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    Home

    Easy Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    February 17, 2023 by stylesweet 5 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This recipe for fluffy Whipped Buttercream Frosting is made with just 5 ingredients and is so easy to make. It's not super sweet, very creamy, and so versatile. Use it to ice your favorite cakes or pipe on top cupcakes.

    A perfect cupcake with swirled whipped buttercream frosting piped on top

    You will fall head-over-heals with this homemade frosting. Good-bye canned icing!

    At only 5 ingredients and nearly just as few minutes to make, this Whipped Buttercream Frosting recipe comes together quickly and easily. Use good vanilla extract here to make it lick-off-the-spoon delicious.

    What I love about this frosting is that you can use it for just about any dessert. It is stiff enough to pipe decorations or on top of cupcakes while still being smooth and creamy for filling or frosting cakes alike.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Tools and Equipment
    • How to Make Fluffy Whipped Buttercream Frosting
    • Substitutions
    • Variations for Whipped Buttercream Frosting
    • Storage
    • Steps for Making Whipped Buttercream Frosting
    • Top Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Pairing
    • Layer Cake 101
    • Recipe

    This biggest complaint about this American-style buttercream is that it is too sweet. Resist overloading this buttercream with powdered sugar and you're golden.

    Instead make sure the butter is soft and pliable without being too melted and make sure to whip long enough. When done, the buttercream should be lighter in color and density.

    Softened butter should be able to easily hold a fingerprint when lightly pressed. It should not feel greasy or be melted.

    Ingredients

    This easy frosting uses just 5 ingredients.

    5 ingredients to make easy whipped buttercream frosting
    • Unsalted butter - the butter should be soft and pliable but not greasy
    • Powdered sugar - sift the sugar is there are any clumps present
    • Heavy cream - this helps the frosting whip up, but it will still be fluffy with milk
    • Pure vanilla extract - since the ingredient list is so short, use the best vanilla you can spare
    • Kosher salt - a pinch of salt offsets the sweetness of the frosting

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Tools and Equipment

    • Electric mixer - I use a stand mixer, but a hand mixer should suffice
    • Rubber spatuala
    • Sieve - for sifting powdered sugar, as needed

    How to Make Fluffy Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    This frosting comes together in under 10 minutes. Make sure to keep mixing until it is light and fluffy!

    Softened butter mixed until creamy

    Start by mixing the butter by itself until smooth and creamy.

    powdered sugar added to mixed butter for frosting

    Begin adding in the remaining ingredients. Mix on low speed.

    the beginning stages of mixing buttercream

    Once the ingredients are combined, the buttercream is smooth but heavy and thick.

    Light and fluffy whipped buttercream frosting

    Whip the buttercream until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

    Hint: After the first stage of mixing, the whipped buttercream will look like frosting. Keep mixing to incorporate more air to make it fluffy and light.

    While the finished buttercream in the picture to the right looks like it has too many air pockets, it pipes exactly like the on this cupcake:

    A perfectly piped cupcake with vanilla frosting

    Too many air bubbles for a smooth cake? Stir vigorously with a stiff spatula or wooden spoon before icing cakes.

    Substitutions

    Milk - In a pinch, you can use regular milk instead of the cream with similar results.

    Variations for Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    Chocolate - Add 2 ounces melted and cooled chocolate plus 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder midway through the mixing process.

    Brown Butter - Swap half of the butter with browned butter that has been chilled until firm but flexible.

    Orange Cream - Replace half the cream with orange juice and add fresh orange zest.

    Storage

    The whipped buttercream frosting is best used immediately after making. If making in advance, store it at room temperature for up to 1 day. Rewhip or mix by hand until light and smooth.

    Frosting may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Allow it to come to room temperature before remixing.

