• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Toasty Kitchen

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • FAQ
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • FAQ
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cake & Frosting

    American Buttercream Frosting

    Published: Feb 24, 2019 · Modified: Aug 9, 2021 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 712 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe
    American Buttercream Frosting by The Toasty Kitchen
    American Buttercream Frosting by The Toasty Kitchen
    American Buttercream Frosting by The Toasty Kitchen

    American Buttercream Frosting is a quick and simple frosting to top your next batch of cupcakes. Four ingredients are all you need to make this creamy, sweet, and rich vanilla frosting. 

    A white bowl of frosting with a red spatula.

    American buttercream frosting is a quick and simple frosting recipe. American buttercream is made using butter and confectioner's sugar, and there is no cooking involved.

    This means you can whip up a batch of frosting in minutes with just a few, simple ingredients. No more of the canned, store-bought cake frosting. Make your own - it tastes infinitely better and takes very little effort.

    Try this buttercream frosting on my homemade chocolate cupcakes or homemade vanilla cupcakes. Both are reader favorite recipes!

    A white bowl filled with frosting.Frosting sweetness

    American buttercream can be extremely sweet. Because of this, I like to add heavy cream. The cream helps tone down the sweetness, and it helps the frosting whip up into a light and fluffy consistency.

    I also use slightly less confectioner's sugar than a standard recipe, because I don't care for the overly sweet taste of frosting. Keep in mind, this frosting will still be sweet, just not overwhelmingly so.

    Room temperature butter

    For this recipe, you'll need room temperature butter. You'll want to set out your butter 1 to 2 hours beforehand so it's softened when you're ready to make your frosting. 

    If you forget to take out your butter beforehand, slice it into small pieces and set it out on the counter. This will help it warm up to room temperature faster.

    Melted butter or cold butter will not work for this recipe.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make American buttercream frosting. For this recipe, you'll need room temperature butter, confectioner's sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.

    Making your frosting

    Mixing the ingredients for frosting in a glass bowl.In a large bowl, add your room temperature butter. Whip until creamy.

    Then, add your confectioner's sugar and starting slowly, mix until incorporated. Turn up the speed and whip until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

    Last, add your vanilla extract and heavy cream, then whip another 1 to 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

    Frosting troubleshooting

    If needed, adding more confectioner's sugar will thicken your frosting and make it easier to pipe and hold its shape. If your frosting is too thick, adding more heavy cream will thin your frosting.

    Keep in mind, buttercream frosting will begin to melt between 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, because it is made mainly of butter. If your home is hot or you are serving a cake outdoors in the summer, bring the cake out just before serving.

    Frosting piped onto parchment paper.How much frosting do I need?

    This recipe makes enough frosting to frost the following cupcake quantities and cake sizes:

    • 6-inch three layer cake
    • 18 cupcakes with piped frosting
    • 24 cupcakes spread with a knife
    • 9x13 sheet cake
    • 13x18 sheet cake
    • 8-inch or 9-inch two layer cake (filling and top of cake, leaving the sides bare). To cover the sides of your layer cake, make an additional half batch of frosting.

    In the recipe card below, hover over the serving size. Use the sliding bar to change the serving size and measurements.

    A white bowl of frosting with a red spatula.
    Print Recipe
    4.70 from 23 reviews

    Classic American Buttercream Frosting

    American Buttercream Frosting is a quick and simple frosting to top your next batch of cupcakes. Four ingredients are all you need to make this creamy, sweet, and rich vanilla frosting. 
    Prep Time5 minutes
    Total Time5 minutes
    Servings: 18 or more cupcakes
    Calories: 251kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups (339 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 4 cups (456 g) confectioner's sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup (57 g) heavy cream, or milk

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, add room temperature butter. Beat until creamy, about 1 minute.
    • Add confectioner's sugar and slowly mix until ingredients are fully combined. Then, whip at high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
    • Add vanilla extract and heavy cream, then whip until fluffy, another 1 to 2 minutes.
    • Pipe or spread frosting with a knife onto cupcakes and serve.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • Kitchenaid Hand Mixer
    • Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls
    • Dry Measuring Cups
    • Cupcake Decorating Piping Kit

