This is the best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe. Make this easy buttercream frosting recipe and you’ll never want cake without vanilla buttercream again. Or eat it with spoons.
We love using this vanilla frosting recipe on all sorts of cookies and cakes, but my absolute favorite is on top of these perfect sugar cookies!
You guys have to make this vanilla buttercream frosting recipe.
The end.
Okay, not really.
But yes. Really.
So this is a frosting recipe that I first made for these adorable sheep cupcakes. And I made it again for Piper’s cake smash. But it is seriously so ridiculously good that I feel like it deserved it’s own post.
So ironically, my sister in law sent me a text message the day before the sheep post went live and asked me if I had a good vanilla frosting recipe. And I said, “Funny you should ask . . . ” A few weeks later I got this message from her:
“I LOVE it! It makes boxed cake mixes taste like they were made in a bakery. It puts homemade cakes off the charts!”
I love her.
If that testimonial wasn’t enough, yesterday while I was photographing this cake, Gavin asked me if he could have a piece when I was done. Who am I to say no to that cute face? Gavin historically loves cake but doesn’t like frosting at all. Which is just crazy, but kind of awesome because I always get his left over buttercream frosting at birthday parties. #dontjudge
Well, I walked back into the kitchen after giving him some cake and he was eating the frosting!! I said, “Gavin! I thought you didn’t like frosting!”
“I don’t. But, Mom. This vanilla frosting is AMAZING!!”
#truestory
RECIPE NOTES FOR THE BEST VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- One batch of this vanilla buttercream frosting recipe is enough to lightly cover 24 cupcakes. I needed to double it to frost a three layer cake, with 1/2 cup frosting between each layer and a nice crumb coat.
- This frosting firms up rather quickly, so if you are going to top with sprinkles, you will want to frost your cupcake add the sprinkles, and then move on to the next cupcake you need to frost.
- If you don’t like your frosting as sweet, you can cut back the powdered sugar by a cup. It will result in a less sweet and also less firm frosting.
The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsps vanilla
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- To make frosting, beat the butter until fluffy.
- Then add the powdered sugar gradually, one cup at a time.
- Add in the vanilla and milk.
Recipe Video
Melissa B says
I make this with coconut milk and vegan butter and it is amazing! 😊
Marsha says
Can you freeze this frosting?
I haven’t tried freezing this. I’m sure you could, it might just need more mixing after thawing.
Pat Treml says
Hi Lisa,
Could you tell me how long this buttercream frosting will last in the refrigerator? By the way it is delicious!
It lasts about 3 to 4 days. I’m so glad you like it!
Dennis says
Lisa….do you have any recipes for vanilla cakes to make a wedding cake?
I do not, but this one from Life Love and Sugar is sure to be good or this one from Crazy for Crust.
Tammy Miller says
Can you tell me if I can add cocoa powder to the recipe to make chocolate buttercream icing? If so, how much do I add and do I need to make any additional alterations to the recipe.
This is the recipe I use to turn this recipe into chocolate frosting: Chocolate Frosting.
em says
I ❤ frosting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kaitlyn says
This just became my new go-to sugar cookie recipe. We made them with our two year old and had so much fun! The decorating wasn’t magazine worthy, but the cookies and frosting sure were delicious! I appreciated how simple the recipe is and loved how soft the cookies turned out.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Panda says
Really great frosting. Can’t wait to receive other recipes!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Anna says
Excited to try! Can I use salted butter?
You sure can. It will have a slightly salty taste, which a lot of people really enjoy in this frosting to balance the sweetness.
Heather says
Hi Lisa,
I am making a 12 in square Camo cake ( 4 colours). I was just wondering if I would have to double or triple this recipe to cover the whole cake.
I love the flavour of this frosting
It depends on how many layers the cake is. I think definitely double, but I’m not sure about triple.