• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Breads
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Contact/Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Frosting / Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    March 21, 2018 Updated February 12, 2020 BySam 454 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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
    4.98 from 239 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    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 unsalted butter softened to room temperature (226g)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups powdered sugar (375g)
    • 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Sprinkle salt over butter and stir again to combine.
    • Gradually, about ½ cup at a time, add powdered sugar, waiting until each cup is completely mixed before adding more.
    • 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.
    • Add vanilla extract and stir well.
    • 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!

     

    « Old Fashioned Easter Egg Candy
    Pinata Cupcakes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Samantha

      August 15, 2023 at 10:26 am

      This frosting is perfection! Not too sweet, with a beautiful hint of vanilla. Used this recipe in the cake push pops we made for our daughters baptism favors and guests started eating them during the party & raved about how much they loved the frosting!!

      Every recipe of Sam’s is well thought out and perfect. Anytime I need to bake something, I come to her site and it is alllways a hit!

      Reply
      • Nicci Sigs

        September 23, 2023 at 7:33 am

        I’ve been using this frosting recipe for about a year now and everyone loves it so much! This week I made birthday cupcakes for a work event (like we’re in elementary school again celebrating birthdays) and one of my supervisors, who is also an NC transplant from the Northeast, was so shocked. She said it reminded her of a bakery back in Jersey and said “I think I might cry”. I also used your white cake recipe! Best compliment ever all thanks to you.

        Reply
        • Sam

          September 23, 2023 at 7:44 pm

          Aw, I’m so happy to hear it’s been such a winner recipe for you, Nicci! Thank you so much for letting me know how you have enjoyed the recipe, I appreciate it. <3

    2. Lauren

      August 04, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Absolute perfection!

      Reply
    3. Christina Harrison

      July 31, 2023 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      Best vanilla frosting I have ever made. Not too sweet and delicious.

      Reply
    4. Sylvia Hankin

      July 17, 2023 at 4:58 pm

      Can I make flowers with this recipe

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        July 20, 2023 at 9:30 am

        Hi Sylvia! This icing pipes nicely, so you shouldn’t have any issue making flowers ☺️

        Reply
    5. Sam

      July 06, 2023 at 11:04 am

      Hi Sue! What went wrong? I just made this yesterday without issue and I’m happy to help troubleshoot.

      Reply
      • Sue

        July 06, 2023 at 11:37 am

        Hi Sam, sorry my comment was for the beetroot, red velvet cake. Just didn’t rise at all!

        Reply
        • Sam

          July 06, 2023 at 12:08 pm

          Oh, did you use my red velvet cake? I could help troubleshoot that, too. Mine does not use beetroot, though, so are you sure you are referring to one of my recipes?

    6. Catherine

      June 18, 2023 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely beautiful recipe- not too sweet at all, just perfect exactly as it is.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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.

    Fall Favorites

    Slice of pumpkin cake frosted with cream cheese frosting on a white plate.

    Pumpkin Cake

    fork piercing a cut section from a stack of thick and fluffy pumpkin pancakes

    Pumpkin Pancakes

    slice of homemade pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream on white plate

    Pumpkin Pie Recipe

    Two pumpkin snickerdoodles stacked on top of each other with the top cookie missing a bite.

    Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

    apple cake on white plate

    Apple Cake

    Pumpkin bar frosted with cream cheese frosting on a white plate.

    Pumpkin Bars

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    Slice of cheesecake

    The Best Cheesecake Recipe

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    Stack of cookies made from this chocolate chip cookie recipe with melty chocolate chips and a bite missing from the top cookie

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy|Accessibility Statement

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    © 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    • 42