The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
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
If you like this recipe for The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, then you might also like:
Skinny Chocolate Cake
This is a fantastic recipe!! I made it for a bundt cake and piped it. So creamy and delicious! Not overly sweet like decorating icing for cookies (what I’m used to making). Highly recommend
My husband says this is the best buttercream cream that I have ever made! And trust me, he is an expert!
When measuring the powder sugar, is it packed or loose?
Spooned and leveled; you don’t have to pack it in.
This recipe was simple and utter perfection. I only had a few drops of vanilla so added a dash of cinnamon. Heaven! Thank you!
I just made this delicious buttercream! OMG…thank you!
If the buttercream frosting is made the day before and kept in fridge overnight,
Does it need to sit out for a time or can you use it to pipe right away?
Hi Dana, you’ll want to let it sit out of the fridge for a bit to soften up.
very good! keep doing what your doing.
Hi! I think its a good recipe! I want to know if you have leftovers how long can you keep them in the fridge?
About 3 days in the fridge.
So easy and super, super delicious. Perfect!
Oh made this recipe and i definitely recommend it is really good and easy to decorate with!
Brilliant! Just made it. I added some coco for chocolate but the recipe is perfect thank you!
Hi there! Amazing recipe! Just wanted to check, can I freeze it if I have extra left?
Yes you can! Just thaw it out overnight in the fridge.
Would it work to add dye?
Yes, definitely.
Very good. Next time I will use more vanilla.
Great recipe! Very easy to make and smooth and creamy!
This turned out so good! I added a good pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness but this definitely made the perfect icing for my boyfriends birthday cake!
This looks delicious. What can I use to replace the butter to make it dairy free?
Hi Deb, I would recommend trying it with a vegan butter like Earth Balance and replacing the heavy cream with full fat coconut milk or cream.
Can I use salted butter?
I only recommend using unsalted.
I used salted butter, it didn’t make it salty, in fact if I try it again I will add a pinch of salt to help balance the sweetness.
The best I’ve ever had and I’ve been baking for 40 years
Easy. Very sweet. I feel i might missed counted on my confectioners sugar because it was so sweet and not as buttercream as I would have like. And it’s a good thing I was coloring the frosting and did to expect to have the color of your photos. It’s more cream colored due to the butter and pure vanilla extract. I made a double batch and colored for transformer cupcakes and the kids loved it. It was easy to spread using my cake decorating bags and tips. I did wonder about sifting the sugar?
Omgosh! I made this frosting and it will be my go to from now on. It spread on so nice then I reserved some to pipe on a pink heart for Valentine’s Day which is my anniversary also. My husband went to be with the Lord but I’m sure he would have loved it. Our granddaughter certainly did. Thank you for the recipe.
Cindy
I was in a pinch for a frosting recipe. I found this on Pinterest. Not only is it easy with simple ingredients, but it tastes like heaven. I loved the texture! You must try it. It’s now my all time favorite.
This frosting is so delicious, light and creamy. All I had was the Irish salted butter and 1% milk. The taste was perfect and I spread it on a 9×13 cake. The amount of frosting was just right. This will definitely be my go to frosting from now on.
I just tried your Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and it turned out wonderful! I will use this recipe for the future and also share with my friends on Facebook! Thank you very much!
This buttercream taste amaxing and hold its shape i been trying to find the perfect buttercream recipe and this is it. Will truly recommend