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A beautifully frosted cake decorated with silky smooth butter cream frosting recipe, showing a hint of its salty-sweet profile and perfect stability from meringue powder.

Best butter cream frosting recipe

Rebecca Blumer
Fluffy, bakery-style American buttercream with a less-sweet finish and a stabilizing twist for smooth spreading, clean piping, and better shape in warm rooms.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 170 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Paddle attachment
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons or food scale

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup Butter, slightly softened (We use Salted Sweet Cream Butter)
  • 2-3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 pound Powdered Sugar (or 4 cups)
  • 1-2 tablespoons Milk (as needed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon Meringue powder

Instructions
 

Cream the base

  • Add the slightly softened butter to the mixing bowl along with the vanilla extract.
  • Mix until fully combined (about 2 minutes on medium speed), until the butter looks lighter and a bit whipped (not glossy or melted).
  • Add the fine sea salt and meringue powder, then mix briefly just until incorporated.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the sugar without a mess

  • Measure 1 pound of powdered sugar (or 4 cups if you don’t have a food scale).
  • Add the powdered sugar to the mixing bowl.
  • Start the mixer on the lowest setting and mix on low until incorporated (about 30 seconds). Stop and scrape down the bowl. Increase to medium-high and mix for 30–45 seconds more until the frosting starts to look light and fluffy.

Adjust, then taste for the final finish

  • If the frosting is dry or crumbly, add 1 teaspoon of milk and mix again.
  • Taste and adjust with a tiny bit more vanilla extract if needed. If it tastes right but is too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time, mixing after each addition, until the consistency is correct.

Notes

For a smoother finish, press the frosting with a spatula at the end to knock out large air bubbles. For a richer texture, swap milk for heavy cream and add it slowly.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 0.5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5.5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 55mgPotassium: 15mgSugar: 21gVitamin A: 260IUCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword American buttercream, buttercream frosting, crusting buttercream, piping frosting, vanilla frosting
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