Best Buttercream Frosting

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The best buttercream is a frosting that's so versatile! It's easy to whip up to frost a quick batch of cupcakes and it's special enough for the fanciest of cakes or cookies.

Frosted cupcake on a table. — Frosted and ready to eat!

Lemon and Salt

Here's what makes my buttercream special, lemon juice and a dash of salt. Not too much of either one of those ingredients, but the slight tartness from a splash of lemon juice makes this frosting so good, you might be tempted to eat it by the spoonfuls.

Sliced lemon next to a mixer full of powdered sugar. — You only need about ½ teaspoon of the fresh lemon juice, but what a difference it makes in buttercream frosting.

Salted or Unsalted Butter?

I prefer to use salted butter in buttercream frosting. It really helps elevate the taste. Also, be sure to use real butter for this recipe, not a substitute and definitely not shortening. Although some frostings are made with shortening, for the best buttercream you will want to stick with butter.

A mixing bowl and beaters with powdered sugar and butter, whipped together. — Don't worry about how stiff the frosting is when you begin mixing it. Once you add the half and half you can adjust how thick the frosting will be.

Storing Buttercream

Frosting, like many baked goodies, is best served fresh. But if you have extra, place it in a storage container, cover and refrigerate. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and based on the ingredients that make up our buttercream frosting, it will stay fresh for about a week in the fridge.

When you're ready to use it, place it on the kitchen counter at room temperature for about an hour. Once the frosting has warmed, just stir it until you get perfect consistency returns. As an option, you can freeze buttercream for about two months.

Buttercream frosting in the mixing bowl and on a whisk. — As you mix the frosting, add the half and half one ½ teaspoon at a time until you get the perfect consistency.

Storing Frosted Goodies

There's no need to refrigerate those cakes or cookies after you frost them with buttercream. You can keep your frosted baked goods at room temperature for up to three days.

If you're looking for a great sugar cookie recipe, try this one. The cookies are sweet, tender and oh so delicious! Perfect topped with buttercream frosting too.

If you're looking for a great sugar cookie recipe, try this one. The cookies are sweet, thick, tender and oh so delicious! The recipe is similar to those fancy cookie bouquet-type cookies and they are perfect topped with this buttercream frosting too.

Recipe

Cupcake with buttercream frosting on top.

Best Buttercream Frosting

The best buttercream is a frosting that's so versatile! It's easy to whip up to frost a quick batch of cupcakes and it's special enough for the fanciest of cakes or cookies. Here's what makes my buttercream special, lemon juice and a dash of salt. Not too much of either one of those ingredients, but the slight tartness from a splash of lemon juice makes this frosting so good.

5 from 27 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Servings: cupcakes, or one 13" x 9" sheet pan, or a layered cake

Calories: 146kcal

Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup butter, softened - salted butter
▢ 4 cups powdered sugar - you may need ½ cup additional
▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ 2 teaspoons half and half - you may need 2 teaspoons additional
▢ dash salt

Instructions

Blend

Add softened butter, a dash of salt and powdered sugar to large mixing bowl and blend. It will take a minute or two for the butter to combine with the sugar and begin to thicken.

Add Liquid Ingredients

As the mixer continues to blend the butter and powdered sugar, add the lemon juice and vanilla, then gradually add the half and half, one half teaspoon at a time. You may need to add a little more powdered sugar. Once you get the frosting to the right consistency, you're done and ready to frost your cupcakes, cake or cookies.

Notes

There's no need to refrigerate cakes or cookies after you frost them with buttercream. You can keep your frosted baked goods at room temperature for up to three days. For another sweet topping idea, try my Homemade Honey Butter recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 68mgPotassium: 2mgSugar: 20gVitamin A: 236IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg

Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database. The data above is a rough estimate, not an exact science.

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Best Buttercream Frosting

Lemon and Salt

Storing Buttercream

Storing Frosted Goodies

Recipe