Home Recipes Dessert Cake and Cupcakes The Best Vanilla Frosting Recipe
by Jennifer Debth
23 Comments
4.93 from 13 votes
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This is the bestVanilla Frosting Recipe! This buttercream frosting is ultra-creamy, super fluffy, and perfectly flavored with vanilla extract!
Quick Navigation
- General
- Icing vs frosting
- Ingredients
- How to make
- Get the recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you need vanilla?
- How to make fluffy
- Why is it clumpy?
- Variations
- How to serve
- How to store
- Nutrition information
What is the difference between icing and frosting?
Although icing and frosting are similar, there are a couple of key differences!
Both icing and frosting are made up of powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract. Frosting, however, has the addition of butter.
The ratios of the ingredients are also different. Icing is more liquid-y and has to set. Frosting is thicker and has more structure.
Today, we’re making vanilla buttercream frosting…and it’s so good!
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter– the base for the frosting. Whipped to make it light and fluffy.
- Powdered Sugar– sweetens and thickens the frosting to give it structure.
- Salt– cuts the sweetness and brings out the vanilla flavor.
- Heavy Cream– makes the frosting extra creamy and thins it out slightly so it’s not too dry or thick from the powdered sugar.
- Vanilla Extract– gives the frosting that signature warm vanilla flavor.
How to make
This vanilla frosting recipe comes together in just 5 minutes!
- Use your stand mixer or hand mixer to beat butter for 60 seconds. Beat in powdered sugar and salt.
- Slowly pour in heavy cream and vanilla, beat until well combined and fluffy, then refrigerate until you’re ready to use!
Do you have to use vanilla extract?
Not necessarily. Vanilla extract is what gives this frosting its signature vanilla flavor but you can definitely flavor it with other things as well.
- Maple Syrupwill add warmth but it’s sweeter than vanilla extract, so start with less and add more as needed.
- Almond Extractwill add a similar flavor profile to vanilla extract but is more potent. Again, start with less and add more as needed.
- Bourbonhas notes of vanilla and caramel so it will provide similar flavors. Start with a very small amount of bourbon and add more to taste.
How do you make frosting fluffy?
The key to making your frosting fluffy is to use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients in.
This whips them better than hand mixing does which results in lighter, fluffier frosting.
Why is my frosting clumpy?
Here are a couple of ways you can make sure your frosting is smooth, not clumpy:
- Sift the powdered sugar.Sifting the powdered sugar through a sieve ensures that there are no clumps in it before you mix it in with the rest of your ingredients.
- Use an electric mixer.Although you can hand mix your frosting, using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer really works the frosting and gets out any clumps.
How to serve vanilla frosting
Aside from just shoveling this frosting into your mouth with a spoon, there are a few other ways you can serve it. 😉
- On cookies.Spread it on your favorite chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, or sugar cookies.
- On cupcakes.Try it on strawberry cupcakes, chocolate hazelnut banana cupcakes, or even pumpkin cupcakes!
- As a dip.Serve it in a bowl next to pretzels, vanilla wafers, graham crackers, teddy grahams, etc.
- With fruit.Try it on apple slices, strawberries, raspberries, or even banana!
How to store
Leftover frosting will last for up to 1 month in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
To enjoy again, use straight from the fridge or thaw in the fridge if frozen.
– Jennifer
The Best Vanilla Frosting Recipe
4.93 from 13 votes
This is the bestVanilla Frosting Recipe! This buttercream frosting is ultra-creamy, super fluffy, and perfectly flavored with vanilla extract!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Yield: 6 cupcakes
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Equipment for this recipe
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Ingredients
US Customary - Metric
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Using your stand (or hand) mixer, beat butter for 60 seconds in a bowl.
Beat in powdered sugar and salt slowly.
Slowly pour in heavy cream and vanilla and beat until well combined and fluffy.
Ready to frost or refrigerate!
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STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:1 Month
Freezer:3 Months
Reheat:If frozen, thaw in fridge
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
The Best Vanilla Frosting Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 485 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 55mg18%
Sodium 105mg5%
Potassium 11mg0%
Carbohydrates 80g27%
Sugar 78g87%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 145IU3%
Calcium 6mg1%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: buttercream, creamy, vanilla
Enjoy this recipe?
Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Jennifer Debth
Reader Interactions
Delores
United States
Reply
Racer
Vista, California
Followed to the letter and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for… like Mom used to make. Perfect consistency for cakes, cupcakes, whatever you need a buttercream frosting for. Good flavor too!
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
I’m so glad to hear it! Thanks!
Anonymous
United States
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Anonymous
United States
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Anonymous
Rosedale, New York
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Rosa
United States
Is the nutrition information based of the whole recipe or just 1/6 of it
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
1/6th 🙂
Anonymous
Toronto, Ontario
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tracey
United States
Nice! Quick and easy I didn’t really need to refrigerate it was firm enough to ice my cake I added a little cinnamon, cuz why not. I will definitely be using this in the future.
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Awesome! Thanks so much, Tracey!!
Anonymous
Nigeria
its so cool and sweet. only 5 ingredient wow. thanks so much☺
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
You’re so welcome!
Anonymous
Lagos, Lagos
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Sonia
Costa Mesa, California
It looks delicious cant wait.. gonna make cupcakes for my sisters baby shower.. in March, so I’m sure its gonna be a hit. Question can you freeze and reuse the frosting?
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
I’ve never tried, but I googled it, and apparently you can freeze frosting in an airtight container for up to 3 months!
Amy
San Francisco, California
OMG OMG OMG!!! You have GOT to be kidding me… My blog’s birthday is October 20 too!!! Just 4 years before yours… That is BEYOND freaky in a Freaky Friday sort of way. 😉😘 But happy, happy blogiversary to you! And I am SO proud of everything you and Trevor have achieved! You’re my blog role models. Seriously. I want to be like you when my blog and I grow up!! ❤️
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Oh that’s amazing!!! I wouldn’t want to share a blogiversary with anyone else!!!! <3 <3 <3 Thank you so much Amy 🙂 We love and miss you!!!
Deborah
Jacksonville, Oregon
Vanilla frosting on devil’s food cupcakes is the best! Can’t wait to try this recipe. I notice the blog says to pipe it on–does it top as well without piping? I want it to look nice like the photo but I don’t have the bag and tip.PS I’ll rate a 5 in advance because it looks and sounds incredible but I haven’t made it yet…
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Thank you so much Deborah! For the photos, I actually just used a cookie scoop! Worked like a charm 🙂 You’ll have to let me know how your cupcakes turn out!
Marina
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Awww happy belated birthday!! <3 This frosting looks amazing Jennifer and I love how simple the ingredient list is! I love celebrating my birthdays with a nice dinner out and some sort of dark chocolate dessert. And wine of course. 😉
Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Thanks Marina! It’s crazy that SMTY has been around for TWO years already!! Dark chocolate dessert + wine – perfection!
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