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.
Maddie
Hi, I haven’t baked your chocolate cake yet, but I was wonder for your vanilla cupcake recipe if the frosting would still be good if I put it on a cake, and how long can the frosting last without being on a treat?
Sam
Yes that frosting would work just fine on a cake, but are you talking about the chocolate frosting that is with the vanilla cupcake recipe, or are you asking about this vanilla frosting recipe?
Ce
I tried the cake recipe and it came out very nice. I reduced the sugar by quite a bit and used coconut oil instead of of what the recipe suggests. Everyone loved it! However, I tried the buttercream frosting recipe but that did not taste or look good. It just looked like whipped butter with lots of sugar. I don’t know what went wrong as I followed the directions on the recipe. I’m confused.
Sam
So glad you enjoyed the cake! Buttercream is essentially butter and sugar so it sounds like nothing went wrong, it just might not be to your taste. Now this does have a greater depth of flavor due to the added ingredients, but sounds like you might just not care for American buttercream (which is OK!). I do have a cream cheese frosting that you might prefer if you’d like to check that out! 🙂
Ce
Thanks for the suggestion! I don’t care for American buttercream at all as it’s too sugary. I have has French and Italian buttercream and they’re so much creamier and way less sugary. I feel intimidated trying an Italian buttercream recipe, any suggestions or do you have a good recipe for one?
Sam
I’m sorry, I do not, but I use this Swiss Meringue Buttercream sometimes that is very easy to make you could try.
Breeze
I’m planning on using this frosting for your Funfetti Cake recipe, would these frosting measurements be enough for the cake or do you suggest increasing?
Sam
Hi, Breeze. The vanilla frosting is actually the same frosting that is indicated in the Confetti Cake recipe adjusted to cover the confetti cake, so you can just follow that. 🙂
sharon
hi,
is the heavy cream the same as whipping cream? ii’d love to try do the cake and frosting but where am from some ingredients are hard to come by
Sam
Hi Sharon! Yes, whipping cream will work perfectly. Enjoy!
Adrienne
I love to bake, and do it quite a bit. After many recipes of trial and disappointment with other White Cake recipes, I made your White Cake recipe with this buttercream frosting. It was amazing!! It was my first white cake recipe that I have made and loved. Moist and so tasty. Fantastic turn out, and my family had it gone in a day. Lol!:) Thank you so much for sharing.
Sam
I am absolutely thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much for commenting, Adrienne! It means a lot to me. Happy New Year!
Cathy
Do you sift the confectioners sugar used in the frosting?
Sam
I usually do not, but if you intend to pipe it I would probably sift it just so it doesn’t clog up your piping tips. Enjoy!
Arrhiannon
Would you be able to use buttermilk instead of cream for a bit of a tang?
Sam
I haven’t tried with buttermilk but I bet that would be great. Enjoy! 🙂
arrhiannon
I tried it and it turned out perfect…chocolate cake with the frosting and sprinkled with crushed candycane. A perfect end to Christmas Day dinner. Yes, it was your BEST chocolate cake! Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
Sam
Yay! I am so glad it turned out. It sounds delicious. 🙂
Scott
It just came out of the oven and is looking good, smelling good. My daughter and family will be visiting from England tomorrow, oh, I currently live in Germany. We’ll put it through the test. I’m fairly confident now.
Thanks.
Sam
Enjoy! 🙂
Scott Richardson
Hi,
I’m tryiing your white cake recipe out right now, I’m a Chef by profession. Will let you know how it came out. I’ve been looking for a good simple recipe and just by looking it at the recipe, I can tel, this is the one.
Also, nice to see someone making things from scratch, I firmly believe in that.
Scott
Sam
I hope you love it, Scott! 🙂
Ashley
This is slightly embarrassing but my ABSOLUTE favorite frosting since childhood has been the one on Baskin Robbins’ clown ice cream cones – no buttercream I’ve tried has ever lived up to it but yours reminds me so much of it (while also feeling a bit more adulty). Thank you!!!
Sam
😂 No need to be embarrassed! I am glad you enjoy the frosting. 🙂
Maria.
Can I use full fat milk instead of the heavy cream?
Sam
Yes! Start with a little less just because milk is thinner so you may not need as much. Enjoy!
augusti
Is it powdered sugar or icing sugar?
Sam
Hi Augusti, they are the same thing.
John
I’m not a great baker and haven’ t had great luck with plain cakes in the past, so I was a bit nervous when my wife demanded a “white cake and white frosting” for her birthday. I followed your recipe to a T and it was Perfect! High, moist, great crumb, sturdy enough for frosting but not heavy at all. I will never be afraid of white cakes again.
Sam
Yay! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it John! It’s so nice that you bake her a cake for her birthday. ☺️
BanBan
How did you make the rainbow at the edges of your frosting? Want to try it soon.
Sam
If you check out this Pinata Cupcakes post, I explain it in detail for you. 🙂
Tori
I made your vanilla cake recipe for my daughter’s birthday, and my husband made the frosting using this recipe. Everything turned out great! My husband said something about how the frosting was so good, it should be illegal.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the cake! I love your husbands comment! 😂