    You may also freeze the frosting for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Steps for Making Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    • Mix the butter - use the paddle attachment on a stand mixer to smooth out the softened butter first.
    • Add the powdered sugar, half of the cream, vanilla, and salt - mix on low speed until everything combines
    • Let it whip! - Increase the speed and whip until light and fluffy
    • Add cream - if the buttercream is still too stiff, add the remaining cream and mix again
    • Smooth it out - stir the whipped buttercream with a wooden spoon or stiff spatula before icing cakes (optional)

    Top Tip

    If using to smoothly ice a cake, stir vigorously with a stiff spatula or wooden spoon to knock out any air bubbles. You want to whip the frosting for lightness, but do this extra step to make sure it glides on smoothly over the cake.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you freeze buttercream frosting?

    Yes! You can freeze buttercream for up to 3 months. The best way to do so is by making a 'pillow' of buttercream by wrapping it in plastic wrap. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bring to room temperature. Remix before use.

    What is the best way to thicken runny buttercream icing?

    Before you start adding too much powdered sugar, try putting soft buttercream in the refrigerator. The butter might have been too warm and chilling in the refrigerator may help it firm up.

    Why is my buttercream frosting grainy?

    Make sure to sift powdered sugar to remove any lumps before mixing. Allow enough time for the butter and sugar to whip together to help the sugar dissolve into the buttercream frosting.

    Pairing

    These are my favorite recipes that use whipped buttercream frosting:

    • Squares of sliced vanilla sheet cake with buttercream
      One Bowl Vanilla Cake
    • Vanilla cupcakes with homemade vanilla frosting and sprinkles
      Vanilla Cupcakes
    • Slices of butter cake with pink frosting
      The Best Vanilla Bean Cake
    • A three-layer sprinkle cake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow buttercream piped border
      Rainbow Sprinkle Cake

    Layer Cake 101

    New to cake decorating? Start here:

    How to Stack and Fill a Cake

    How to Ice a Cake

    Easy Textured Buttercream

    How to Make Beautiful Layer Cakes

    Buy my books! Layered and Icing on the Cake

    Please leave a star review if you loved this recipe! Make sure to share your recipes and tag me on Instagram @stylesweetdaily. 

    Recipe

    A cupcake with piped vanilla whipped buttercream frosting on top
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    This easy recipe for fluffy Whipped Buttercream Frosting comes together with just 5 ingredients and in under 10 minutes.
    Prep Time3 minutes mins
    Mixing Time4 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy frosting recipe, whipped buttercream frosting, Whipped Vanilla Frosting
    Servings: 18

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
    • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted as needed
    • 2 to 4 tablespoon heavy cream
    • 2 tea pure vanilla extract
    • pinch kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Using a stand (or hand) mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute.
    • Turn the mixer off and add the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of cream, vanilla, and salt. Begin mixing on low speed until the ingredients come together - scraping the bowl occasionally.
    • Turn up the speed and mix at medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until the buttercream is light, airy, and nearly white. If needed, add the additional cream until desired consistency is achieved. The buttercream should spread smoothly without tearing the crumb of the cake but thick enough that it holds shape when piped and spread between the layers.
    • If using to ice a smooth cake, vigorously stir with a wooden spoon or stiff spatula to knock out some of the air bubbles.
    « Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes
    How to Use the Creaming Method for Fluffy Cakes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christie

      April 05, 2023 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh this is the best frosting!! Always making from scratch from now on.

      Reply
    2. Chris P.

      June 13, 2023 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for a layer cake over the weekend and it was perfect. Thank you

      Reply
    3. Hannah Davis

      October 05, 2023 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely the best frosting I've ever had! Not too sweet. And perfectly smooth yet fluffy.

      Reply
    4. Nicole W.

      October 08, 2023 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      I never really liked this type of American buttercream before. It's usually way too sweet but this one is perfect. And so much easier than having to make a meringue buttercream. Highly recommend and will use again.

      Reply
    5. Ariana Dunam

      November 30, 2023 at 10:48 pm

      5 stars
      This has been my go-to frosting for the past couple months. It's so good! I made it with lemon cake and on red velvet cupcakes over the weekend.

      Reply

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    Tessa Huff

    Hi, I'm Tessa Huff! I am the cookbook author of Layered and Icing on the Cake. I bake, develop recipes, and photograph food from my home studio in North Vancouver, BC.

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