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    Home » Kitchen Basics

    Buttercream frosting recipe

    Published: Aug 10, 2016 · Last Modified: Apr 4, 2023 by Kanan Patel / 8 Comments

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    Buttercream frosting recipe - perfectly sweet, light, fluffy frosting made from butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

    Many readers have tried my eggless cakes and cupcakes. With those recipes, I usually share the frosting recipe that goes well with that particular cake

    e.g. I shared carrot cake and to go with it I also shared cream cheese frosting recipe. But many wants to make frosting other than cream cheese. So I thought of making a separate post for simple, easy buttercream frosting that goes well with all cakes, cupcakes.

    It is also known as confectioners’ frosting or butter frosting.

    The real Swiss buttercream is made with eggs. As we do not eat eggs, I have made it this way. You can call this recipe American style buttercream frosting.

    Here I have made the simple vanilla buttercream and mentioned many variations below.


    How to make buttercream frosting (Step by Step Recipe with Photos):


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    1) Take soften butter in a large bowl, if using hand mixer. If using stand mixer then add butter into mixer bowl and use paddle attachment.

    2) IMPORTANT: make sure that butter is softened at room temperature. You can see here, if I press with my finger, it will mash very easily. This is how we need. Also make sure that it is NOT melted at all otherwise the frosting will be runny. So plan ahead of time, remove the butter from the fridge and let it sit on counter top till it gets soft.
    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

    3) Now start beating the butter till it gets smooth.

    4) Now add powdered sugar. If making bigger batch then add sugar in batches.
    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

    5) Again start beating with low speed and gradually increase the speed and continue beating. In between, as needed scrape down the sides of the bowl using spatula. And beat it till it is well combined and smooth.

    6) Now add vanilla extract.
    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

    7) Also add milk.

    8) Again beat it for approx 4-5 minutes or till it gets light, fluffy and smooth.
    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

    If not using this right away then cover it with plastic wrap or store in airtight container. Otherwise frosting will get dry out.

    Storing the buttercream frosting: It stays good for 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Before using, bring it to a room temperature, beat it again for some time or till it becomes light and fluffy again and then use.

    Serving suggestion: Use this vanilla buttercream frosting to frost the cupcakes or cakes e.g. vanilla cake, red velvet cupcakes, lemon cake, chocolate orange cupcakes and so on. You can use this in making cake pops.

    Variations:

    • Make any fruit flavored frosting - skip the milk and add 2 tablespoons of strawberry jam, mango jam or any other fruit jam. If needed add the food color that represents the particular fruit.
    • To make chocolate buttercream, You can add 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder and with that add extra teaspoon or two of milk.
    • To get the coffee or mocha flavor, Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder to the above chocolate buttercream frosting .
    • To make lemon flavored, skip the milk and add lemon juice instead. Also add zest from one lemon
    • You can substitute the vanilla extract with other extract e.g. ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract or pineapple or coconut or almond. Keep in mind that you will need very less quantity of extract if using other than vanilla since those have more strong flavor.

    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)

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    Buttercream frosting recipe (How to make buttercream frosting)
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    Buttercream frosting recipe

    5 from 4 votes
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    Buttercream frosting recipe – perfectly sweet, light, fluffy frosting made from butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 148kcal
    Servings 1 ½ cups
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    • ½ cup (or 1 stick or 4 oz or 113 grams) Unsalted butter softened at room temperature
    • 2 cups Powdered sugar (Confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar)
    • 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoons Milk
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    Instructions 

    • Take soften butter in a large bowl, if using hand mixer. If using stand mixer then add butter into mixer bowl and use paddle attachment.
    • Now start beating the butter till it gets smooth.
    • Now add powdered sugar. If making bigger batch then add sugar in batches.
    • Again start beating with low speed and gradually increase the speed and continue beating.
    • In between, as needed scrape down the sides of the bowl using spatula. And beat it till it is well combined and smooth.
    • Now add vanilla extract. Also add milk.
    • Again beat it for approx 4-5 minutes or till it gets light, fluffy and smooth.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 7.7g | Saturated Fat: 4.9g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 19.7g
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.

    Recipe is from Joy of baking

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    1. Margot

      September 21, 2021 at 5:19 am

      Yummi and easy to do;)5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan Patel

        September 21, 2021 at 10:00 am

        Thank you.

        Reply
    2. Meena

      January 24, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      Hello Kana, I want to make your eggless mango flavour cake.
      Can I decorate this with mango flavour frosting?
      If yes what can I use?
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Kanan Patel

        January 25, 2021 at 9:17 am

        Yes you can use mango buttercream frosting.
        As I have mentioned in the recipe, please use 2 tablespoons of mango jam in this recipe.
        To get more of mango flavor, you can add few drops of mango essence.

        Reply
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    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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