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!

A close up of a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles on top

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.

A close up of vanilla frosting on a whisk attachment

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.

a close up of vanilla frosting

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!

A close up of a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles on top

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!

A close up of a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles on top
4.98 from 878 ratings

Recipe: The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
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!
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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

*This amount makes enough for piping onto a two-layer eight inch cake. I've also used it to pipe onto roughly 12 cupcakes. If you're not using a piping bag, it could frost more than that!
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen
Calories: 331kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 8mg, Sugar: 44g, Vitamin A: 545IU, Calcium: 8mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.

A close up of a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles on top

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