Super creamy and fluffy, not too sweet — this is quite possibly the BEST whipped buttercream frosting recipe ever... A must try!
Whipped Buttercream Frosting
Call me crazy, but I've never been much of a fan of frosting. More often than not, I scrape as much of it off my cupcake or slice of cake as possible — kids LOVE to sit next to me at parties!
But this whipped buttercream frosting? Oh, this buttercream frosting... I personally think it is THE best buttercream frosting recipe. EVER. And I don't take calling any recipe "the best" lightly.
Vanilla Whipped Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
Now I realize that there are really only so many ways to make buttercream frosting. A simple Google search yields thousands upon thousands of results.
But a truly delicious buttercream icing is as much about the technique, as it is about the ingredients. We'll talk technique in just a moment, but let's begin with the ingredients for this whipped buttercream (and there are just 4 of them!)...
Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients: softened salted butter, heavy whipping cream, pure vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar.
Yes, I did specify salted butter — I prefer to use salted butter in my buttercream icing recipe. However, you should note that the salt content can vary by brand of butter.
My all-time fave is the Horizon Organic brand, but the Kirkland organic butter from Costco is an excellent option, as well. In fact, I strongly suspect that it may actually BE the Horizon brand repackaged for bulk sale. Feel free to experiment to find your favorite, though!
Don't have salted butter on hand? As an alternative, you can also use unsalted butter and add about ⅛ teaspoon of table salt to the recipe.
Also, I stay away from adding shortening. Sure, it's useful for helping the buttercream frosting hold its shape better in warm weather. But I find it creates an oily texture and dilutes the flavor. NOT what we want in a dreamy, fluffy buttercream!
How To Make Whipped Cream Buttercream Frosting
Now we get to the technique... Whipped buttercream is the name of the game — super creamy & fluffy and not too sweet!
The key to what I consider the best whipped buttercream frosting recipe ever starts with perfectly softened butter. We're not talking room temperature, but you should be able to leave an impression in it fairly easily.
Allow plenty of time for it to reach this consistency, especially in cooler weather. And whatever you do, please do not use the microwave to soften it — 99.9% of the time it will get too soft, and it's impossible to recover it at that point.
Easy Whipped Buttercream Frosting In 4 Steps
Follow these four simple steps to produce a delicious homemade buttercream icing:
Whip Butter
Add your softened butter to a stand mixer and beat it with a flat paddle for about three minutes on medium.
Add Powdered Sugar
Turn the mixer off and add the confectioners' sugar. Mix on low until thoroughly incorporated.
Add Vanilla Extract & Cream
When the butter and confectioners' sugar start to create a dough-like ball, you can add the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Whip on medium-high for about three minutes.
Adjust Consistency
Continue to add more heavy cream by the tablespoon until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Less cream equals thicker frosting and more cream creates a thinner frosting.
Voila! Is this an easy buttercream frosting recipe, or what?! If you've ever wanted to learn how to make whipped icing like Walmart, this is as close as you can get — but BETTER, in my opinion!!!
Best Buttercream Frosting
For a batch of frosting that's the consistency of what's shown in these photos, I used a total of 4 tablespoons of cream. It was super creamy and fluffy, the perfect consistency for piping with a large tip onto my cupcakes.
Printable Recipe ↓
Best Whipped Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter 2 sticks, softened
- 4 cups confectioners sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3-5 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Using a paddle beater, beat the softened butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until it's a pale yellow color.
- Add sifted confectioners' sugar and stir on low until incorporated.
- Add pure vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat on medium-high for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape the sides once or twice.
- If a thinner frosting is desired, add additional heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Recipe Notes
Featured Products
Whipped Buttercream Icing Recipe Variations
I've had a number of requests for variations on this whipped buttercream frosting recipe, so I thought I'd start listing them here for easy access as I publish them. If you have a request, please contact me or leave a comment below!
- Caramel Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
- Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
- Lemon Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
- Coconut Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
- Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
- Almond Buttercream Frosting — coming soon!
Above all, have fun with this recipe!
One last note — I used regular pure vanilla extract in this batch, which is why the frosting has a creamy color to it. If you prefer a truer white buttercream, you'll want to look for clear vanilla extract.
Ridiculously Easy Royal Icing Recipe
Looking for a stiffer icing for your sugar cookies? Try this ridiculously easy royal icing recipe! No egg whites, no meringue powder, just four ingredients whipped up with a hand or stand mixer, means you can get down to decorating cookies with your kids with less mess and fuss…
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your whipped buttercream frosting turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Stephanie says
I made this for my grandma's birthday on her chocolate cake. She loves buttercream, so I figured I'd try the best recipe, instead of my own. This was not liked, ppl were scraping this off the cake. Some ppl might like it, but unfortunately it's not the best buttercream as described. Long time baker, never been embarrassed by any of my cakes until this one.
Jodi says
I made it with 3 cups of sugar/2 sticks of butter/4 1/2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
JJ Wells says
This was a perfect recipe. we got to the same taste we were looking for, so it wasn’t that insanely sweet and thick frosting.
charlotte says
Even at half sugar it's way way way too sweet...that amount of sugar is a bit overboard.
Brittany says
How long do you bake a 6 in cake
Tara Kuczykowski says
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-35 minutes.
Lindsey P. says
So far this has been my favorite buttercream recipe!! Thank you!!
Also, how long is this good for at room temp, fridge, or freezer? Thanks in advance!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Lindsey — so happy you love it! Buttercream should last about 2-3 days at cool room temperature. It will last about 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. And in an airtight container the freezer, buttercream will last about 3 months.
