Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Vanilla buttercream frosting is rich, creamy, and flecked with real vanilla beans. It’s easy to make and perfect for piping onto cakes and cupcakes!
How long it takes: 10 minutes or less
Equipment you’ll need: electric mixer, mixing bowl
Servings: 1½ cups, enough to frost 12 cupcakes or a quarter sheet cake
Cupcakes, Bakery-style!
Those beautiful bakery cupcakes piled high with a creamy swirl of frosting make every occasion feel special. The cupcake itself isn’t the main attraction –it’s definitely all about the frosting!
Every home baker needs a classic buttercream frosting recipe to use. Buttercream frosting is so easy to make and it’s deliciously creamy with a delicate, sweet vanilla flavor thanks to real vanilla bean throughout.
Why mine is special:
- So easy. With only 4 ingredients, an electric mixer, and about 10 minutes, this frosting is ready to use. Anyone can make this frosting! It’s not that much more difficult than opening a can of frosting.
- Perfect for piping. Buttercream is the best frosting for piping and decorating cakes and cupcakes because it’s thicker and more stable than other types of frosting. This frosting recipe pipes beautifully, making it the best all-around frosting recipe.
- Easy to customize. The frosting consistency is easy to tweak, depending on whether you’re piping it onto cupcakes or spreading it over cakes. You can also use this classic buttercream recipe as a base for even more frosting flavors. Don’t forget to check out my variation ideas below!
Ingredient Notes
Below is a short overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make the best buttercream frosting.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best but salted butter will work if that’s what you have on hand. Remember to take it out of the refrigerator an hour or so before you start so that it softens to room temperature. It should still be firm, holding an indentation when pressed lightly. It shouldn’t appear greasy or separated.
- Vanilla: I flavor this vanilla frosting with the seeds from two vanilla pods. If you can’t get your hands on vanilla beans, substitute one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste instead. You can also use a teaspoon of vanilla extract but your frosting won’t have the lovely little flecks of vanilla bean.
- Milk or Cream: Adding a bit of liquid improves the consistency of the frosting and makes it creamy. You can use milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half, the choice is up to you.
- Powdered Sugar: You might also know it as confectioner’s sugar. Powdered sugar is the base of frosting. Do not substitute granulated sugar because it will make your frosting grainy.
How to Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Beat the butter. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, vanilla beans, and milk (or cream).
Add powdered sugar. Next, beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, until you reach a thick, pipeable consistency.
Electric Mixers
You can whip your buttercream frosting using muscle power but I highly recommend using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. It makes it so much easier and the results are way fluffier!
Tips for Perfect Buttercream Frosting
- Measure the sugar correctly. I recommend spooning the powdered sugar out of the bag and into your measuring cup before leveling it off with the back of a knife. Scooping the powdered sugar can compact it and you’ll end up with too much.
- The butter should be at room temperature (65°F to 70°F). The butter will feel slightly cool to the touch and easily hold an imprint. If your butter is too soft or melted, the frosting may be runny or appear separated (curdled).
- Adjust consistency. To make this frosting thicker, add more confectioner’s sugar, ¼ cup at a time, beating after each addition. To make frosting thinner or softer, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time.
- Match consistency to how you plan on using the frosting. If you’re going to use a piping bag with a tip, aim for a slightly thicker frosting so that it holds its shape. If you’re spreading your vanilla buttercream over a cake, the consistency should be a little softer so that it’s easier to spread.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate: Make chocolate buttercream frosting with the addition of unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Oreo: Beat in crushed Oreos to make Oreo frosting (perfect for frosting Oreo cookie bars).
- Extracts: In addition to or in place of the vanilla in this recipe, try adding flavoring extracts like peppermint, lemon, orange, almond, and so on.
- Coloring: It’s easy enough to color buttercream to suit any holiday (like I do for these Christmas tree brownie bites). For best results, I recommend using gel food dyes, as the colors are bolder and they don’t water down the buttercream.
