This is The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting! It’s rich and creamy, and is super easy to whip up. It pipes beautifully, and is the perfect way to finish off all of your cakes and cupcakes!
We celebrated our daughter’s fifth birthday last week and even as I type this, I find myself still sitting here in a state of denial!
It seems like just yesterday I was sharing a tutorial on how to make her 1st birthday smash cake. But in reality, it was actually FOUR years ago!!!
When people say “the days are long but the years are short,” that is the absolute truth. I sure wish time would slow down with these babies of mine.
Our princess’s request for her birthday cake was a “pink cake with a ballerina on top.”
I was able to provide the pink frosting just fine, but after realizing my construction efforts are pretty subpar, I turned to Etsy for a ballerina cake topper. Which was GORGEOUS by the way! If you’re interested, this is the one I ordered.
As for the frosting, I made this one (and dyed it pink). This is my go-to frosting recipe, and in my opinion, is The BEST Vanilla Buttercream Frosting ever!
I’ve been making it for AGES so I’m surprised I haven’t shared it before!
I have another recipe for buttercream here on my site that I use a lot as well, but this one right here is my favorite because it doesn’t require shortening, and it’s SO SO delicious!
I add plenty of vanilla to give it really good flavor and it pipes onto cakes and cupcakes so well, and holds its shape beautifully! I think y’all are really going to love it!
If you share this Vanilla Buttercream Frosting or any other recipe from my site on Instagram, tag #belleofthekitchen so I can see what you’ve made! And follow me @thebelleofthekitchen, too!
The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks),, softened
- 4.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 4-5 Tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
Instructions
- Beat the softened butter over medium speed with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Continue to beat over medium speed as you gradually add the powdered sugar. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed to fully incorporate all of the sugar.
- Once butter and sugar have come together, add the vanilla. Beat in the heavy cream or milk 1 Tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. This frosting is perfect for piping, or for simply spreading onto cakes and cupcakes!
Notes
Nutrition
If you like this recipe for The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, then you might also like:
Skinny Chocolate Cake
kayla says
made a half recipe of this and it was super delicious and mixed very easy for me. ( mine always come out to chunky but that’s cause i’m impatient) but it came out great 10/10 would recommend.
Janet Bakes says
Thank you for the yummy recipe. I made several batches and all ere great! I noticed one of my batches was a little airy and left holes when spreading on the top of the cake. Do you have any suggestions on what went wrong?
Nora L Richardson says
If you have air holes in your frosting, take a wooden spoon or spatula. and push your frosting up the sides of the bowl so the air pockets will pop. Usually about 2 or 3 minutes. just make sure not to over neat your frosting.
terri says
very good
Jenelle says
I made half of this recipe and it covered 24 cupcakes with a knife, so if you are not piping or using a ton on cupcakes you can do with halfing it! Delicious!
Nicola says
Delicious buttercream icing, loved it!
Maria says
I’m lactose intolerant and wanted to know if anyone has used plant based butter. I made some cream cheese frosting the other day with vegan options and it came out good. I was just wondering if using plant based butter for this would work as well, if anyone has tried it. It looks promising! Thank you!
Alyssa says
I used olive oil based butter and it came out very well
Jacklen says
I’m try this for the first time on my cake wish me luck
Jo says
I used salted butter and I think it still tastes great!
Kristin says
I hope my good old hand held mixer works for this!!
Anonymus says
Did it end up working? Was the consistency still smooth?
Anna says
I have made these recipe so many times for cupcakes and it’s always so delicious! I want to make and decorate a cake this weekend. Will this icing set up enough on the cake to smooth it out to decorate?
Kaitlyn says
Perfect vanilla frosting! Love this recipe. It’s my go to from now on! Thank you 🙂
Laura says
I tried it today and it works great on cakes.
Brenda Kelley says
I only have salted butter, Can I use it instead of unsalted butter? If so is it a different amount?
Ashlyn Edwards says
Hi Brenda, only use unsalted for this recipe for best results.
Jenni says
Ok, i know its probably the worst idea, BUT, I DON’T HAVE BUTTER, & THE STORE IS CLOSED. ( small town) CAN I USE MARGARINE, or will it not be worth wasting the other ingredients and my time?
Ashlyn Edwards says
No, only use butter.
Jessica says
I only use margarine at work and the frosting turns out great. I only use margarine at home and it turns out great as well.
teabug says
So easy to make and how scrumptious! Just don’t ask how much made it to the actual cake 😀
Jenni says
🤣❤
Fae Mal says
THe best recipe eva
Fran Boucher says
Reallyyummy! Thank you
Tricia says
The only milk I have on hand is fat free, and guess what?!? The frosting is still delicious!!!
Pat says
Mine is 2%
Karla Beelen says
Thanks for saying that!!
Angela shapiro. says
I frosted cupcakes and put them in the frig and the frosting got very hard. I took them out and hope they soften up!