Gail S.Lww says
The frosting had a good flavor but was much too sweet for my taste
I will make it again but will 7se half the sugar.
Kara says
Hi Tara, thank you so much for this amazing recipe I was really happy with how it turned out.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yay, I’m so happy to hear this, Kara!!
Karren says
Hi is this recipe stable enough to frost an 8inch tall cake tia x
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Karren! The amount of frosting you'll need for that size cake will vary a bit, depending on the shape, size, and number of layers. For an 8-inch layer cake, you'll need about 6 cups of frosting, so I would recommend doubling this recipe.
Colleen says
Hi, can I frost a cake the night before and leave out at room temperature, or does this need to be refrigerated? Thank you!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Colleen! The sugar in this recipe acts as a natural preservative, so if you'd like to leave it out at room temperature overnight, you can do so. I should say it will be fine as long as your home is not overly warm, which I'm assuming it's not in March.
Terrie says
YUM! I doubled the batch and used 1/2 T of marshmallow flavor and 1 1/2 T of vanilla. I also added white food gel but it's still beige. Goes great with my chocolate cupcakes. I just want to squirt it in my mouth from the piping bag!! So yummy and not overly sweet.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Ooh, the marshmallow flavoring sounds amazing! Definitely going to try that.
Cheryl says
Is it okay to triple the buttercream recipe?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Cheryl — if you have a large enough mixer, you can definitely triple it!
Jennifer Hoeksema says
Can you add food processed Oreos to make it Oreo flavored?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Jennifer! Yes, I don't see why you couldn't add crushed Oreos. Sounds delish!!
Diamond Lucero says
Can I add food coloring to this frosting?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can add food coloring! For best results, I'd recommend using gel paste food coloring.
Fawn says
Can this be done with a regular hand held mixer ? I don’t have one of the fancy mixers.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Fawn — yes, you can use a regular handheld mixer! It just require a little more muscle. Follow the same instructions and whip until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Leslie says
If you don’t have a paddle attachment for your stand mixer will regular beaters work?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Leslie! Yes, regular beaters will work, too — they just may take a little longer. Just keep whipping until it's light and fluffy!
Mai says
Hey, I've been trying to look for the right recipe to make frosting for cupcakes. is this recipe more on the sweet side or neutral? my family really likes it when the sweetness of the cupcake and the frosting balances. Please let me know!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Mai! This recipe is creamy, fluffy, and not super sweet. If you've ever had Walmart's non-dairy whipped icing, it's very similar in texture and flavor.
Meghan longua says
I'm only 16 and wanted a really easy recipe because I don't bake much. This was super easy and very good. I did not have whipping cream, but I used 4 tbsp of milk and it still worked great.
Julie says
I tried this recipe because the author said she never really liked frosting, but loved this stuff. One T. of vanilla sounded like a lot, but I thought I better stick to the recipe. OH. MY. GOSH. Two people asked for the recipe, and my daughter the frosting lover said this was the best cake she’d ever had (due to the frosting). This will be my forever go-to for frosting!!!
Teri says
I used this recipe but used 1 tea of vanilla and 1 tea of almond extract. It was amazing.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Glad you liked it, Teri! I agree, a little almond extract gives it a unique bakery-style flavor.
Miranda says
Hello! Just wondering if this buttercream gets a hard crust like traditional American buttercream :)
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Miranda! Yes, it will develop a crust after being exposed to the air.
Cate says
Would this work with a hand mixer?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can definitely make this buttercream with a hand mixer, Cate! It just may take slightly longer to whip.
Betty H says
Can you make the icing ahead and just keep in refrigerator until ready ice the cupcakes?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can do that, Betty! I would just cover it with plastic wrap pressed down all the way on top of the frosting to prevent it from forming a crust.
Kristin says
I typically make Swiss meringue buttercream but it doesn't give me vibrant colors. How well does this frosting color? I'm trying to find a frosting not too sweet but holds color amazing.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Kristin! I’ve always been pleased with the colors. I’d recommend using a gel food coloring for best results.
Taylor W. says
Looks SO easy and delicious! Need to try ASAP!
Anne says
I have not made buttercream frosting in a long time. After seeing this I think I'm going to give it a try!
Valentina says
I don't know if I'd even been able to get this on cupcakes or a cake without devouring it all with a spoon first. ;-) Seriously, the texture and flavor of this buttercream is dreamy!
Mary says
I love that this buttercream balances the sweetness. I've never been a fan of frosting that's too sweet!
Emily Hill says
I seriously love a good buttercream frosting, and while I have my own favorite recipe, I'm totally going to try this one!
Jill says
Not too sweet and a buttercream using SALTED butter? I like your style!!! Totally going to try this recipe for whipped buttercream frosting!
Taylor Kiser says
This buttercream frosting looks perfect! Love that it's not overpoweringly sweet.
Jenn says
I love that I can make an epic frosting with just 4 ingredients! Its so easy to make too!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I love this recipe I use it for different treats including cakes and everyone love it!
Kristyn says
Buttercream frosting is the best!! I love it on anything!! Thank you for sharing!
Jocelyn says
This frosting always turns out so light and fluffy! It's perfect for cakes and cupcakes!
Rachael Yerkes says
This Buttercream frosting is fantastic! Love it!
Jamielyn says
This looks like the perfect buttercream frosting recipe! Yum!
Lori says
Beautiful, perfect recipe!