With a base of butter, sugar, and delicious notes of vanilla, it can be infused with so many other flavors or simply stand on its own beautifully.
I recommend using a high quality pure vanilla extract in all my recipes (not imitation). It will elevate your baking products to a whole new level.
Tips
- Measure correctly – I highly recommend using a kitchen scale when baking. Because baking measurements need to be exact, using a scale helps to measure as precisely as possible. It quite honestly was a complete game changer for me when I first started using one! I would be lost without it now.
- To soften butter quickly, slice into small pieces and let sit on the counter while you gather the rest of your ingredients. Room temperature butter may be cooler than you think. You will know it is ready when you press your finger into it, it leaves an indent but does not sink into the butter.
- Scrape down bowl – Scraping down the sides of your mixing bowl helps to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Frosting consistency – If your frosting seems dry and difficult to spread, add more milk slowly – a little bit at a time until you reach desired consistency. If your frosting is too runny or soft, slowly add more powdered sugar – a little bit at a time until it firms up to desired consistency.
- Food coloring – When adding color to your frosting/icing, I recommend using gel coloring and a light hand. You can always add more coloring if it is not dark enough!
- Storage – If you are not using immediately, cover tightly and store in the refrigerator up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator and let come to room temperature before using. Give it a quick whip to restore consistency.
My Preferred Tools
You may already have many of these items in your kitchen. I recommend the following for this recipe:
- Kitchen Scale – precisely measure ingredients
- Cake Pans – to bake cake
- Cooling Racks – to cool cake and dishwasher friendly!!
- Cake Strips – to achieve level cakes
- Cake Turntable and Spatulas – excellent for decorating cakes
- Wilton Decorating Kit – piping tips, bags, couplers, and more for decorating cakes
- Master Decorating Kit – ultimate cake decorating tip set
- Cake Scraper Set – use these to scrape icing and create fun, easy designs on your cakes
- Cake Boards – sturdy, cardboard cake boards used to pick up your cake
- Stand Mixer – to mix frosting
- Hand Mixer – to mix frosting
Buttercream Frosting Pairs Well With
Buttercream Frosting
Buttercream frosting is sweet, creamy, versatile, and the perfect frosting to decorate your favorite cakes and cupcakes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 4 cups (454 g) confectioners' sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream or whole milk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Directions
- Step 1 Beat butter until creamy – approximately 2-3 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low for 1 minute, then increase speed and beat until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl and beat again.
- Step 2 If your frosting is too thick, add a tiny bit of cream/milk until you reach desired consistency. If your frosting is too thin, add a tiny bit of confectioners’ sugar until you reach desired consistency.
- Step 3 This makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes. Double recipe to frost a 2-layer 9″ cake or 24 cupcakes.
Thank You for sharing your time with us
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