A simple, 5 ingredient recipe for Vanilla Frosting. Use it to top off your favorite cake or cupcake recipe. This recipe generously tops 12 cupcakes, modestly covers 24, or will cover an 8″ or 9″ layer cake or 9×13 sheet cake.
Happy Spring! Does it look like Spring where you are, yet? Because yesterday/the first day of “Spring” was also the beginning of the first big snowstorm we’ve had all year.
My car is buried beneath half a foot of snow, Zach is taking a snow day because none of the roads are plowed, and eventually one of us is going to have to break down and actually go outside to shovel out our driveway, so despite what the calendar might say it doesn’t exactly feel Spring-y around here!
Fortunately, snow days make for perfect baking days, and today I plan on baking myself a batch of from-scratch chocolate cupcakes and topping them off with today’s recipe for vanilla frosting.
And sprinkles too, of course.
Today’s recipe is simple to make and is a staple icing recipe that every home baker or cake decorator should have on hand. It’s easily pipeable and does a great job of holding its shape, is easy to customize with different extracts (though I always reach for the vanilla), and does well under fondant.
It’s also incredibly hard to mess up, if your frosting becomes too thin you simply add more sugar, and if it’s too stiff an extra splash of heavy cream or even milk will work. Let’s go over a few frequently asked questions that I get about making vanilla buttercream.
How long can I store vanilla frosting?
You can make vanilla frosting in advance and store it for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. It will firm u when cold, so let it soften at room temperature a bit before piping or spreading on to your cake.
Can I leave vanilla buttercream frosting at room temperature?
Yes! There is heavy cream in this recipe, but it is stabilized by the generous amount of sugar that we are using. You can frost your cake or cupcakes with this frosting and it will be good for 2-3 days at room temperature (it will keep longer in the refrigerator, for about 1-2 weeks).
What goes well with vanilla frosting?
I’ve tried it and loved it on my funfetti cake (check out those colorful decorations — all of them made with this same recipe!), chocolate cake, chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla cake, just to name a few!
I have a new-ish cupcake (pictured above) that I’m excited to share with you on Friday, and I’ll also be showing you how to add the neat colorful swirls to your frosting (it’s easy, you just need a small paintbrush).
Enjoy!
If vanilla buttercream isn’t quite your thing, be sure to check out my less sweet chocolate frosting or cream cheese frosting, instead!
How to Make Vanilla Frosting
Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Sprinkle salt over butter and stir again to combine.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gradually, about ½ cup at a time, add powdered sugar, waiting until each cup is completely mixed before adding more.3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
- With mixer on medium-low speed, add the heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time. Once ingredients are well incorporated, gradually increase speed to high and beat for about 30 seconds.3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- Add vanilla extract and stir well.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cupcakes. Top with sprinkles, if desired. This frosting will be fine at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated in an airtight container for about a week.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Melissa Scott
Can you add Wilton food dye to this frosting to color it?
Sam
That should work, I prefer gel colors because they are a little more vibrant, but Wilton dyes should work.
Louann
The cake and frosting recipes are amazing!! I couldn’t eat enough! I made cupcakes. Best, moist, delicious tasting vanilla cake and best creamy, tasty vanilla frosting that I’ve ever made! Thanks for the recipes!
Sam
Thank you so much Louann! I am so glad you enjoyed it! 😃😃😃
Colleen
This is by far the best buttercream be I’ve ever made!!! Thanks k you so much for sharing! This is going to be amazing on my fudge cake!
Sam
Thank you Colleen. That cake sounds incredible! 😃
alisha
Hello, can I substitute 2/3 c of melted butter for the vegetable oil? I am making this for my sons’ baseball shaped birthday cake this weekend.
Sam
Hi Alisha! I am not sure I understand? The frosting just calls for a cup of softened butter and does not call for vegetable oil.
Sarah Pourhosseini
This frosting is delicious! (And the white cake! And the chocolate cake!) I’m seriously so glad to have found your site 🙂 I’ll be remaking it in a home that only has a stand mixer. Should I use the paddle or whisk attachment? Thanks!
Megan Shimek
Can I use 1 stick of unsalted butter and 1 stick of salted and just leave out the salt. That’s all I have left in my butter stash!
Sam
Yes you can that’ll be fine!
Erika Beard
Can you use salted butter instead of unsalted butter and salt? I’ve never understood why recipes call for both unsalted butter and salt… couldn’t it be simplified to using SALTED butter?
Sam
It could be simplified even more by just buying a can of pre-made frosting from the store 😉
The reason I use both is to have the most control over taste/flavor. You can read more about why I do it this way here:
But to answer your question, yes you can.
Shana
This is the best cruising I’ve ever made. So simple too. Thank you!
Sam
So glad you enjoyed, Shana!! 🙂
zoey
when i made this cake it left a sticky sort of crystallization on top. do you know what caused it and how to eliminate it?
Sam
Are you referring to the cake or to this frosting? Are you saying there was crystallization on top of the frosting? Do you have bad humidity where you are today?
Mary
Trying this recipe today!!
Sam
I hope you love it, Mary!!
lacy
I will be using this for a vanilla birthday cake I’m making this Friday, can’t wait.
Sam
I hope you love it!
Becca
Hello could I use milk instead of heavy cream?
Sam
Yes that will be fine, start with less than indicated in the recipe, though and add only as much as you need until the desired consistency is reached.
Michelle
I wanted to use this vanilla frosting recipe with your Funfetti Cake from Scratch recipe. Do you think this amount of icing will be enough for a 3 layer cake?
PS. I just discovered your site and everything looks amazing! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Sam
Hi Michelle! Use the frosting recipe that is listed in with the Funfetti cake recipe, it’s the same frosting recipe but scaled up to be enough to cover the whole cake 🙂
I’m so glad you are enjoying the site! 🙂
Myra
Just wondering… can you use store bought egg whites?
Sam
Hi Myra, this recipe doesn’t call for egg whites.
Brenda
Can’t wait to try this.
Sam
I hope you love it, Brenda!! 🙂
Autumn
How much chocolate coco powder would I need to make a chocolate buttercream frosting???
Sam
Hi Autumn! I would start with 3 tablespoons and add more if needed. 😃
Yolanda Silva
Can you use half and half instead of cream?
Sam
That should work, just add slightly less and add as needed.