American Buttercream Frosting
Your go-to buttercream for everything! — A smooth, fluffy American buttercream that’s perfect for piping, spreading, and coloring. Simple to make and easy to customize for any bake.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Unsalted Butter, Room Temp | 1 Cup | 226 g |
| Powdered Sugar | 1 ¾ Cups | 350 g |
| Heavy Cream | 2 Tbsp | 30 mL |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 tsp | 5 mL |
| Kosher Salt | ½ tsp | 4 g |
Recipe
Sift the sugar
Sift all of the powdered sugar into a bowl and set aside.Cream the butter
In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for about 3–4 minutes, until smooth and slightly lighter in color.Add the sugar
Reduce speed to low and gradually add in half of the powdered sugar.Laila’s Tip: Keep the speed low — powdered sugar has a talent for escaping the bowl. A mixer cover or towel also helps keep things contained.
Add liquids
Mix in the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until just combined.Add the sugar (part 2)
Slowly add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until fully incorporated and smooth.Adjust as needed:
Thinner frosting: Add more heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time
Thicker frosting: Add more powdered sugar
Color: Mix in gel food coloring until desired shade is reached
🍽️ Serving: This buttercream is smooth, creamy, and perfect for piping or spreading onto cakes, cupcakes, and cookie cups. It holds its shape well while staying soft enough to bite into — ideal for swirls, borders, and filling.
❄️ Storage: Store buttercream in an airtight container. Before using, let it come to room temperature and re-whip until smooth. Add a splash of cream if needed to bring back that fluffy texture.
- Room temperature: up to 1 day (if your kitchen is cool)
- Refrigerator: up to 1 week
- Freezer: up to 2 months
Still have questions? Leave a comment below — or catch the step-by-step video on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Happy baking and sweet travels,
🌎 Laila from Baking Borders
Baking Borders is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.