Description
You can make this creamy, smooth, and fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting from scratch in minutes. This classic American buttercream is perfect for piping details on your favorite cakes and cupcakes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, softened to cool room temperature
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place the softened butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a large bowl with a hand mixer). Beat the butter on medium speed until it is completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until just combined after each addition. This prevents a sugar cloud in your kitchen.
- Once all the sugar is incorporated, add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Add 3 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 3 to 5 minutes. This whipping time is key to achieving a light and fluffy texture.
- Check the consistency. If the vanilla buttercream frosting is too stiff for your liking, add the remaining tablespoon of cream, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired spreading or piping consistency.
- If the frosting seems too soft, add a small amount (about 1/4 cup) of additional sifted powdered sugar and mix until incorporated.
- Use immediately to frost cakes or pipe decorations onto cupcakes.
Notes
- For the smoothest vanilla buttercream frosting, use butter that is cool to the touch but still soft enough to press a finger into easily. If your butter is too warm, the frosting will be greasy.
- Sifting the powdered sugar is important to prevent lumps in your final product, which helps achieve that perfect smooth buttercream.
- If you need a very stable buttercream for intricate piping consistency in a warm room, reduce the cream to 2 tablespoons initially and use cold cream.
- To make a chocolate version, sift in 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder with the powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Dessert Topping
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 52
- Sodium: 55
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 54
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0.5
- Cholesterol: 45