Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own easy and delicious homemade Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe! Use it on your favorite cakes, cupcakes or just a spoon – I won’t judge!
Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
I’m about to get very real and personal with y’all. I’m the kind of person who scrapes the frosting off of store-bought cakes … I just don’t care for it. At. All. Blech! My kids love that I scrape it off because that usually means they get extra frosting! If I’m being completely honest, I also don’t care for canned frosting too much either – but I have used it on a rare occasion – like for my Firecracker Cake or my Halloween Bundt Cake. You can say that I’m sort of a frosting snob.
If there’s one thing I think everyone should know how to make, it’s a Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. It’s easy, delicious, and you probably have everything on hand. And have I mentioned it tastes soooooo much better than that canned junk? I just can’t and won’t budge – and once you see how easy it is to make buttercream frosting – you shouldn’t either!
I love making my own frosting – and you’ll love it too once you see how easy and delicious it is! No store-bought frosting compares and everyone LOVES this recipe. This is my go-to frosting recipe – I use it for everything from cakes, cupcakes, and cookies! This recipe blows that store-bought stuff outta the water …. it just doesn’t even compare! I’ve shared it so many times, that it’s time it went on the blog!
I will note that if you use milk in the recipe, you should refrigerate the frosting. No questions. Personally, I think milk tastes better, but I often use water in the recipe if my refrigerator is full and I know my cake or cupcakes won’t fit. I’ve left my cakes cupcakes covered on the counter for up to 3 days and they’ve always been fine. I wouldn’t recommend much longer than that. If you live in a really hot or humid area, please take that into account. If you have any questions or if you’re in doubt, it’s best just to refrigerate the frosting, let it come to room temperature, then frost only what you need, then refrigerate any remaining frosting.
Things You’ll Need For This Recipe:
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Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup real butter, softened 1 stick
- 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 3 – 4 tablespoons milk or water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Food coloring if desired
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, using 3 tbsp. milk or water.
- With an electric mixer, beat the ingredients on medium speed until well combined and fluffy. Only add the additional tablespoon of milk or water if frosting seems too thick.
- Use to frost cakes or cupcakes of your choice.
Notes
- You may use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe.
- Please do NOT substitute margarine for the butter in this recipe – it’s called BUTTERcream for a reason!
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
You can't beat a good vanilla buttercream! Yours looks awesome!
I have a question can you use Irish butter
You can.
This buttercream looks like fluffy perfection!
Very simple and yummy! I will make it again.
Can this be made into chocolate frosting?
You can find my recipe for chocolate frosting here: https://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/easy-chocolate-frosting/
Is “real butter” salted, or unsalted? I assume since this is for dessert that unsalted would be better but perhaps you can clarify. Thanks!
Great question! You can use either – but I prefer unsalted.
Hi, just wondering if you could tell me how many cupcakes one quantity of this recipe would ice? Thanks!!
I can easily frost 24 cupcakes with this recipe. I usually have just a bit of frosting leftover, but not much. It really depends on how heavily you “frost” them.
That buttercream icing is the exact recipe I kearned from my Gram 40+ yrs ago. I’ve made it so many times, I know it by heart. 4 ingredients makes it pretty easy to remember. I also add bakers semi sweet chocolate (6 oz + or minus a square to your taste to make a chocolate buttercream icing.). Melt chicolate double boiler syle with boiling water in a laege pyrex or ceramic bowl and chocolate in a smaller pyrex or ceramic bowl. Still until just smooth and add to frosting immediately. You can start with 4 squares/ounces and add a square at a rime till you get your taste in chocolate. If you take the too high in temp. you will change the frostings consistency.
CAUTION: Use only semi-sweet chocolate. Regular chocolate will make it too sweet. In my opinion too sweet to eat and I love sweet. I use Bakers, but use your favorite brand. That’s why I say start at 4 oz, because all chocolate has a little difference in their recipe and taste and consistency.
I love it it i very smoth and eay t stir with a wisk it dosent make a lot but you can always double it
GREAT RECIPE AND TASTES DELICIOUS!,!!!!!!!!
How long can you refrigerate the icing for?
You can refrigerate buttercream for up to 3 months.
Can I use this frosting to decorate cake with tool to make designs with the tips of tool
yes.