Creamy Vanilla Buttercream Recipe

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This classic buttercream recipe is light and fluffy, with a perfect balance of sweetness and vanilla flavor. It's made with real butter, cream, and vanilla extract. A bit of shortening in the mixture keeps it light and fluffy and prevents it from being too rich. The result is a rich, creamy frosting that's perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies.

cucpakes with rainbow liners and cream cheese frosting on top

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Vanilla Buttercream
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Vanilla Buttercream
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Secret of Good Buttercream Frosting?
What Can I Use Vanilla Buttercream On?
📖 Recipe

Vanilla Buttercream

This rich vanilla buttercream is perfect for topping cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. It's sinfully delicious and sure to please any sweet tooth. Best of all, it's simple to make at home with just a few ingredients.

This recipe is so easy to make, even kids can do it! Just mix together until light and fluffy. Then spread it on your favorite desserts. It's that simple!

Not sure what to use this for? It's perfect for spreading on homemade cinnamon rolls or on this apple bundt cake! You can even put it between these confetti sandwich cookies, or make a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with this in the middle.

Ingredients

1 cup shortening (190g)
1 cup unsalted butter (227g)
6 cups powdered sugar (690g)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5ml)
4 tablespoons heavy cream (45ml)

glass bowls of butter and powdered sugar on white table

Handy Kitchen Tools

How to Make Vanilla Buttercream

Combine the shortening and softened butter together in a large bowl and beat until it is smooth and creamy.

Then, add in the powdered sugar, until just combined. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream.

powdered sugar in bowl with softened butter

Beat for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until it is light and fluffy.

cream cheese frosting on beater in large glass bowl

It should double in volume and be nice and fluffy. Be careful to not overmix though as you do not want the butter to separate or to deflate the mixture.

vanilla frosting on top of cupcakes on cake stand

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Buttercream and Frosting?

Buttercream and frosting are both sweet, creamy toppings used to decorate cakes and other desserts. But there is a difference between the two: Buttercream is made with butter while frosting can be made without. The butter in buttercream gives it a smooth, silky texture and flavor that's hard to beat. That's why this classic buttercream recipe is a favorite among bakers.

Is it Better to Put Milk or Water in Homemade Vanilla Buttercream?

If you want to thin out your buttercream, it's best to add a little bit of milk or cream instead of water. This will help keep the flavor and texture of the frosting consistent.

You can also add flavor by using a flavored coffee creamer, a bit of extra vanilla extract, or half and half. All options are ideal for giving the buttercream that smooth texture you want. Just make sure you use a little at a time so you don't thin out the buttercream too much.

How Long is Homemade Buttercream Good For?

Homemade buttercream can last up to one week in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

For best results, try to use it within three days of making it. If you need to make it ahead of time, you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, just thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

What is the Secret of Good Buttercream Frosting?

If you want to make the best buttercream frosting, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Use room-temperature ingredients. This will help the buttercream to blend together smoothly and create a light and fluffy texture.
Don't overmix the frosting. Overmixing can cause the buttercream to become dense and heavy. You want to mix until it is light and fluffy, then stop so it doesn't deflate and get too dense.
Use high-quality ingredients. Using good quality butter, cream, and vanilla extract will make a big difference in the taste of your buttercream. If nothing else, make sure you use pure vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla for the best flavor.
Don't ice cakes while they are hot. One of the bigger issues you see is frosting like this falling part or melting. The best option is to wait until the cake or cupcake you are icing is completely cool. You can even put the cake product in the freezer for 30 minutes before icing to make it a bit easier.

If you like this easy recipe and want more beginner recipes to try you might also be interested in my latest cookbook release, The Complete Cookbook for Beginners. Tips, skills, and 101 recipes for the beginner cook to learn from!

What Can I Use Vanilla Buttercream On?

There are a ton of recipes out there that a basic frosting like this can go onto. A few of those are right here on our site. Below are some of my favorite dishes that make the perfect choice for spreading this thick and tasty frosting on top of.

You can also use this for dipping! Heat up the frosting and serve with churros, cinnamon donuts, cinnamon roll French toast rollups, cinnamon bread sticks, or even these copycat Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzel bites.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12

Creamy Vanilla Buttercream Recipe

Homemade creamy vanilla buttercream is the perfect addition to your favorite baked goods! Easy to make and ready in minutes!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup shortening (190g)
1 cup unsalted butter (227g)
6 cups powdered sugar (690g)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5ml)
4 tablespoons heavy cream (45ml)

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and shortening until it is smooth and creamy.
Then, add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until combined.
Lastly, add in the heavy cream, and beat for 4 to 5 minutes, until it is light and fluffy, and has doubled in volume.