Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
This classic vanilla buttercream frosting is light, creamy, and beautifully fluffy with a smooth finish that’s easy to work with. It’s an everyday, dependable frosting that spreads easily and pipes cleanly, making it perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and simple celebrations at home. Made with basic pantry ingredients, this buttercream delivers rich vanilla flavor without being overly sweet — the kind of frosting you’ll come back to again and again.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Mix Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 cups
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened (not melted — think soft-serve ice cream)
- 3.5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- ¼ tsp table salt
- 1 TBSP vanilla extract
- ¼ cup heavy cream (half and half or whole milk can work in a pinch)
Instructions
- Add the softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for about 1 minute, until the butter is smooth and creamy.
- Stop the mixer and add the sifted powdered sugar. Mix on the lowest speed and mix just until the sugar is fully incorporated into the butter. The mixture will appear thick and slightly clumpy at this stage, which is expected.
- Increase the mixer speed to medium.
- Add the vanilla extract, salt, and heavy cream.
- Continue mixing for 2–3 minutes until the frosting becomes light, fluffy, and smooth.
- Adjust the consistency as needed – for a stiffer frosting, mix in additional powdered sugar. To thin the frosting, add more cream 1 TBSP at a time until the desired texture is reached.
Notes
This buttercream can be used immediately or stored for later use. Rewhip briefly before frosting if it has been refrigerated or frozen.