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5.0 from 6 votes

How To Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

This sweet and simple vanilla buttercream frosting is easy to whip up and pipes beautifully. It's the perfect frosting to top cakes and cupcakes.

Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 48
Calories: 75 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup butter (use ALL shortening for pure white icing and stiffer consitency. I used all shortening in the pictures above to make it pure white. Read notes above.)
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted (appx 1 pound)
  • 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cream shortening and butter in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment at medium speed.
  2. Add vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar about a cup at a time and mix well. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl often. Add milk or cream and beat until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar to thicken and milk or cream to thin.
  3. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Re-whip before using. Makes 3 cups.

Notes

  • Use a stand mixer with the whisk or paddle attachment (an electric mixer can also be used if necessary) to mix your frosting.
  • Use clear vanilla. Brown vanilla will make it difficult when using food coloring because it tints the frosting. Clear vanilla will allow for truer, bright colors. 
  • Sift the powdered sugar. If you want smooth, creamy frosting without clumps, then sift the sugar before adding to the bowl. It's worth it to take a few extra seconds to do this.
  • Gel food coloring is the best for coloring frosting. Be sure to use the good kind from a craft store or a crafting department. Watery food colors are not the best because they mess with your consistency and they are tough for color matching. 
  • Go for consistency. This recipe can vary depending on your climate, humidity, air temperature... etc. so it is best to go for consistency of the frosting instead of recipe exactness. Add more powdered sugar a little at a time to thicken or a LITTLE milk (just about a teaspoon at a time) to thin. 
  • Scrape the bowl. Because sugar can get easily stuck on the sides of the bowl, it's a good idea to scrape the sides of your bowl as you mix. This will help avoid getting clumps of dry sugar and inconsistencies throughout your frosting. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 75kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 5mg (2%) Sodium 17mg (1%) Potassium 1mg (0%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 59IU (1%) Calcium 1mg (0%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 48Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 75

% Daily Value*

Calories 75kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 17mg 1%
Potassium 1mg 0%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 59IU 1%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.