For those elegant and sophisticated evenings, you may want to impress your guests (or just treat yourself) to a dessert using this delectable and oh so fancy pink champagne buttercream.

I came up with this buttercream flavor after brainstorming ideas for Valentine’s Day desserts, but you need not wait for an evening of romance to make this buttercream.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Easy to make
Requires only 4 ingredients
Not too sweet
Adjustable ingredients
Goes with nearly any dessert

Champagne Cupcakes using Champagne Buttercream

Now, real champagne, I believe, should be reserved for drinking. When making this buttercream, use rosé or sparkling wine instead. I like to use Simpler Wines Rosé from Trader Joe’s. Definitely use a wine that you enjoy drinking.

The wine needs to be simmered down into a concentrated form before it can be added to the buttercream. Once reduced, it serves as a wonderful extract for desserts and baking.

Add the extract to whipped buttercream, add a few drops of rose pink food coloring, and watch the beautiful pink and buttery clouds form. Use it for cakes, cookies, or whatever dessert the suits your desires.

MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS

Vanilla Buttercream

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

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TOOLS

Large mixing bowl

Stand mixer or hand mixer

Silicone spatula

Pink Champaign Buttercream

Prep Time 1 hour

Servings 32 ounces

Ingredients

5 sticks (500g) unsalted butter room temperature
3 1/2 cups (375g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1 cup (250ml) rosé wine, or sparkling wine
3 drops rose pink food coloring

Instructions

Make the concentrated wine

In a small sauce pan, bring the rosé to a simmer.
Reduce the wine to half (1/2 cup or 100ml to 125ml). This should take 20 to 25 minutes.
Place the wine concentrate into a heat resistant container and chill it in the freezer until cool (approximately 15 minutes).

Make the buttercream

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 wine concentrate 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.
Add 2 to 3 drops of rose pink food coloring and mix until the buttercream is pink.
Use the buttercream to decorate cakes and fill pastries and cookies.