How to Make Buttercream Frosting

Co-authored by Mathew Rice

Last Updated: October 20, 2022 References Approved

Buttercream frosting is a rich, delectable topping for cakes. Its melt-in-your-mouth flavor and versatile consistency makes it the perfect frosting to use on birthday cakes, cupcakes, fairy-cakes and the like. This article will show you a couple of ways in which to make buttercream frosting. It will also give you some ideas on how to add more flavor to your frosting.

Ingredients

Basic Buttercream^{[1]
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3 cups (375 grams) confectioners' sugar
1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1 – 2 tablespoons whipping cream, milk, or half-and-half
Pinch of salt (optional)

Chocolate Buttercream Icing^{[2]
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2 cups (450 grams) unsalted butter
12 ounces (350 grams) semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons milk
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups (625 grams) confectioners' sugar

Meringue Buttercream^{[3]
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½ cup egg whites (about 4 large eggs)
1 ¼ cups (280 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter
Pinch of salt (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making Basic Buttercream

1
Cut softened butter into cubes and put it into a bowl. Cutting the butter smaller will make it easier to mix.
2
Beat the butter at low speed for at least 5 minutes until it is light and fluffy, has reached a much lighter color (near white) and has doubled in size. You can use a handheld beater, an electric mixer, or a food processor with a whisk attachment.

EXPERT TIP

Mathew Rice
Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer
Mathew Rice has worked in restaurant pastry kitchens across the country since the late 1990's, and currently owns Pink Door Cookies in Nashville. His creations have been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and Martha Stewart Weddings. In 2016, Eater named Mathew one of the top 18 chefs to follow on Instagram. In 2018, he appeared in season 18 of the Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay and won his episode.

Mathew Rice
Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer

To get smoother icing:

Mathew Rice, pastry chef, advises: "You always want to start out with room temperature fat, whether you’re using butter or shortening or a mixture of the two. Usually what I like to do is whip the fat for a really long time by itself in the mixer just to get it very airy."

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3
Add half of the sugar and mix it into the butter. You will be adding the rest of the sugar later; adding the sugar a small amount at a time will help prevent it from flying out everywhere.
4
Add the rest of the ingredients and continue mixing at a low speed. Adding only 1 teaspoon of milk or cream will make the frosting more stiff and is perfect for designing using a frosting tip but if you prefer a more loose and 'spreadable' butter cream you can opt for 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml). If you're still uncertain with the amount of milk or cream to add, you can just add 1/2 a teaspoon first to check. You can also substitute the vanilla extract for 1 teaspoon of a different flavor. For more ideas, click here. For a lighter buttercream, consider using milk instead of whipping cream.
- If you would like to make your buttercream less sweet, then add a pinch of salt.
5
Consider adding some coloring. You can leave the buttercream plain, or you can make it coloring by adding a few drops of food coloring or gel icing coloring. Keep in mind that some flavorings, such as cocoa powder, will already tint the icing darker, so the coloring will not show up.
6
Add the rest of the sugar and beat the icing again using a high speed setting. This will give you frosting that is light and fluffy. You will need to beat it for about two to three minutes.
- If the cream is too thick, add some more cream, milk, or half-and-half. Start with one tablespoon, mix, then add more if necessary.^{[4]
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- If the cream is too thin, add a little bit more confectioner's sugar
7
Store or serve the buttercream. At this point, you can spread the buttercream over a cake or some cupcakes, or you can store it in a plastic Ziploc bag or an airtight container until you are ready to use it.
- Buttercream will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.^{[5]
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- Cakes and cupcakes frosted with buttercream will stay fresh for 3 days.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Chocolate Buttercream Icing

1
Assemble a double-boiler and simmer the water over medium heat. Fill a pot with water and place a large bowl on top. The bottom of the bowl should not be touching the water. Turn the stove on and wait until the water starts to simmer.
2
Add the chocolate to the double-boiler and let it melt. Spread the chocolate evenly across the bottom of the bowl and stir it often with a spatula so that it doesn't scorch.
3
Take the melted chocolate off the double-boiler and set it aside. You have to let the chocolate cool before you add it to you buttercream, or it will cause the butter to melt.
4
Beat the butter until it is smooth and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer, a handheld beater, or even a food processor. It will take about two to three minutes for the butter to reach the right consistency.
5
Lower the speed and add the chocolate. If you have been using a higher speed in your mixer, now is the time to change it to a low setting. Add the chocolate and mix it some more. You may have to use a spatula to get all of the chocolate out of the bowl.
6
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on a medium speed. Do this until the buttercream has gets a smooth and even texture, and there are no streaks or clumps.
- If you do not like vanilla, consider substituting it for espresso or strongly-brewed coffee instead.
7
Store or use the chocolate buttercream. At this time, you can either decorate your cakes or cupcakes using the buttercream, or you can put the buttercream into an air-tight container an store it in the refrigerator for about two to three weeks.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Meringue Buttercream

