This is my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting – fluffy, creamy, velvety, and not way too sweet. It’s the perfect buttercream icing recipe for cake decorating and cupcakes.
A good classic buttercream recipe is essential to have. It’s easy to add other flavors to it without losing its fluffy texture, like fruit jam, lemon curd, orange zest, dulce de leche, chocolate, and more. That’s why I tested more than 50 recipes in the last few years and I really think that this is the perfect buttercream icing recipe for cakes and cupcakes. All recipes use only a handful of ingredients, but the quantities differ from recipe to recipe. I consider buttercream to be a bit too sweet so I add a pinch of salt and lemon juice to cut down on some of that sweetness, and it really makes a difference. It’s still sweet though, just as it should be.
To make buttercream frosting that is light and fluffy, beat the frosting for several minutes. I use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. If you want an even lighter frosting, you can switch to the whisk attachment and whisk for a couple of minutes more.
To get a smooth frosting, sift the powdered sugar, and add it to the butter in 2 additions, beating well after each addition. Beat until the buttercream is fluffy and smooth, and stiff enough to pipe.
Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?
If you want to make the frosting ahead of time, store it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3-4 days. Before using, bring to room temperature and mix it up with a whisk or electric mixer.
If you’re making cupcakes, frosted cupcakes can be made one day ahead, covered, and stored at room temperature. It’s safe to keep it at room temperature because the butter and cream are stabilized by the large amount of sugar. If you intend to keep cupcakes or cake for longer than a day, store in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.
More Recipes:
- 1 cup (225 g/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted, plus more as needed
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and salt on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups powdered sugar and beat until combined, then add another 2 cups, and beat until completely smooth. Add cream, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat on high speed for 2 minutes until fluffy. Beat in more sugar as needed, until desired consistency (thick enough to pipe).
*Salt and lemon juice are added to cut sweetness and are optional. Depending on your personal taste, you can add more or leave out entirely.
71 Comments
Marta
March 5, 2016 at 11:37 pmI made this buttercream and it came out perfect for piping. I would like to use this recipe but with chocolate. Can I add cocoa if so how much?
Shiran
March 6, 2016 at 6:37 amHi Marta! For my favorite chocolate frosting click here. It’s a bit softer but also great for piping. If you still want to try using this recipe – add to it unsweetened cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate (and I suggest to also reduce the vanilla extract to 1/2 teaspoon and skip the lemon juice).
Jezenia
March 27, 2016 at 7:44 pmWill the lemon juice make the frosting tangy?
Shiran
March 28, 2016 at 4:06 amBoth salt and lemon juice are added to cut sweetness and are optional. You won’t be able to taste the lemon juice in the frosting.
Bea
April 24, 2016 at 4:16 pmI want to use this frosting recipe for a two layered cake, but I’m not sure if this quantity will be enough. Should I double the recipe?
Shiran
April 25, 2016 at 6:56 amYes, you should double the recipe 🙂
Yolanda
October 4, 2016 at 5:35 pmI will be trying this recipe tomorrow night with your chocolate cupcakes. I’m doing a test run for my son’s birthday party in two weeks. Do you have any other recipes where the frosting isn’t too sweet. I find buttercream way way too sweet so I’m excited to give this a try. Also, can cupcakes sit at room temperature once frosted with this?
Shiran
October 5, 2016 at 6:10 amHi Yolanda, classic buttercream is indeed sweet, but I add a bit of salt and lemon juice to cut down on some of the sweetness. My recipe for cream cheese frosting is a bit less sweet and tastes amazing if you prefer to try it.
Korina
December 19, 2016 at 8:00 pmhi just out of curiosity how do you get the little black specks in the icing ?
Shiran
December 21, 2016 at 8:00 amHi Korina, sometimes I use vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract. The seeds are these little specks.
Sydni
December 3, 2020 at 9:31 amHi – What would the substitute amount be for vanilla bean vs extract?
