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.
elaine says
I a m from the UK. Can someone tell me what powered sugar is? Thanku
mel says
Confectioner sugar is another name
Emily says
Also icing sugar
Lisa says
Help on vanilla!!! Hi, I am making and only have vanilla extract- it is double strength (high quality too). How much should I use. When you say vanilla in the recipe, I am not sure what type of vanilla you are using? Thank you soooo much
I used McCormick brand pure vanilla extract. It’s hard for me to know how much to tell you to use. I would start with the amount listed in the recipe and then taste it. If it needs more just add a little more.
Karen says
You would actually use a little less of the strong vanilla…
Kathy says
Making cupcakes with a beach theme using teddy grams,gummy octopi and assorted other beach items what will prevent the teddy grams from getting mushy. Also other recipes I have tried for buttercream use double the amount of butter( two sticks) with one pound of icing sugar. Going to make yours this week.
Hi Kathy! If I were doing it, I would coat the teddy graham feet in white chocolate before sticking them in the frosting. :)
Keisha says
I just tried this recipe and I don’t know if maybe I didn’t do it right but the consistancy is good but it just tastes like I am eating a stick of butter. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Keisha, It’s hard for me to know what went wrong, but one of the things I love so much about this recipe is how much it doesn’t taste like straight butter where some other buttercreams do. Is it possible you didn’t add the proper amount of sugar?
Michele says
Amen to your recipe b/c I’ve seen some lately that have eggs listed in the ingredients and a proper, good buttercream frosting just shouldn’t have eggs in it, not only for those with sensitivities but for overall flavor. What a great recipe and wonderful variations you’ve listed here! Thank you!
Thanks Michele!
Viola says
Hi, I really can’t help but pipe in on eggs in buttercream. Most buttercreams do indeed contain eggs: Italian, Swiss, French, and German. The American buttercream is the only one that does not.
sophia says
Is the recipe above enough to cover a three layer cake? Looking forward to trying it!
It’s not Sophia, you need to double the recipe for that. I doubled it and it covered this cake perfectly.
Lindsay says
Does it matter the type of milk you use? Whole, 2% or 1%? I tried making icing before but it required 2 sticks of butter and tasted greasy and looked whipped. Im looking forward to trying yours!
I used skim milk Lindsay, but just use whatever you have on hand. I hope you like it!
karolina says
I have just tried this recipe and I did not think it would be this delicious! it’s amazing! I baked some chocolate cupackes for a friend’s birthday for tomorrow and decided to try this buttercream frosting (for the first time, yikes) and I couln’t be happier with the results. thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe with us. :)
Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know! I’m so glad you liked it!
Courtney says
I am so oooo glad I found your recipe on Pinterest. I’ve tried a few other butter cream recipes and they just weren’t as delicious as yours. I have now found my go to icing! Thank you!
Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know Courtney! I’m so glad you like it!
Stelisa Felder says
I just made this today! I love the taste! Super easy to make as well! Just a tip- I made cupcakes so if you plan on added sprinkles do it as soon as you frost/pipe onto cupcakes so they stay put :)
Yes! Good call Stelisa! One of the things I love about this frosting is that it firms up really nicely so if you do some pretty piping it will stay pretty, but yes! You need to sprinklify things quickly.