1
Cut the butter into cubes and set it aside. Cutting the butter will make it easier to add it to your recipe later on. It will also make it easier to mix.
2
Assemble a double-boiler and let the water begin to simmer. Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot filled with some water. The bottom of the bowl should not be touching the water. Set the pot on the stove and set the heat to medium.
3
Add the egg whites and sugar and mix until the sugar dissolves. If you cannot tell whether or not the sugar has dissolved, you can rub the mixture between your fingers. If the mixture feels grainy, the sugar has not finished dissolving.^{[7]
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4
Let the mixture heat until it reaches 160°F (72°C). This pasteurizes the egg whites and kills any salmonella-causing bacteria. Be sure to use an instant-read thermometer.
5
Remove the mixture from the double-boiler and continue mixing it until the egg whites become stiff. At this point, you can use an electric mixer or transfer it to a food processor with a whisk attachment. Use a medium-high speed. After about ten minutes, the egg whites will start to form peaks and turn stiff and foamy.^{[8]
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6
Reduce the speed and add the vanilla and butter. Turn the speed down to medium low, and add in the vanilla and butter. If you do not like vanilla, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of another extract, such as almond. Click here for more options.
- If you prefer your buttercream to be less sweet, then add a pinch of salt.
7
Store or serve the buttercream. Once the buttercream has achieved a smooth consistency, you can spread the buttercream over a cake or some cupcakes. You can also put it into a plastic Ziploc bag or an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Adding Variations to Buttercream

1
Use extract or flavoring oil to add some flavor. You can give your buttercream a more interesting flavor by adding some extract, flavoring oil, or milk. Keep in mind that flavoring oils have a much more intense flavor than extracts, so you won't need as much.^{[9]
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Research source} Here are some suggestions:
- 1 teaspoon of an extract, such as: almond, lemon, peppermint, or vanilla
- A few drops of a flavoring oil, such as: butterscotch, lemon, orange, or raspberry
2
Add some ground spices, instant coffee, or cocoa powder for extra flavor. Simply add the ingredients to the powdered sugar and mix well. Here are some suggestions:^{[10]
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- 1 to 2 teaspoons of a spice, such as apple pie, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie, will give you a more aromatic buttercream, perfect for those fall and holiday treats.
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee mixed with 2 tablespoons of water will give you coffee-flavored buttercream. You can also add in a pinch of cocoa powder for a mocha-flavored buttercream.
- Substitute ½ cup (50 grams) of the sugar for cocoa powder. This will give you chocolate-flavored buttercream.
3
Substitute the whipping cream for another liquid. Instead of using whipping cream, milk, or half-and-half, you can use 1 to 2 tablespoons of another liquid instead, such as fruit juice. Here are some more options:
- Orange juice
- Lemon juice
- Strongly-brewed coffee
- Liquor, such as Bailey's, Kahlua , brandy, or rum
4
Make a citrus-flavored buttercream. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon or orange juice instead of whipping cream, milk, or half-and-half. Once you have finished making the buttercream, stir in ½ teaspoon of lemon or orange zest.^{[11]
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5
Use jams to flavor the buttercream. Add up to 1/3 cup (110 grams) of your favorite jam into the butter and beat it until it is smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar and whipping cream, milk, or half-and-half as usual.^{[12]
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Research source} Keep in mind that the jam will alter the color of the frosting. You can use any type of jam you want, but raspberry or strawberry jams will give you more traditional results.
6
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How long does it take to make the basic buttercream?

Community Answer

It usually takes less than an hour, but it really depends on what you are using and how you mix it.
Question

Can I use water instead of the milk/half-and-half?

Community Answer

Yes. The taste and texture will vary slightly depending on which liquid you use, but you can use either to achieve a basic buttercream.
Question

How much does this recipe make?

Qamar

Top Answerer

This recipe makes about 2 to 3 cups of frosting.