Cake Frosting Recipe

In need of a classic cake frosting? This simple 4-ingredient recipe is my go-to vanilla frosting recipe for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more.

You should know how to make a super simple homemade cake frosting. There’s no point in relying on shelf-stable canned frosting as cake frosting is easy to make and tastes better. My mother taught me how to make this frosting recipe when I was a child.

cake frosting recipe

1. American buttercream frosting
  1. Using an electric mixer, whip 2 sticks softened butter until pale and fluffy.
  2. Add 4 cups organic powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, whipping after each addition just to combine.
  3. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon fine salt. Whip on medium speed until creamy and spreadable.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

cake frosting recipe

For many people, cake is just the delivery vehicle for the real star of the show—the frosting. If you agree, you’ll love this five-star buttercream frosting recipe. It’s rich, sweet and foolproof. With 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of effort, this vanilla buttercream frosting will be ready to turn any cake, cookie or cupcake into a special-occasion dessert—never underestimate the power of a good frosting! Memorize this recipe and you’ll always have a frosting to complement whatever’s for dessert. (P.S. If you fall for this recipe, you’ll be glad to know there’s a 2.0 version: Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting is a must try!)

Prep: 10min

Total: 10min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 170 , Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fat 1 , Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, Saturated Fat 2 1/2 g, servingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 35 mg, Sugar 29 g, Trans Fat 0 g

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Instruction:

  1. In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk.
  2. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. Frosts 13×9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts an 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.

Basic Vanilla Cake Frosting

cake frosting recipe

Looking for an easy, classic cake frosting? This simple 4-ingredient recipes is my go-to vanilla frosting recipe for cakes, cupcakes, and more!

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Yield: 12

Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 217 calories, Sugar 37.4 g, Sodium 62.9 mg, Fat 7.6 g, Saturated Fat 4.8 g, Trans Fat 0.3 g, Carbohydrate 38.2 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0.2 g, Cholesterol 20.3 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, softened
  • 1 lb powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 3–4 tbsp milk

Instruction:

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  2. Add milk, one tbsp at a time, until you reach spreading consistency.
  3. Use right away, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Vanilla Frosting

cake frosting recipe

Giada DeLaurentiis’ Vanilla Frosting recipe is the perfect topper to your next batch of cupcakes.

Prep: 0 5min0

Total: 0 5min0

Yield: about 1 pound (enough for 12 cupcakes)

Serving Size: 1 of 8 servings

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 8 servings, calories 283, Fat 12g, Saturated Fat 7g, Carbohydrate 45g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 44g, Protein 0g, Cholesterol 31mg, Sodium 6mg

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instruction:

  1. In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the butter until light and smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Buttercream Icing Recipe / How to Make Perfect Buttercream Frosting

FAQ

What is the best frosting for covering a cake?

Royal icing is one of the best icings for decorating cakes. Mixing together powdered sugar, egg whites, and meringue powder or liquid provides a consistency relative to pancake batter. This makes it easy to pour into pastry bags to fulfill your decorating dreams.

What is the difference between cake icing and cake frosting?

Icing is thinner than frosting but not quite as thin as a glaze. Typically made with powdered sugar and liquid, such as water, milk, or juice, icing can be drizzled or spread. Icing has more shine and a smoother consistency than frosting.

Which frosting is best for beginners?

American Buttercream

This is the most basic type of buttercream, made by creaming butter and sugar until light and fluffy. The firmness and stability of this buttercream makes it suitable for anything, from frosting to filling cakes. You don’t need to worry about the decorations melting when the cake’s on display!

What frosting do professionals use?

Swiss meringue buttercream is probably the most standard buttercream for pastry professionals. It is incredibly smooth, making it an extremely popular choice for icing cakes. Compared to American buttercream, it has a much stronger butter flavor, but is considerably less sweet.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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