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White Buttercream Frosting

Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

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A simple vanilla buttercream frosting is what most of us frost our cakes with. It's as simple as creaming butter, adding in sifted powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Course Desserts & Sweet Treats
Cuisine American
Keyword buttercream, frosting, how to, vanilla
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 20 servings
Calories 178
Author Laurie McNamara

Ingredients

  • 1 cup softened unsalted butter
  • 4 to 5 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch fine salt
  • 4 tablespoons of whole milk or more as needed

Instructions

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, add the two sticks of softened butter. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy and light in color. About 2 minutes.
  • Next add in 4 cups sifted powdered sugar and kosher salt. Mix on low speed until all ingredients are incorporated. Sifting powdered sugar beforehand, insures a clump-less buttercream.
  • Then add in the vanilla and add a tablespoon or two of milk at a time until your frosting is a desired consistency. If you need a stiffer frosting, simply add more sifted powdered sugar. If your frosting is too stiff, continue adding a little more milk.
  • The frosting should be soft yet hold it's shape well.

Notes

Set your butter out the night before so it can soften at room temperature. Microwaving your butter could cause it to soften too quickly (i.e. melt) and you risk your buttercream being too thin and runny or worse grainy.
*This recipe makes quite a bit of frosting, two and a half cups so if you are frosting a cake than you should have plenty, but keep in mind that it depends on how thick of a layer of frosting you want. Consider making a batch and a half if wanting thick frosting layers, pipe flowers or if baking a lot of cupcakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 8mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg