{Recipe} Simple Vanilla Buttercream (2024)

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27 · Aug 11, 2011 · 53 Comments

All my life I've never been much of a frosting girl. I was a cake lover and my sister would always eat my frosting. That was until I had the most amazing buttercream frosting a few months ago here in Vegas at a place called Project Cupcake. I am now obsessed with buttercream and I vow today to figure out how to make the heavenly concoction. Maybe Project Cupcake will hook me up with some lessons…

With that said, I am going to start simple and work my way up. Here is a fabulously easy buttercream recipe that anyone can master.

The trick… make sure the butter is at room temperature! Do not put it in the microwave to soften. Plan ahead and take the butter out of the fridge an hour or two before you need it and you will have the most divine frosting.

Simple Vanilla Buttercream

1 cup of unsalted butter {2 sticks ~ softened}

2-4 cups of powdered sugar {sifted}

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of good vanilla extract

2~4 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream

In a mixing bowl fited with the paddle attachment, mix the butter at medium speed until nice and smooth. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add 3 cups of the sifted sugar. Once sugar is fully incorporated turn the mixer up to medium and add salt and vanilla. Add 2 tablespoons of cream and mix for 3 minutes. Check the consistancy of the buttercream. If it is to loose, add more sugar. If it is stuff, add more cream. This recipe is really forgiving so work with it until you have the consistancy that you are looking for.

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Marialuisa says
August 11, 2011 at 3:44 am

Beautiful, the first pictures could be a book cover. I´m keeping this recipe. THANKS FOR SHARING!
Love from Spain
Marialuisa
Reply
Anne @ Domesblissity says
August 11, 2011 at 4:01 am

Thanks for the recipe Heather. I'm always searching recipes for a good buttercream. I'm always missing one ingredient but this one is just perfect. Thanks for sharing. I'm putting that 'in the vault'.

Anne @ Domesblissity xx
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Brande Brown says
August 11, 2011 at 7:52 am

This is the buttercream that I have been using. The heavy cream and mixing it for several minutes seems to make all the difference in the world. I have found it to refrigerate nicely, too. Your pictures are amazing!!
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Nina says
August 11, 2011 at 7:52 am

I've always been a frosting girl, but it's been from those little cans in the grocery aisle. Now that I've discovered buttercream… My kids' birthday cakes will NEVER be the same. Or my own. Or my husbands. Or anyone else that needs a cake… {:
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Radhika @ foodfor7stages says
August 11, 2011 at 8:24 am

I take off the frosting from my cake just like you. But this looks like a killer recipe. And your pictures are gorgeous.
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Haley K says
August 11, 2011 at 8:47 am

oh my delicious. a cupcake with no flour!? very interesting 🙂 can't wait to try this! and those gorgeous photos may have me drooling…
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Carol ( Answer Is Chocolate) says
August 11, 2011 at 9:00 am

As much as I love chocolate, a classic buttercream is absolute perfection! So of course this would be twice as perfect with chocolate cupcake!
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kiki comin says
August 11, 2011 at 9:31 am

oooh, i am SO a buttercream lover. and have been for WAY TOO long.:)
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Amber @ Quilted Euphoria says
August 11, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Those look scrumtious! I would love to have you come link this up at my weekend link party going on now! And I'd love to have you as a follower. If not, then you have a lovely weekend!
http://quiltedeuphoria.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-wow-me-party-2-giveaway.html
See Also
Easy Gingerbread Recipe Tuna Pasta Bake | Slimming Eats Recipes 20 Recipes You Can Make with a Can of Beans | foodiecrush.com Yotam Ottolenghi’s summer recipes
Reply
Jen says
August 11, 2011 at 7:45 pm

I'm already hungry and this didn't help! Looks SOOOOOO yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Jen
Reply
Jenn@TheCakeDish says
August 11, 2011 at 8:50 pm

Add the caviar of a vanilla bean and a little salt — it will change your life! I love, love, love buttercream and your photos are great!
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Tara says
August 15, 2011 at 10:51 am

Can youshow me the techniqueto pipe the icing like that, mine never turns out.
What did u use for a tip?
Reply
- Heather says
  August 16, 2011 at 8:56 am
  
  Tara~
  I will have to do a post on that soon. Thanks for the idea!!
  kisses
  heather
  Reply
Cheryl says
August 24, 2011 at 7:47 pm

Your pictures look fabulous. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Growing up my mom alwyas made and decorated cakes and she always used buttercream for the frosting. Soooo delish. Looking forward to your post on how to make the frosting look so decadent on the cupcake soon.
Reply
lynda says
August 30, 2011 at 1:01 pm

I love the cupcakes but I want the cupcake liners! were could i buy them from.
please send me the address or company name.
thanks
Lynda E
Reply
- Heather says
  September 4, 2011 at 1:47 am
  
  Lynda, aren’t they cute! I bought them at Sur La Table here in Vegas but here is a link to their site where you can purchase them…
  http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-12748/Meri-Meri-Bonjour-Bake-Cups
  kisses
  heather
  Reply
Kristen says
September 26, 2011 at 8:51 pm

Your buttercream is absolutely gorgeous as are those pictures! I want to take a bite right now.
Reply
Edith says
October 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm

Girl, I was sold at vanilla butter cream. YUMMY!
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Katie says
December 30, 2011 at 6:52 pm

