This buttercream is quick, easy, delicious, stable, and versatile!
Use the "US" and "M" buttons below to switch between cup and gram measurements for the ingredients.
Recipe by British Girl Bakes on October 1, 2010
Rating
4.9 stars ( reviews)
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
2 lb powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cream or milk
Steps
Sift the sugar to remove any lumps and check that the butter is at room temperature - you should be able to slice through it easily with a spatula.
In a mixer with a beater (paddle) attachment, mix butter for a few seconds until smooth. Add a quarterof the powdered sugar and salt (if using) and mix on the lowest speed until incorporated, about one minute.
Scrape down to the bottom of the mixing bowl with a spatula to loosen any butter and sugar and add the next quarter of powdered sugar and mix for another minute on low.
Scrape down to the bottom of the bowl, add another quarter of the powdered sugar, mix for one minute on low, scrape, and add the final quarter of the powdered sugar. Mix for one more minute on low, adding the vanilla once everything is mixed together and continuing to mix until it's incorporated.
Add the milk or cream and mix for about 30 seconds until it's combined with the buttercream. Check the consistency and add more milk or cream a tablespoon at a time until the buttercream is smooth and easily stirred.
Reviews
ana lemaitre on 2022-03-07 (5 stars): congratulations on your new web! I love all your recipes, and the tips are amazing!
moven Vanessa on 2022-03-18 (5 stars): beautiful recipe
carla on 2022-03-23 (5 stars): š„°
Alleta on 2022-04-05 (5 stars): well understood
Charlotte on 2022-05-04 (5 stars): Love it! So smooth and tastes delicious!
Hasmita on 2022-05-10 (5 stars): Congratulations! Thank you for sharing. Amazing recipes and piping
Wari on 2022-05-28 (5 stars): Very easy butter š cream. Love the recipe š
Tiffany Horselooking on 2022-05-31 (5 stars): My go to buttercream frosting!
Romaria on 2022-06-09 (5 stars): Iām going to do a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream for my cousinās birthday next Friday and Iām so exited to try it out but when you do chocolate buttercream do you add cocoa powder and how much or melted chocolate? Thanks Emily this looks deliciousšā¤ļø
Rachel B on 2022-06-25 (5 stars): If I need to frost a 3 layer 9in cake, should I double this recipe?
Rosa Castro on 2022-11-26 (5 stars): I tried the recipe today, omg what a wonderful and delicious frosting. I made the mistake of making too much and which made me tempted to bake another just to use up the frosting. Instead I decided to freeze the remaining batch for another occasion. Super yummy
Felicity on 2022-12-05 (5 stars): I've made this buttercream twice now, it is so smooth and tastes perfect, this will be my go to recipes from now on. I used it in your very vanilla cake, tastes beautiful. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
Cindy on 2023-01-21 (5 stars): I am finally able to achieve smooth icing! Everything else is read said to beat at high speed, blah, blah, blah and I spent way too long attempting to get a smooth surface!! Thank you so very much!!!
Vella J. on 2023-03-11 (5 stars): I made this frosting and I absolutely LOVE it! It was definitely smooth sailing on the cake. Thanks for posting!
Karlene Kepler on 2023-04-22 (5 stars): Best buttercream ever!!! I use it for everything I frost!!!
Mae on 2023-06-05 (5 stars): I'm going to use this recipe on my Dads 53rd Birthday Tool Box cake
Looks great, I can't wait to see how it turns out
Thanks Emily
Lauren on 2023-08-02 (1 stars): Honestly so upset with how this turned out, followed the unstructions and trouble shooting, and it still looks grainy, not to mention a very weird taste (and yes i checked the butter) :(
Sanne van Tongeren on 2023-08-25 (5 stars): To store, should i leave it in the fridge or what is the best way to store the frosting in a way that it is still good for the next day?
Karlene Kepler on 2023-10-26 (5 stars): This recipe is so amazing! I use it on all my cupcakes, cakes and sugar cookies and it comes out so smooth and delicious! It also colors so well! Thank you so much!
Mazza on 2023-12-22 (5 stars): Hi Emily,
If I make a 3 tier 8ā cake, shall I times the ingredients needed by 3 too?
Need enough to place each cake in top of each other. Let me know!
Jill on 2024-01-25 (5 stars): Great help for a true beginner! Thank you for these videos so I donāt let my granddaughter down for her 10th birthday!
Helen Everill on 2024-03-09 (5 stars): Hi Emily
Thanks for your great recipes and advice.
I'm making a 10 inch 3 tier version of your Perfect Chocolate cake and wondered how much of your 4 minute buttercream I'll need to fill and cover it.
Many thanks
Helen
Olivia on 2024-04-25 (5 stars): So fluffy and yummy!
Would this be enough to frost A sheet cake or should I half the recipe?
Julie on 2024-07-14 (5 stars): Hi, havenāt tried this yet but thank you so much for adding metric weights š„°
Anh on 2024-08-30 (5 stars): Just used this recipe for the first time and it is great! First time I have achieved super creamy and white buttercream! I did beat my buttercream for longer than what was stated in the recipe to achieve this as my butter and vanilla were very yellow to begin with. So no more white food colouring for me! Thanks!!
Mon on 2024-10-19 (5 stars): Love your tips. How do you stop condensation forming on a cake that has been iced and refrigerated?
Mc on 2025-04-29 (5 stars): Hi Iām from NY. Whatās the best brand for butter and sugar and milk or cream to use. Thank u
Louise Peacocke on 2025-07-01 (5 stars): I'd like to know if I can hand mix this, as I only have a cuisinart with a paddle mixer or a handheld mixer with just a whisk attachment (both are fast, so... air bubbles...)...What do you recommend? Many thanks!