Shiran
December 6, 2020 at 6:27 amHi Sydni, it depends on the size of the vanilla bean. I usually use about 1/2 vanilla bean for 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
sydni
December 8, 2020 at 4:31 pmthanks! I made the vanilla cupcakes/buttercream this past weekend and found vanilla beans at whole foods. The jar gave teaspoon measurements for the size of the beans. The cake needed 1/3 of the bean and the frosting called for the rest, so used 1 bean total. It turned out soooo good! Def worth the price of the vanilla beans and could taste the difference, and loved the black specks!
Alyssa
April 12, 2017 at 9:38 pmShould I double the recipe if I’m making a 2 layer 8 inch round cake?
Shiran
April 14, 2017 at 6:40 amYes, you should double the ingredients.
Iqra Aslam
August 18, 2017 at 8:04 amHi Shiran
I am using your chocolate cake recipe to make a 3 layer 6inch cake. Would you recommend that I double or triple this recipe to fill and frost my cake?
Thank you! Love your recipes
Iqra x
Shiran
August 20, 2017 at 6:20 amThank you so much Iqra! I suggest to triple this recipe so you’ll have enough frosting. I hope you enjoy it!
Elena
October 26, 2017 at 4:48 pmHow long will this stay in the fridge….need to make a few days ahead for convenience
Shiran
October 29, 2017 at 6:41 amHi Elena, the frosting can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before using, bring it to room temperature and mix until smooth.
Jillian Dee
June 9, 2018 at 5:40 pmHi! I was curious as to how long this recipe could be frozen. I made it too soon and it’ll be a week until I need it
Shiran
June 10, 2018 at 7:58 amHi Jillian , cover it well and freeze it. Place it in the fridge the night before you want to use it, then place at room temperature for 1-2 hours until it’s at room temperature. Then whisk it well until smooth.
Lillian Leidner
June 24, 2018 at 4:28 amI’d like to try the vanilla buttercream with lemon juice , as I think mine is too sweet. How is it that you can add lemon with cream and it doesn’t curdle? Also, would this work in hot weather if I added some meringue powder?
Shiran
June 24, 2018 at 11:19 amHi Lillian, the frosting won’t curdle, it should be smooth and creamy. I haven’t tested it with meringue powder, but this frosting is quite stiff, and you can always add more powdered sugar (that’s why buttercream is sweet). I make these cupcakes in summer, and the frosting holds its shape well unrefrigerated. Just try to avoid direct heat or sunlight.
Chloe
July 31, 2018 at 2:56 amHello whay can i substitute for heavy cream? Thank you.
Shiran
July 31, 2018 at 6:22 amHeavy cream is my favorite, but you can use a bit of whole milk instead or leave it out completely.
Anne-Marie
October 26, 2018 at 9:01 amHi Shiran,
How many cupcakes can this recipe frost? I need to make 36 cupcakes.
Thanks!
Shiran
October 28, 2018 at 9:55 amHi Anne-Marie, it’s mentioned in the recipe. 16-24 cupcakes, depending on how much frosting you use.
Tilde
December 22, 2020 at 8:21 pmWhy isn’t my frosting white? It was slightly light buttery in color.
Lindsay
November 2, 2018 at 5:55 pmI just made this for pumpkin whoopie pie filling and it is wonderful! I did add cinnamon to it and it worked really well; I think this will be my new go to filling. Thank you for the recipe!
Antonio
November 13, 2018 at 10:34 pmHello Shiran
I am planing to make 24 cupcakes with buttercream frosting and use fondant to make some unicorn decorations for my friend kid ‘s birthday. The party is on Saturday but my friend wants to pick them up Friday at 6pm , now is it okay for the cupcakes to be in the refrigerator till the party starts?
Antonio
November 13, 2018 at 10:45 pmHi shiran
I am planing to make 24 cupcakes with buttercream frosting and some fondant unicorn decoration for my friend kid’s birthday party. The party is on Saturday but I am going to frost the cupcakes on Friday because she wants to pick them up on Friday night. My question is if is okay for her to keep the cupcakes in the refrigerator till the party starts?
