How to Make Buttercream

Let’s learn how to make buttercream! If you’re a person who loves to bake, learning how to make buttercream is essential. This quick and easy buttercream recipe is tried and true, quick and easy, and incredibly delicious!Are you a frosting person?  Or a cake person?  Both, perhaps?

Frosting? Cake? Both?

I’m both — but, when it comes down to it, I’m going to be quite disappointed if I’m served a slice of cake that is absent of frosting. Or, even a slice of cake with too much cake and not enough frosting.

And to be perfectly honest, I’m the one who might have left the plate with some cake remnants and missing layers of frosting. (GASP!)

I think everyone who’s ever going to be baking cupcakes or cakes should know how to make buttercream. 

Vanilla Buttercream is a Great Base for Other Flavors

Here’s the deal: once you have a good buttercream recipe — it’s not only delicious as is, but can also be a base for a plethora of other flavors.

This super quick and easy buttercream recipe is as smooth as velvet and will absolutely melt in your mouth!

Make it today! It only takes five minutes. 

I try to always have some of this quick and easy buttercream recipe in the freezer because I use it for just about every cake or cupcake I make.

And learning how to make buttercream is simple!  And after you’ve made it a first time, every time thereafter will be second nature.

Changing the Flavor of  Vanilla Buttercream

• Milk Chocolate – Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder while adding the powdered sugar.
• Dark Chocolate – Fold in about 1/4 cup of melted and cooled, dark chocolate at the end of the mixing process.
• Nutella – Add 1/4 cup mid-way through adding the powdered sugar.
• Citrus – Add 1 tablespoon of finely grated zest at the end of the mixing process.
• Berry – Add about 1/4 cup macerated berries at the end of the mixing process.
• Espresso – Add 1½ tablespoons instant espresso powder when you add the powdered sugar.

The possibilities are endless.

The above measurements are approximate — you can experiment with them, adding more or less, depending on how strong you want the flavors to be. Be careful though, adding just a bit at a time, as the additions will change the consistency of the buttercream.

This Fresh Raspberry Cupcake recipe (pictured below) is one of my favorite uses for vanilla buttercream. Enjoy!

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Buttercream Recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

Let's learn how to make buttercream! If you're a person who loves to bake, learning how to make buttercream is essential. This quick and easy buttercream recipe is tried and true, quick and easy, and incredibly delicious!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: frosting recipes for cupcakes, great for cakes

Servings: 4 cups

Author: Valentina K. Wein

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Place butter in a very large mixing bowl, and add about half of the powdered sugar.
2. Use an electric mixer (or heavy wooden spoon) to mix until smooth.
3. Add the remaining sugar and blend until smooth.
4. Pour in the half and half and vanilla and beat for about 30 seconds -- it should be very smooth and spreadable.
5. At this point you can add color if desired.

Recipe Notes

If you want to add different flavors to the buttercream, you should add them along with the first round of powdered sugar.

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