Vanilla buttercream is my favorite frosting because it's easy, delicious, and versatile. You'll love how quickly you can whip up batches of this frosting for cupcake decorating or cake filling. This is the perfect buttercream frosting.
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One whole year of Frosting Friday! I started Frosting Friday because I noticed frosting videos did really well on social media…almost 52 frosting posts, and I’ve never posted a classic vanilla homemade buttercream frosting.
I can't believe I've never posted a classic vanilla buttercream recipe. It's a staple in any baker's kitchen. Fluffy vanilla buttercream is the base for so many different frosting flavor combinations. Vanilla buttercream can easily turn into chocolate vanilla buttercream, pink vanilla buttercream, or any combination of flavors.
This fluffy classic vanilla buttercream recipe is easy, delicious, and holds its shape on cookies, cakes, and cupcakes.
Jump to:
- Ingredients for Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- How to Make Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Equipment I Use + Love for Frosting Recipes
- How to Store Vanilla Buttercream
- Vanilla Buttercream Ingredient Substitutions
- Vanilla Buttercream Variations
- Buttercream Air Bubbles
- Food Coloring + Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top tip
- Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (no egg)
Ingredients for Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Powdered Sugar: is essential for all buttercream recipes. You cannot substitute powdered sugar with granulated sugar in buttercream frosting recipes. It just won't work.
- Heavy Cream: I like to use heavy cream because it makes the frosting taste extra creamy, but cold water or milk (whole, skim, 2%) will work as well. If you don't have heavy cream, try to use milk instead of water.
- Vanilla Extract: necessary for any vanilla buttercream frosting recipe. You may substitute with a vanilla bean or almond extract. A vanilla bean will leave little flakes of vanilla in the buttercream frosting.
- Unsalted Butter: you can't make buttercream without butter! Make sure it's completely softened to make the best buttercream. See my post about why butter can be good for you HERE.
- Salt: I always use Redmond's Real Salt in my recipes.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Fit an electric handheld mixer or standing mixer with the whisk attachment. If using a handheld mixer, grab a large bowl. If using a standing mixer, fit the equipment with a large metal or glass bowl.
Add the softened butter to the bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. This takes about three minutes. Scrap down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Add half the powdered sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and salt and beat slowly until the ingredients are semi-combined. Turn up the speed to medium and beat until creamy.
Add the other half of the powdered sugar and mix on medium speed. If the mixture is too thick, add a teaspoon more cream. If the mixture is too thin, add ½ cup powdered sugar.
Continue until you get the desired consistency. Once the buttercream consistency looks good, stop whipping.
Hint: Careful not to overwhip the buttercream because that will create air bubbles.
Equipment I Use + Love for Frosting Recipes
- Piping Bag + Tips Set - this set is great for beginners and very affordable.
- Glass mixing bowls - are a great alternative to plastic mixing bowls that can be toxic.
- Spatula: I love this spatula because it's very sturdy.
- Electric Mixer - this one is such a pretty blue color!
How to Store Vanilla Buttercream
You can make buttercream frosting up to two days in advance. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Before using, bring it to room temperature and give it a mix before frosting cookies, etc.
You can also freeze buttercream! Store it in a freezer-safe airtight container or plastic bag for up to three months. Thaw it on the kitchen counter completely before using it. You may need to give it a whip with an electric mixer to make it fluffy again.
Vanilla Buttercream Ingredient Substitutions
- Vanilla Extract - you may use a vanilla bean instead for a more concentrated vanilla flavor. Or, use vanilla bean paste instead.
- Salt - you don't need to add salt, but I think it brings out the sweet vanilla flavor.
Vanilla Buttercream Variations
- Almond - add 1 teaspoon of almond extract to make almond vanilla buttercream frosting.
- Chocolate - add ¼ cup cocoa powder to make chocolate vanilla buttercream frosting.
Check out my strawberry meringue buttercream frosting recipe HERE.
Buttercream Air Bubbles
The key is to avoid overmixing the frosting. If the buttercream is overwhipped, which is easy to do when using an electric mixer, you will end up with air bubbles. It also helps to have completely softened butter.
Food Coloring + Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Food coloring can give vanilla buttercream an extra something special. If you are gluten-free and looking for gluten-free food coloring, try this brand. This is the brand I use frequently. The colors are concentrated and always look beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to know when the butter has been whipped enough is to examine the buttercream. If there are still lumps in the butter, then it needs to be whipped more. If the butter is smooth and creamy, you have whipped it enough.
It's so creamy and delicious, but it also holds its shape well. That's very important for buttercream.
Vanilla buttercream is made of vanilla extract or vanilla bean, powdered sugar, heavy cream or milk, unsalted butter, and salt. It is the base for many other buttercream frosting flavors.
I love using this vanilla buttercream frosting on vanilla cupcakes because it holds its shape well. Try using the frosting on my chocolate strawberry cupcakes.
Absolutely! Sometimes a paddle attachment with a built-in scraper is the easiest thing to use. I use both a whisk attachment and a paddle attachment depending on which one is clean.
Top tip
The best way to know when the butter has been whipped enough is to examine the buttercream. If there are still lumps in the butter, then it needs to be whipped more. If the butter is smooth and creamy, you have whipped it enough.
Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (no egg)
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Fit an electric handheld mixer or standing mixer with the whisk attachment. If using a handheld mixer, grab a large bowl. If using a standing mixer, fit the equipment with a large metal or glass bowl.
- Add the softened butter to the bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. This takes about three minutes. Scrap down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Add half the powdered sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and salt and beat slowly until the ingredients are semi-combined. Turn up the speed to medium and beat until creamy.
- Add the other half of the powdered sugar and mix on medium speed. If the mixture is too thick, add a teaspoon more cream. If the mixture is too thin, add ½ cup powdered sugar.
- Continue until you get the desired consistency. Once the buttercream consistency looks good, stop whipping.
Notes
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok or by subscribing to my newsletter.
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