This is the best homemade vanilla frosting recipe! Learn how to make the perfect buttercream frosting for all your favorite cakes. Pipe it onto cupcakes, slather it over a sheet cake or scoop it up with cookies.
Confession: sometimes I make a batch of cupcakes just for an excuse to eat frosting! If you love citrus, my Lemon Buttercream Frosting is for you.
Why this Vanilla Frosting is Best
If you learn to make just ONE frosting flavor in your life, make it this one: classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
I’m such a cake and frosting girl, and this is my go-to homemade frosting recipe!
- Made with real vanilla for rich flavor.
- Four simple ingredients.
- Whipped to fluffy perfection!
- The most versatile frosting you can make. Enjoy it on my vanilla sheet cake, chocolate cupcakes, and even this dark chocolate cake recipe!
Just 4 Ingredients For Buttercream
- Vanilla extract. Always use real vanilla extract, as opposed to imitation flavoring. You can even make your own vanilla extract at home for an even richer flavor.
- Milk. I use whole milk, but any kind of milk or cream will do.
- Powdered sugar. Also referred to as confectioner’s sugar.
- Butter. Choose unsalted butter for best results.
That is all you need to make homemade frosting. Four easy ingredients to perfect frosting!
Pairings for Vanilla Frosting Recipes
The beautiful thing about vanilla frosting (besides how great it tastes) is that it complements so many other flavors. Just about everyone loves vanilla, whether it’s a main flavor or a complementary touch.
Once this frosting recipe is in your repertoire you’ll want to put it on everything in site!
- Cake. Add it to a classic chocolate cake for a black and white treat. You’ll love this frosting for layer cakes!
- Cupcakes. Make some dreamy Vanilla Bean Cupcakes for vanilla cake lover’s heaven. Pumpkin Cupcakes are tasty too with vanilla flavored buttercream . Holds its shape well too!
- Cookies. Spread a thick layer of vanilla frosting on your Chewy Sugar Cookies then add a few sprinkles for a pop of color.
- Cake Balls. Whip up a boxed cake mix and a batch of this frosting to make the best cake balls.
Tips for Perfect Frosting
- Vanilla bean variation. Using whole vanilla beans in place of the vanilla extract adds a fresh, aromatic dimension to the vanilla frosting. Simply cut open a vanilla bean pod, scrape out the seeds and add to the frosting in place of the vanilla extract.
- Don’t throw away the vanilla bean pod. Use to to make a batch of Vanilla Sugar for using in all your dessert recipes.
- Cupcakes. This frosting is the perfect consistency for piping on cupcakes. Want it thicker or thinner? Change the amount of milk.
- Food Coloring. Want to color the frosting for a holiday or special occasion? I recommend using gel food coloring, as it tends to not have any flavor and a little goes a long way!
- Yield- This recipe yields enough vanilla buttercream to frost about 24 cupcakes or a 2-layer cake generously. Double this recipe for a lot of leftover frosting.
- Storage- Keep vanilla frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When you’re ready to use it, let the frosting sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to let it soften.
- Freeze- Vanilla buttercream frosting freezes well. Keep it in a freezer bag frozen for up to 3 months. Let frozen buttercream thaw in the fridge overnight before using. You’ll also want to let it soften at room temperature before piping it onto your cupcakes or cakes.
Easy Cake Recipes
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Vanilla Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- For the frosting, beat butter for 3-4 minutes until pale in color.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Beat an additional 3-4 minutes until fluffy and smooth!
Notes
- Vanilla bean variation. Using whole vanilla beans in place of the vanilla extract adds a fresh, aromatic dimension to the vanilla frosting.
- YIELD: This recipe yields enough vanilla buttercream to frost about 24 cupcakes or a 2-layer cake generously. Feel free to double this recipe if you want a lot of leftover frosting.
- STORAGE: Keep vanilla frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When you’re ready to use it, let the frosting sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to let it soften. Once piped onto a cupcake it does NOT need to be refrigerated.
- Cupcakes. This frosting is the perfect consistency for piping on cupcakes. Want it thicker or thinner? Change the amount of milk.
- Food Coloring. Want to color the frosting for a holiday or special occasion? I recommend using gel food coloring, as it tends to not have any flavor and a little goes a long way!
Nutrition
More Frosting Recipes
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Lemon Whipped Cream Frosting
- Salted Caramel Swiss Meringue Frosting
- Sugar Cookie Frosting
- Sour Cream Frosting
A good vanilla frosting recipe is a baker’s best friend. This simple frosting is rich, creamy proof that vanilla is anything but boring!
This is one of the best frostings I’ve tried 🙂
This is SO yummy!!!I I love it so much!!!!
I make this frosting all the time, also for chocolate you use the same & I add herseys chocolate to taste!! Always delicious
I just made this icing for my granddaughter’s 3 b day party, it’s amazing! So, so easy and she approved it!
It’s light, fluffy, and delicious! I would definitely make this again!!
Oh my gosh, I completely spaced at the store and forgot the frosting. Sunday night and the store closed in 5 minutes, I found this recipe and it…was…perfect for my 4th of July Flag cake!! (I just happened to have an over abundance of confectioners sugar, so this recipe did double duty!)
Thank you!
Is there anything that I need to change for if I am frosting a 6 by 6 cake?
6 inches by 6 inches that is. 🙂
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk?
You sure can.
Comes out nice an creamy if you do, though I found you will want to use an extra 2 or so tablespoons if you do since it doesn’t thin the frosting nearly as much as milk does.
My family and I just used this recipe to make frosting for cupcakes and cake and it came out sooooo delicious 😋😋😋 Thank you, Thank you, thank you!
Are you sure the recipe calls for 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar? I followed the recipe and had to as much much more milk to get it creamy. The yield of frosting was huge! I read and re-read the ingredients and used exactly The amount and it was way too thick.
Do you heat the butter using a double boiler
I just threw the sticks of butter on a plate and microwaved it in 10 second intervals until it was suitably softened?