Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Still looking for a quick recipe to enhance your dessert tray? Here’s a super easy & delicious recipe for vanilla buttercream frosting.
The first memory I have of learning how to make vanilla buttercream frosting was when I was about 5 years old. My mother handed me one of the metal beaters from her hand mixer covered in the vanilla buttercream and said “here you go, it’s the best.” It only took me a few seconds to lick the entire beater clean. My mother would make this frosting for just about every cookie, cake or brownie she ever made. This was her go to frosting recipe because it was delicious, super easy to make and hard to screw up. It’s truly the best.
Buttercream frosting, a retro way to decorate sweets
The history of buttercream frosting is a long and delicious one. It dates back to the 1700s when it was first used as a topping for cakes and other desserts. Since then, it has become a staple in many bakeries and homes around the world. It has also been published many times over by millions of home bakers and professional chefs alike
Is buttercream the same as icing sugar?
No, buttercream and icing sugar are not the same. Buttercream is a type of frosting made with butter, sugar, and other ingredients such as cream or milk. It is usually used to frost cakes and cupcakes. Icing sugar, on the other hand, is a type of powdered sugar that has been finely ground and mixed with cornstarch to prevent clumping.
Does buttercream frosting have sugar?
Buttercream frosting does have sugar, but uses powdered sugar not granulated sugar.
Vanilla buttercream frosting is a classic favorite for cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. It’s light and fluffy texture makes it the perfect topping for any sweet treat. The best vanilla buttercream frosting is made with real butter, pure vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.
Butter is the key ingredient in making a delicious buttercream frosting. It adds flavor and helps create a smooth, creamy texture. When making a classic vanilla buttercream frosting, it is important to use high-quality butter for the best results. Unsalted butter is preferred because it allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
To make a classic vanilla buttercream frosting, start by creaming together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. It’s an excellent start to a perfect frosting.
Loosen thick buttercream frosting with milk
Ever find that your frosting is just too thick? This can be caused from using butter that is not yet room temperature or the amount of powdered sugar used. The best way to loosen a buttercream is to add a teaspoon of milk at a time and continue blending with your mixer.
Ingredients
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (if no time to sift, it still comes out great)
1/3 cup butter room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons whole milk (can sub in other milk or non diary milks)
Recipe
In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter with powdered sugar on low speed with a hand mixer (if not hand mixer, use stand mixer). Once blended, add in vanilla and milk. Mix until smooth and frost your cookies, cakes and bars. This frosting can last in the refrigerator for up to 1 week if you need to frost your sweet treats at a later time.
This recipe should be enough frosting for 1 medium sized cake or 12-18 cupcakes depending on how thick you spread it.
Simple recipe variations
In lieu of adding vanilla to your frosting recipe, you may use any other type of extract or additive to change the flavoring. I think that if you are making a white cake that almond or lemon extract can really enhance the flavor of the buttercream. You can also consider adding cocoa powder and make this into a smooth and rich chocolate frosting- try experimenting with smaller batches of frosting and see which on you like the best.
- Quick and Almost-Professional Buttercream Icing Recipe – Our favorite buttercream frosting recipe is creamy and fluffy, can be tinted for any occasion, and is perfect for piping and decorating. (allrecipes.com)
- Buttercream Frosting – Preppy Kitchen – This simple and delicious vanilla buttercream comes together in a few moments and is perfect for frosting cakes and cupcakes. (preppykitchen.com)
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe – BettyCrocker.com – 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,… (bettycrocker.com)
Hope you love this frosting recipe just as much as our family does. Wishing you all a happy valentine’s day!! Make this recipe? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear from. you!