    Notes

    • Recipe will make enough to frost up to 18 cupcakes with piped frosting, 24 cupcakes spread with a knife, a 9x13 sheet cake, a 13x18 sheet cake, or the top and middle of a round 8 or 9 inch 2-layer cake (leaving the sides bare). To frost the sides of a 2-layer cake, make an additional half batch of frosting.
    • This frosting will crust, so sprinkles or additional decorations will need to be added before your frosting dries.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 0g | Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 7mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 521IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American

    More recipes

    • Chocolate buttercream frosting recipe.
      Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
    • Whipped buttercream frosting recipe.
      Whipped Buttercream Frosting
    • Homemade Whipped Cream
    • Piece of sheet cake on a white plate.
      Vanilla Sheet Cake

    More Cake & Frosting Recipes

    • Slice of vanilla layer cake.
      10 Tips For Baking Cake
    • A slice of Irish tea cake topped with whipped cream on a plate.
      Irish Tea Cake
    • Close up of mini red velvet cupcake topped with a red heart shaped sprinkle.
      Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes
    • Ermine Frosting

    Share this post:

    Subscribe

    Get our newest recipes delivered to your inbox for free!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Marcie

      August 01, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      The icing taste amazing but not really thick ,did I not mix it enough?

      Reply
      • Heather

        August 01, 2022 at 9:10 pm

        The frosting should be thick enough to pipe onto cupcakes. Refrigerating will help thicken it, or adding more sugar (however this will also make it sweeter).

        Reply
    2. Chaulzy

      April 09, 2021 at 3:04 am

      First time attempting frosting and this one worked. I didn’t use exact measurements as i cut in half to test first. It held and tasted great with the almond extract. Next time i make it i will use less sugar to my liking but this one is yummy!: thank you

      Reply
    3. Emily

      December 26, 2020 at 6:02 am

      Hi! Does this have to be stored in the fridge bc of the heavy cream? Thanks 🙂

      Reply
      • Heather

        December 26, 2020 at 9:14 am

        Hi Emily, the sugar stabilizes the frosting, so it can remain out at room temperature for 2 to 3 days safely. No need to refrigerate unless your frosting is made ahead of time and you don't plan to use it right away.

        Reply
    4. Sarah

      July 30, 2020 at 3:10 am

      Can this be used to pipe flowers? TIA! 😊

      Reply
      • Heather

        July 30, 2020 at 5:40 am

        Yes, this frosting is perfect for piping flowers!

        Reply
    5. Stacy

      April 12, 2020 at 6:26 pm

      Not sure what I did wrong but mine didn’t come out. I did the smaller recipe. I couldn’t even use it on my loaf cake. I had to trash it 🙁

      Reply
      • Heather

        April 12, 2020 at 7:07 pm

        Hi Stacy, I'm sorry to hear that your frosting didn't turn out. What exactly went wrong with the recipe, did you substitute any ingredients?

        Reply
    6. Steve Garski

      October 28, 2019 at 3:56 am

      Excellent recipe! Everyone loves it.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

    More about me →

    Spring recipes

    • Close up of strawberries, walnuts, feta cheese, and onions on a bed of lettuce.
      Strawberry Walnut Salad
    • Roasted potatoes and asparagus on a metal sheet pan.
      Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
    • White bowl filled with arugula, potatoes, tomato, and red onion.
      Roasted Potato Arugula Salad
    • White bowl filled with salad ingredients.
      Salmon Cobb Salad

    Reader Favorites

    • A spoon scooping raspberry sauce from a white bowl.
      Raspberry Sauce For Cheesecake
    • Cooked steak tips in a cast iron pan.
      Garlic Butter & Herb Sirloin Tips
    • Red spatula covered in white frosting.
      Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
    • Graham crackers dipped in a bowl of strawberry cheesecake dip.
      Strawberry Cheesecake Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As seen in

    logos of publications The Toasty Kitchen has been published in.

    Copyright © 2023 The Toasty Kitchen®