If you’ve ever wondered what cake frosting is made out of, the simple answer is: butter, sugar, and vanilla extract! Some frostings also use vegetable shortening, palm oil, and artificial flavor; this is especially prominent in supermarket cake frostings.

Delicious buttercream, however, is so simple to make and wonderful to eat right at home. This recipe only requires 3 ingredients and a hand or stand mixer. A smooth coat can be applied to your cake, and decorations can be piped with crisp definition.

When whipped long enough, the butter will turn white as snow, making it the perfect base for customizing colors. Go simple and ice your cake and cupcakes with white icing, or decorate with a few drops of food coloring and a splash of flashy sprinkles.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Easy to make
Requires only 3 ingredients
Not too sweet
Adjustable ingredients
Goes with nearly any dessert

MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Best Yellow Cake

Vanilla Cupcakes

Candy Apple Cupcakes

Witch’s Cauldron Cake

Neon Sea Shell Cupcakes

TOOLS

Large mixing bowl

Stand mixer or hand mixer

Silicone spatula

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Vanilla Buttercream

Servings 32 Ounces

Ingredients

5 sticks (500g) unsalted butter room temperature
3 1/2 cups (375g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1 tbsp plus 2 tsp (25ml) vanilla extract

Instructions

Place the unsalted butter into a mixing bowl. Using a stand mixer, beat the butter on high speed until smooth for 5 minutes.
Add the confectioner’s sugar to the butter a third at a time, mixing on low speed.
Add the vanilla extract and continue to beat on low speed until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Increase the mixing speed to high and beat the buttercream for 5 to 10 minutes or until the buttercream is smooth and white in color.
Use the buttercream to decorate cakes and fill pastries and cookies.

NOTES

You can use other extracts, natural, and artificial flavors to change the flavor of your buttercream. Simply substitute them for the vanilla extract.