How many cupcakes will it frost?
Reply
Diny says
January 9, 2012 at 4:01 am

I loved the recipe. Will try it for sure!!! And then, we can add more flavours to it right??
Reply
- Heather says
  See Also
  5 Ingredient Sausage Hash Brown Casserole - Recipe Diaries
  January 9, 2012 at 8:21 am
  
  I don’t see why not… play away!!
  kisses
  heather
  Reply
Amber S. says
April 23, 2012 at 10:32 am

I just made this buttercream and I am so excited! It was easy to make for a novice baker. The buttercream isn’t too sweet, it’s the perfect texture and it’s absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
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Jennifer Muller says
July 20, 2012 at 3:28 pm

I have tweaked the wilton buttercream recipe and come up with this recipe that everyone seems to like and it is great for decorating (makes enough to cover and decorate a 2 layer cake):
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (I have found that it changes the taste if you use the generic. I prefer Cane)
1 Crisco Stick (1 cup)
1/2 cup Margarine- softened but not melted
2 tsp clear vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp butter extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (less for a thicker frosting-to decorate; a little more for thinner frosting – crumb coat)
dash of salt
Mix the crisco stick and softened margarine until it is smooth. Add the extracts, heavy whipping cream, and salt and mix. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low/medium for 1 1/2 minutes.
Reply
- Binti says
  September 27, 2016 at 10:41 am
  
  Can I use margarine alone without better?
  Reply
Kate says
July 21, 2012 at 4:18 am

I want to eat these now!!! Yumm!
Reply
Linda says
July 23, 2012 at 5:26 am

Hello
Thanks so much, the buttercream frosting looks divine. I will definitely try this recipe. Also, would you kindly tell me what font you have used in the first image for ‘Simple Vanilla’ – I love it!
Cheers
Linda
Reply
Melissa says
August 18, 2012 at 7:45 pm

I made this frosting today for a first bday party. The frosting was delicious! Very light. Thank you for the recipe!
Reply
Faith says
September 2, 2012 at 12:09 pm

This is the third week in a row that I have found an excuse to make this frosting. Delicious! I added a tsp of cinnamon to it today to frost a Rumchata cake that I made, and it was a nice addition and paired wonderfully with the cake.
Reply
Christine aka happyvballgirl says
January 14, 2013 at 4:07 pm

Hi there! Just wanted to say thanks for the yummy buttercream recipe! I've referenced it in a few of my posts and here's the latest one. LOVE IT! 🙂
http://www.myepicureanadventures.com/2013/01/frosted-flower-sugar-cookies.html
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Jenny says
January 25, 2013 at 8:02 pm

FINALLY!!!!! OMG you have no idea how many recipes I have tried ! This is the BEST. Simple, delicious and perfect for PIPING ! thank you thank you thank you =]
Reply
Mimi says
February 1, 2013 at 1:52 pm

How many cupcakes can I frost with this recipe?
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Terri says
February 18, 2013 at 5:02 pm

I just used this recipe- the only thing I changed was adding the pulp of a vanilla bean. Oh my goodness! I'm not an icing fan- but whoooa, Nelly! This was AMAZING, Bravo!
Reply
- Heather says
  February 18, 2013 at 5:20 pm
  
  Oh Terri, you’ve made my night!! Thanks so much for your sweet note, I’m thrilled you loved the frosting.
  kisses // heather
  Reply
Andrea says
March 2, 2013 at 10:37 pm

Fantastic! This recipe worked out perfectly with a hand mixer and made enough to generously ice a double layer cake. It's not sickly sweet (something I find with some recipes) and was incredibly easy to spread. Some pink food colouring and sprinkles helped to create a lovely and delicious cake for my daugher's first birthday. 🙂
Reply
- Heather says
  March 3, 2013 at 6:25 pm
  
  Andrea-
  I’m so glad you liked it… Thanks so much for sharing.
  kisses // heather
  Reply
Reagan says
March 4, 2013 at 8:05 am

is this enough for a 2 layer cake?
Reply
Mahnaz says
July 4, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Will this buttercream recipe ice a 2 layer cake? Please let me know.
looking forward to hearing from you soon. thank you.
Reply
Melissa says
November 8, 2013 at 1:21 pm

This has been my go to recipe for the last year and it's amazing on so many levels…super easy and super delicious!! Also it freezes awesome, so any leftovers never go to waste!! Going to attempt to make a white chocolate butter cream with this base recipe!! fingers crossed!!
Reply
- Heather says
  November 9, 2013 at 9:05 pm
  
  Ohh Melissa, that sounds lovely! Thanks so much for your sweet note.
  kisses // heather
  Reply
Pepa Xavier says
December 9, 2013 at 5:29 am

Dear Heather!!
I am in LOVE with the "Simple Vanilla" font you use inthis post!! Where can I find it?
Thank you so very much!
Love,
Pépa
Reply
helen says
February 5, 2014 at 7:58 am

I tried the vanilla which is amazing. Now I’m just wondering if it would work to put peanut butter in instead of the vanilla to make it peanut butter butter cream icing?
Reply
Tammy says
April 22, 2015 at 5:35 pm

I tried this recipe without changing a thing, and it was by far my most successful frosting ever. Thank you so much!
Reply
Binti says
September 27, 2016 at 10:55 am

Can I substitute butter with margarine?
Reply

{Recipe} Simple Vanilla Buttercream (2024)

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