Homemade Buttercream Frosting Recipe

When I was a little girl, nearly everything that came out of our kitchen was homemade—so naturally, I wanted all the things in the store that were not homemade and canned buttercream frosting was definitely on that list, along with canned biscuits instead of homemade biscuits! Now the thought of canned buttercream frosting or any kind of canned cake frosting grosses me out, especially since homemade buttercream frosting is SO easy to make!

This buttercream frosting recipe is a classic and so simple: butter, a little shortening, powdered sugar, a touch of vanilla, and cream or milk. You can add a spoonful of corn syrup for sheen if you like but that’s totally optional. See? It’s that simple!

Buttercream Frosting Recipe

For this recipe, I use imitation vanilla or almond extract since it’s clear. You can use pure vanilla extract but it will tint the frosting slightly and I like buttercream frosting to be pretty and white. This recipe works for one 9-inch cake or for cupcakes or a sheet cake. I recently used it to frost a funfetti cake and it was so pretty with the sprinkles on top.

Throw away the cans and make this homemade buttercream frosting for your next cake or cupcake and I promise you’ll be glad you did!

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Homemade Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

This buttercream frosting recipe is classic and simple, using only butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. Throw away the cans!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 servings

Calories: 382 kcal

Author: Lucy

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter barely softened
• 1/2 cup Crisco shortening
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar sifted
• 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract or almond extract imitation
• Pinch salt
• 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream you can use half-and-half or whole milk
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup optional

Instructions

1. In bowl of stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, cream butter and shortening until light and fluffy about 4 minutes. Add confectioner's sugar, a little at a time (about 1/2 cup), mixing on low until blended and then whipping on high for about 30 seconds each time. Add vanilla extract or almond extract and pinch of salt and mix until blended. Add cream and corn syrup and mix on low until blended then whip on high until frosting reaches desired consistency.
2. For softer frosting, you can add a little more cream. If you get it too soft just add a little more confectioner's sugar.

Recipe Notes

Your frosting will get creamiest using a stand mixer, but if you don't have one then you can use a hand mixer.