Thank you, hope to hear from you
Shiran
November 17, 2018 at 1:39 pmHi Antonio, it’s ok to keep the cupcakes in the fridge for a day or two, but I recommend adding the fondant later (when they’re at room temperature), because it’s not recommended to keep fondant in the fridge. It will be ok if you’re adding it as a small decoration.
Tricia Poitras
December 6, 2018 at 10:34 pmHi Shiran,
I made Red Velvet cupcakes and Cream Cheese frosting last Sat but did not get to frost them. I would very much like to use the frosting that has been refrigerated. It would be 11 days surely cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar would last and be usable? Thank you
Shiran
December 9, 2018 at 11:15 amHi Tricia , the frosting will keep for 3 days in the fridge. If you want to keep it a while longer, you can freeze it, and then thaw it overnight in the fridge.
Jennifer
March 1, 2019 at 1:17 pmSo perfect! This recipe has become my go-to for all of my baking. Thank you!!
Marisa
April 30, 2019 at 10:59 pmHow much cupcakes can this recipe frost, i need 20 cupcakes
Mary
May 17, 2019 at 9:19 amI am going to make a 2 tier cake, 3 layers each. 6 in on top and 10 for bottom. It will be a naked cake. Should I triple it or more.
Chelsea
May 22, 2019 at 7:48 pmHey Shiran, I’m thinking about doing a bake sale and I’m wondering if I can add orange juice to the frosting to make it orange sickle flavored, will it make it too watery? Looks good!
Chantal
June 29, 2019 at 9:40 amI’ve used this recipe previously and it was amazing! I’ve since gone dairy free, do you have any experience substituting the dairy ingredients for non dairy?
Shiran
July 1, 2019 at 4:10 amI don’t 🙁 Sorry!
Raina Saul
October 10, 2020 at 3:03 pmHi Chantal, im vegan so i use earth balance for butter sub. I use a soy cream for the cream, but if you cant find that you could use coconut cream. Good luck!!
Sophia
July 7, 2019 at 2:45 pmGreat recipe! I made it as a present with the vanilla cupcakes and everybody loved it! Thank you!
Jenna
July 18, 2019 at 8:02 pmWhat is meant by “heavy cream”?
Maryam
April 30, 2020 at 5:25 amHeavy cream is also known as whipping cream or double cream.
Maryam
August 29, 2019 at 3:53 pmI made this basic frosting with the vanilla cupcakes and the frosting came out great! I changed it to lemon flavoured frosting by adding some lemon juice( more than what was written in the recipe). It was super easy to make!!
Lindsay Ramirez
May 4, 2020 at 10:15 pmI want to use this frosting and add strawberry jam of some sort and to put it on the cale so how woulf I augment the recipe?kmmoo
Allison
May 6, 2020 at 5:15 pmIncredible! I have been using the same American buttercream recipe for years and have been trying to make it less sweet tasting and the addition of the lemon juice had been the answer all along! This is now my new go-to for buttercream!
Joycelyn
June 24, 2020 at 1:53 pmHi Shiran ,
Im making sunflower cupcakes for a little girls 1st birthday ill be making about 30 of them on Sunday July 5th. Should i stick with making the buttercream and store it for 3 days? ive noticed that sometimes the fridge has melted away my store bought whipped frosting decor on previous cupcakes that i had to redo. Unless you have suggestions on how to make the buttercream stabilize or stiffer so it could last for that day im not sure if they will keep the cupcakes out or if they will place them in the fridge.
Shiran
June 29, 2020 at 2:25 amHi Joycelyn, you can store the buttercream in the fridge, that’s not a problem. Before using, bring it to room temperature, whisk it by hand until it’s creamy and then use it. This buttercream is stable and should keep well outside, but if the weather is humid, you can always add more powdered sugar to the recipe until the frosting is stiff as you wish.
Jill
July 18, 2020 at 12:14 amWow this came out great! The lemon juice gives it a cream cheese vibe and does a good job cutting the cloying sweetness of some buttercream. This amount filled my 16 woopie pies perfectly. Excellent recipe, thank you!
linda
July 31, 2020 at 4:37 pmHi Can I use cooking cream(35%) instead of heavy cream?
Shiran
August 20, 2020 at 5:45 am35% cream is great 🙂
Olivia Sweeney
August 2, 2020 at 7:35 pmHi, I used this recipe for cupcakes and I found that the frosting only tastes like the powdered sugar I used. It’s a very sweet and distinct flavor so I was wondering if you have a powdered sugar brand that you prefer to use. Thank you!
Shiran
August 24, 2020 at 2:31 amHi Olivia 🙂 I don’t have a specific brand that I use. Buttercream frosing is very sweet, and it should taste like butter and sugar. You can try to sift the powdered sugar twice to make sure it melts into the butter.
Kate
August 12, 2020 at 12:13 pmWhipping cream is same as heavy cream?
Shiran
August 20, 2020 at 5:35 amThey’re essentially the same thing, yes.
Ragan
August 23, 2020 at 1:38 pmThis frosting is wonderful if you don’t use a lot! It seems very sweet to me, but that could be because I haven’t been eating a lot of sugar lately 🙂
Do you have the “nutrition” facts for it?
Lisa
September 8, 2020 at 7:11 amI just had to write and say I dont really like buttercream frosting. But I made this recipe and I loved it! It tasted amazing! Melt in your mouth creamy and not sweet. Very pleasant. I’ll be making this for my kids birthday. Thank you ! :))
Esmu
October 7, 2020 at 12:43 pmAlthough still sweet, the icing wasn’t sickly sweet. Very creamy and smooth! (I reckon thanks to the cream. 😊)
I’ve been looking long and hard for a buttercream icing recipe that I really like. I think I found it. Thank you for sharing
Emily
June 28, 2021 at 7:51 pmIt was perfect! Very pipeable, held it’s shape well, and set nicely! I added a smidge of lemon juice and a pinch of salt and it wasn’t very sweet at all! I will say that at the last minute, I decided I needed more and didn’t have any more butter softened, so I added in a bit of shortening and extra powdered sugar. Oh, and I used vanilla bean paste to add a few specks!
Anna
July 7, 2021 at 2:00 pmExcellent, light and fluffy buttercream! I haven’t used lemon juice in buttercream before; but you couldn’t taste it which was good. It was a bit sweet for me so I’ll try a little more lemon juice next time.
great baker
July 23, 2021 at 12:31 amyum! best cupcakes ever so delicous
great baker
July 23, 2021 at 12:31 amreally
great baker
July 23, 2021 at 12:32 amyum! best recipe ever
Ryleigh
July 23, 2021 at 7:49 pmThis is the BEST vanilla buttercream recipe ever. For years I have been searching for a good recipe for piping that isn’t too sweet and I finally found the one! I’d give this 10/5 stars if I could!!
Iris Janga
October 17, 2021 at 4:46 pmHi ShIrani can I add strawberry or cherry extract to the recipe? If yes, how much?
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
October 21, 2021 at 10:27 amHi Iris, you can add any flavoring to this type of buttercream. I would start with a teaspoon and then add more depending on how strong you want the flavor.
Courtney
November 3, 2021 at 12:12 pmHi Shiran is buttercream good to use in macaroons.
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
November 7, 2021 at 10:35 amHi Courtney, yes buttercream makes a delicious filling for macarons!
Beverly Mae Nisbeth
November 24, 2021 at 6:52 amCan I make this a pourable glaze instead of a frosting?
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
November 24, 2021 at 10:57 pmHi Beverly, this frosting won’t work as a glaze. You can make an easy glaze using sifted powdered sugar and add a bit of milk to it until it is glaze-consistency. You could also look up recipes for chocolate glaze (or even white chocolate if you wanted to keep the white color).