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    Home » Recipes » Frosting

    Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    March 21, 2018 Updated February 12, 2020 BySam Merritt 560 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    A simple, 5 ingredient recipe for Vanilla Frosting.  Use it to top off your favorite cake or cupcake recipe.  This recipe generously tops 12 cupcakes, modestly covers 24, or will cover an 8″ or 9″ layer cake or 9×13 sheet cake.

    Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    Happy Spring!  Does it look like Spring where you are, yet? Because yesterday/the first day of “Spring” was also the beginning of the first big snowstorm we’ve had all year.

    My car is buried beneath half a foot of snow, Zach is taking a snow day because none of the roads are plowed, and eventually one of us is going to have to break down and actually go outside to shovel out our driveway, so despite what the calendar might say it doesn’t exactly feel Spring-y around here!

    Fortunately, snow days make for perfect baking days, and today I plan on baking myself a batch of from-scratch chocolate cupcakes and topping them off with today’s recipe for vanilla frosting.

    Vanilla frosting on a chocolate cupcake

    And sprinkles too, of course.

    Today’s recipe is simple to make and is a staple icing recipe that every home baker or cake decorator should have on hand.  It’s easily pipeable and does a great job of holding its shape, is easy to customize with different extracts (though I always reach for the vanilla), and does well under fondant.

    It’s also incredibly hard to mess up, if your frosting becomes too thin you simply add more sugar, and if it’s too stiff an extra splash of heavy cream or even milk will work.   Let’s go over a few frequently asked questions that I get about making vanilla buttercream.

    The 5 ingredients needed to make vanilla buttercream

    How long can I store vanilla frosting?

    You can make vanilla frosting in advance and store it for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.  It will firm u when cold, so let it soften at room temperature a bit before piping or spreading on to your cake.

    Can I leave vanilla buttercream frosting at room temperature?

    Yes! There is heavy cream in this recipe, but it is stabilized by the generous amount of sugar that we are using.  You can frost your cake or cupcakes with this frosting and it will be good for 2-3 days at room temperature (it will keep longer in the refrigerator, for about 1-2 weeks).

    What goes well with vanilla frosting?

    I’ve tried it and loved it on my funfetti cake (check out those colorful decorations — all of them made with this same recipe!), chocolate cake, chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla cake, just to name a few!

    Vanilla frosting piped onto a cupcake with colorful swirls

    I have a new-ish cupcake (pictured above) that I’m excited to share with you on Friday, and I’ll  also be showing you how to add the neat colorful swirls to your frosting (it’s easy, you just need a small paintbrush).

    Enjoy!

    If vanilla buttercream isn’t quite your thing, be sure to check out my less sweet chocolate frosting or cream cheese frosting, instead!

    How to Make Vanilla Frosting

    Vanilla frosting on cupcake

    Vanilla Frosting

    A classic vanilla buttercream frosting recipe
    4.95 from 314 votes
    Print Pin Rate
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    Course: Frosting
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 generously iced cupcakes
    Calories: 266kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
    • 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Sprinkle salt over butter and stir again to combine.
      1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature, ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Gradually, about ½ cup at a time, add powdered sugar, waiting until each cup is completely mixed before adding more.
      3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
    • With mixer on medium-low speed, add the heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time. Once ingredients are well incorporated, gradually increase speed to high and beat for about 30 seconds.
      3 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • Add vanilla extract and stir well.
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cupcakes. Top with sprinkles, if desired. This frosting will be fine at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated in an airtight container for about a week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/12th | Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 8mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 528IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen

      May 25, 2025 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe with my grandchildren and we all loved it!Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Abby

      May 23, 2025 at 1:23 pm

      If i don’t have an electric mixer can i make this by hand and have the same turnout?

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 23, 2025 at 4:31 pm

        Hi Abby! It may not whip quite as nicely and it could be quite an arm workout, but I think it could be done. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Taylah Loftus

      May 11, 2025 at 7:27 pm

      1 star
      literally nasty aftertaste is CRAZYYY

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 11, 2025 at 9:24 pm

        Hi Taylah! That’s quite an odd experience. Did you make any adjustments or substitutions? Was your butter bad?

        Reply
        • Erin

          May 15, 2025 at 5:43 pm

          Were any of your ingredients stored in the freezer? Freezer burn can add a bad flavor to otherwise fine materials like flour or sugar.

      • Leslie Lennon

        May 23, 2025 at 6:19 pm

        The after taste could be the brand powdered sugar. I have had some nasty tasting store brand powdered sugar. I have luck with Domino Brand.

        Reply
    4. Mel

      April 29, 2025 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for my niece’s birthday cake and got close to a dozen compliments. it’s fantastic.

      Reply
      • Morgan Miller

        May 13, 2025 at 5:23 pm

        5 stars
        Guuurrrlll! Sam THANK YOU! Lol. Super simple and sooo good! I was looking up icing recipes in a hurry because I was last minute shopping and forgot the store bought for my cake (mother’s day cake)! All of the other times I’ve tried making my own, it wasn’t pretty, or it was pretty but totally “EEEWW”. This 5 ingredient recipe had me scared but it totally saved me and my mother loved it!! There’s no way you could mess it up!…Unless you’re “Taylah Loftus”, but a person who’s gonna leave a comment like that probably used flour as a substitute for sugar. Thanks again. I appreciate you. ✨🧁✨

        Reply
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    4.95 from 314 votes (185 ratings without comment)

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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