Ways to Use Vanilla Buttercream
This easy vanilla buttercream is ultra-creamy while holding its shape, making it perfect for piping and decorating. It’s my go-to dessert topping for everything from homemade banana cupcakes to this rich and decadent chocolate cake. You can use it to frost vanilla sugar cookie bars and cake mix blondies.
One of the things I love about buttercream is how well it keeps.
Refrigerate: Refrigerate buttercream frosting in a covered container for up to 1 week.
Freeze: Store your vanilla buttercream in an airtight freezer container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw the frosting overnight in the refrigerator when you’re planning to use it.
To use: Frosting that’s been refrigerated or frozen may be stiff because of the cold temperatures. Let the frosting rest on the counter for an hour or two before using, so that it comes to room temperature. If you notice that your frosting has deflated a bit, whip it briefly with your mixer to get it back to a fluffy consistency.
More Easy Frosting Recipes
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened (see note)
- 2 vanilla bean pods (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- To remove the seeds from the vanilla bean pods, use a sharp knife to cut down the center of the pod lengthwise, being careful not to cut all the way through. Open up the pod and use your knife to scrape out the tiny seeds.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla pod seeds, and milk.⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened, 2 vanilla bean pods, 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- One cup at a time, add powdered sugar, beating after each addition, about 3 to 4 minutes total, or until frosting is creamy and fluffy. Adjust consistency as needed. For piping, frosting should be thicker/stiffer; add more powdered sugar if necessary.3 cups powdered sugar
- Cakes, cupcakes, or brownies should be completely cool before frosting.
Notes
- Pro tip: The butter should be at room temperature. It will feel slightly cool to the touch and easily hold an imprint but not be mushy. If your butter is too soft or melted, the frosting may be runny or appear separated (curdled).
- Yield: This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups of frosting, enough for a 9 × 13-inch sheet cake or 12 cupcakes. Double recipe for a layer cake or piped cupcakes. (A 16 ounce container of purchased frosting is about 2 cups.)
- Storage/make ahead: Frosted cakes can be stored at room temperature, covered, or refrigerated for longer storage. To make ahead, refrigerate buttercream frosting in a covered container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the frosting overnight in the refrigerator.
- To use: Frosting that’s been refrigerated or frozen may be stiff because of the cold temperatures. Let the frosting rest on the counter for an hour or two before using, so that it comes to room temperature. If you notice that your frosting has deflated a bit, whip it briefly with your mixer to get it back to a fluffy consistency.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Mmm this sounds fantastic! Who cares about the cookie when you have delicious homemade frosting like this!
Ok, I have never used a real vanilla bean. I know, I know. There should be a support group, right? I absolutely love buttercream and I love your pics in this post!
The glass milk bottle with straws is so cute!
I’m fairly new to vanilla beans too, but now I can’t get enough! (The glass bottle is an old Starbucks Frappucino bottle!)
I love all the specks in this frosting! I made something similar with vanilla bean paste for my sons birthday cupcakes.
I love love love the specks of the vanilla bean in the frosting! I wish I had a big spoonful of this right now :)
I’m obsessed with vanilla beans too! Love!
Those little specs of vanilla bean make me want to lick that right off the cookie. Yum!
Lucky hubby!
I have a TON of vanilla beans leftover from making vanilla extract and I love this frosting! I make buttercream frosting a lot (maybe to much) so I am definitely trying this on my next batch! Thanks for the idea! :)
I want to have a buttercream party for one!! That sounds like SO much fun :)
I think it is a requirement. Do it this weekend :)
Ok, I just loooove your photo’s of the cookies with the milk jug and the adorable straws. I am going to have to get some of those straws for the kids. They look so fun!
Those cookies look so pro and yummy! We just whipped up a batch of black forest cookies to share and eat and my kid’s won’t let them out the door!
I’m going to add this recipe to my Holiday cookie share list.
Thanks! Black forest cookies sound great!
Sounds absolutely fantastic! Shocking it’s better than a spiked version too but vanilla does have a pretty amazing taste.