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.
Denise says
Why oh why does everybody have to change a posted recipe? This is Lisa’s recipe, as it is written. As a chef this makes me crazy. Why not just try it as written? If you don’t care for the finished product, there are lots of variations of butter cream frosting out there. I’ll get off my soap box now!
Lol Denise!
Caryl says
Amen!!!
Debbie says
Buttercream frosting is my all time favorite and this frosting is just awsome
and simple to make thanks
I’m so glad you like it!
Kim Hallowell says
I am searching for a great buttercream to use on my cupcakes…. I understand that this recipe will harden, but will it LOOK crusty?
Hi Kim! It doesn’t look super fluffy, but I wouldn’t say it looks hard. The pictures of the cake in this post are with it fully hardened. This post too: https://simplejoy.com/2015/06/red-white-and-blue-velvet-cheesecake-cake.html
Jenna Gough says
I just made this frosting and it is delicious! I substituted heavy whipping cream for milk though. I’m so happy to find a fairly simple recipie. This will become a fan favorite in my house. Thank you! :)
Thanks Jenna!
Pam says
I just got making this frosting it turned out so pretty. I have try different buttercream recipe, but I found the best not going to stop useing. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you liked it!
Georgina says
Hi there! I was just wondering to make this dairy free can you just substitute the butter for margarine or would that alter the taste? Thanks x
Hi Georgina, it will definitely not taste good with margarine. I’m sure there are some really great recipes out there for vegan buttercream, but I’m not sure what adjustments you could make to this one to make it vegan. You could try vegan butter and soy milk, but it won’t quite be the same.
Patty says
HI Lisa,
I love this frosting! I even use it on my cake pops and they were delicious. I want to add vanilla bean paste to it. How much do you think I should add?
Thanks,
Patty
Hi Patty, I would start with one teaspoon and see how it tastes, then add more slowly if needed.
Leah says
Was really disappointed with this buttercream. Yielded very little, super sweet and crusted almost before I got the lid on the bowl! Even with sifting the confectioners sugar, not sure I could get it into a piping bag….super stiff. Thanks for the recipe, but I think I’ll stick with the one I usually use. Worth a try though!
I’m really sorry you didn’t like this Leah! I have made this countless times and I really love it. It does harden pretty quickly, but that is usually only an issue when you want to add sprinkles, as in you need to add the sprinkles immediately. I have piped with it more than once, most recently on this Cookie Cake. And you can see it worked out really well.
Coni says
How long do you beat in the vanilla and milk
Just until incorporated and creamy.
Ashley says
Absolutely LOVE this recipe!! Made it for my daughters 1st birthday (for the grown ups cake) and everyone RAVED about it!!! My husbands birthday is coming up and he requested a chocolate buttercream, how would I convert this to chocolate?
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it! Ashley, I have a chocolate frosting recipe coming, but it’s not ready to post yet. It’s definitely different than this recipe, so it’s not a quick sub in or sub out. Stay tuned!