This is the best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe. Make this easy buttercream frosting recipe and you’ll never want cake without vanilla buttercream again. Or eat it with spoons.
We love using this vanilla frosting recipe on all sorts of cookies and cakes, but my absolute favorite is on top of these perfect sugar cookies!
You guys have to make this vanilla buttercream frosting recipe.
The end.
Okay, not really.
But yes. Really.
So this is a frosting recipe that I first made for these adorable sheep cupcakes. And I made it again for Piper’s cake smash. But it is seriously so ridiculously good that I feel like it deserved it’s own post.
So ironically, my sister in law sent me a text message the day before the sheep post went live and asked me if I had a good vanilla frosting recipe. And I said, “Funny you should ask . . . ” A few weeks later I got this message from her:
“I LOVE it! It makes boxed cake mixes taste like they were made in a bakery. It puts homemade cakes off the charts!”
I love her.
If that testimonial wasn’t enough, yesterday while I was photographing this cake, Gavin asked me if he could have a piece when I was done. Who am I to say no to that cute face? Gavin historically loves cake but doesn’t like frosting at all. Which is just crazy, but kind of awesome because I always get his left over buttercream frosting at birthday parties. #dontjudge
Well, I walked back into the kitchen after giving him some cake and he was eating the frosting!! I said, “Gavin! I thought you didn’t like frosting!”
“I don’t. But, Mom. This vanilla frosting is AMAZING!!”
#truestory
RECIPE NOTES FOR THE BEST VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- One batch of this vanilla buttercream frosting recipe is enough to lightly cover 24 cupcakes. I needed to double it to frost a three layer cake, with 1/2 cup frosting between each layer and a nice crumb coat.
- This frosting firms up rather quickly, so if you are going to top with sprinkles, you will want to frost your cupcake add the sprinkles, and then move on to the next cupcake you need to frost.
- If you don’t like your frosting as sweet, you can cut back the powdered sugar by a cup. It will result in a less sweet and also less firm frosting.
The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsps vanilla
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- To make frosting, beat the butter until fluffy.
- Then add the powdered sugar gradually, one cup at a time.
- Add in the vanilla and milk.
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
Lisa this looks SO good! I love good frosting…..it really does make all the difference!
Danielle @ better for you treats says
My daughter’s birthday is this week. This looks so much easier than my recipe! I will be trying this out for sure!!! Thanks!!!
I hope you like it Danielle!
Danielle Clarke says
I had to update… I made this for my daughter’s birthday as I said I would… And you are right… it is indeed the BEST vanilla buttercream frosting! I used it to write on her cake and froze the rest for her party with her friends. It froze and thawed perfectly! I am hooked!!! Thanks!!!
Danielle, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to come back and leave this comment! It means a lot to me :)
Briana says
Do you know how long this frosting stays fresh in the fridge? I made this tonight to try it out, very delicious and creamy. My sons birthday is next saturday though will this keep that long?
It probably would be okay, but I personally would make it right before using it.
Sherry jones says
When it calls for the butter use cisco shorting in place of the butter (so the frosting will be pure white) for butter flavor use wilting clear butter and vanilla flavoring….
Christa says
If you use only shortening it will leave a greasy aftertaste…if you want a white icing use 1/2 cup Hard Margarine and 1/2 cup shortening cream together. Add the icing sugar and add milk to get the consistency you want (you wont need to add 1/4 cup with the extra ingredients)
Sarah Rutherford says
Hi, I bake cakes professionally, I would never use shortening it is horrible! If you want it pure white it is worth going to a cake supply shop or ordering online titanium dioxide. It’s what the professionals use, it’s in absorbs of shop bought food. I personally don’t mind my buttercream slightly cream coloured. Some brands of butters are paler than others, I use Lurpak or President.
Becky says
Do you always use real butter? I don’t like margarine or oleo, it has more water in it.
I do! Real butter is the best!
Michelle Roberts says
Today is my husband’s birthday! I just baked him a cake and can’t wait to put this frosting on it!
Looks delicious!
I hope you like it Michelle!
Renee Ellis says
I just made this buttercream frosting, and as promised, it is AMAZING!!! After following your instructions, the texture is smooth and almost silky. I will make this again and again! Thanks for posting!! #happytastebudsinGeorgia
So happy you liked it Renee!! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!
Samuel says
my icing was a total flop. It tastes good, but way too runny. It fell right off my cupcakes. Hopefully someone can tell me what I can do to fix it as my sons birthday party is in a few Hours.
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you Samuel! If I had to guess, I would say that your butter was too soft. It should be room temperature, so you should be able to push into it leaving just a small dent, but not be able to push all the way through. If you want to give it another go, you can bring butter to room temperature fast by cutting up a stick of butter into one inch pieces and leave them out on the counter for about a half hour.
Jonah says
My guess is that you didn’t wait for the cupcakes to cool before you frosted them. That happens a lot when people are in a hurry to make something.
Marina says
can you substitute heavy whipping cream for milk?
Yes! And it should be fine :)
Linda Lamb says
I have substituted heavy whipping cream and like it even better. It comes out creamier and lighter. Even the taste is just plain better.
Anabella says
I’m going to try this for my son’s birthday cake. I am doing a barnyard theme and want the frosting to be light blue for the top layer and green for the bottom. What do you suggest I use for coloring?
The party is on saturday but like to make the cake friday. Do I have to put it in the fridge or can I leave it out? also, If I need to frosted on saturday will de frosting hold up in the fridge for one night?
Hi Anabella! For coloring I really like Wilton’s gel or just plain food coloring. I would personally put the cake in the fridge, and I think that if you frost it Friday it will still be great on Saturday. The frosting really holds in the moisture of the cake!
Renae says
I just have to say AMAZING! I just made this frosting and I’ve always liked classic buttercream but this one is just heaven. I really like that it’s so easy to pipe with and it crusts real nice too! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for coming back to leave this comment Renae!
Leslie says
If I want to make the frosting ahead of time should I cover it and leave it on the counter or put it in the fridge and bring it back to room temp before frosting? Thanks!
Put it in the fridge and then let it come to room temperature. Unless we are talking like a few hours, then the counter is fine.