Crunchy Creamy Sweet

menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
×
You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Dessert

Best Vanilla Frosting

Published: May 6, 2019 · Modified: Mar 10, 2020 by Anna 13 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Jump to Recipe Print Pin Recipe Comment

This is the Best Vanilla Frosting Recipe you will ever make! It's ultra fluffy and perfect for spreading on cakes or piping out on cupcakes. 

This frosting is perfect on my One-Bowl Vanilla Cake or my Perfect Sugar Cookies, topped with sprinkles.

Close up shot of white frosting on a whisk.

Homemade vanilla buttercream frosting is crazy easy to make and you only need 2 basic ingredients: butter and sugar. Add vanilla and a splash of heavy cream for the irresistible rich flavor. This Fluffy Vanilla Frosting starts with butter creamed for 7 minutes, for the best result. You can make different variations by adding flavors with spices, instant coffee or caramel sauce. This frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

Ingredients:

  • unsalted butter
  • powdered sugar
  • vanilla
  • heavy whipping cream

Instructions:

  • Start by beating room-temperature butter for 7 minutes.
  • Add powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, and beat until frosting is fluffy.
  • Stir in vanilla and heavy cream and beat for 1 minute.

Would you like to save this recipe?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Overhead shot of frosting in pink mixing bowl, more frosting on spatula next to bowl.

Variations:

  • best vanilla: use vanilla beans for the best flavor
  • citrus frosting: add zest and citrus extract
  • spiced buttercream: add cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
  • mocha frosting: add instant coffee granules
  • caramel frosting: stir in caramel sauce
  • peanut butter frosting: use half of the amount of butter and substitute the rest with peanut butter

More dessert recipes:

  • Cinnamon Roll Cake from Scratch
  • The Best Moist Carrot Cake
  • Instant Pot Cherry Delight Cheesecake

For more delicious sweet treat recipes, feel free to browse our Dessert Category.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

White frosting on a whisk.

Best Vanilla Frosting recipe

Author: Anna
This is the Best Vanilla Frosting Recipe you will ever make! It's ultra fluffy and perfect for spreading on cakes or piping out on cupcakes. Add different extracts, citrus zest, coffee granules or caramel sauce for different flavor variations. 
4.93 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 9 minutes mins
Total Time 9 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 cups
Calories 438 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup unsalted butter soft
  • 1.75 - 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

Instructions
 

  • Place soft butter in mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer for 7 minutes.
  • Add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time and mix in well.
  • Add vanilla and heavy cream and whip for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • The frosting should be fluffy and airy.
  • Store frosting in fridge until ready to use or spread on cake or cupcakes right away.

Notes

The butter has to be really soft for best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 9mg | Vitamin A: 1530IU | Calcium: 14mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

More Dessert Recipes

  • Square photo of a slice of lemon cake on a dessert plate with fork.
    Easy Lemon Cake
  • Square image of a serving of eggless chocolate cake with frosting on a white marble plate.
    Eggless Chocolate Cake
  • Square photo of a cake with peach slices and dusting of powdered sugar.
    Easy Peach Cake
  • Mango popsicles on ice.
    Mango Pineapple Popsicles

Comments

    4.93 from 14 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




  1. Melissa says

    June 10, 2025 at 11:02 am

    5 stars
    he best vanilla frosting I've ever had. I will definitely use it for other desserts.

    Reply
  2. Jola says

    October 01, 2024 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    This frosting was perfect for carrot cupcakes. Perfect!

    Reply
  3. Robin says

    September 02, 2024 at 10:29 am

    5 stars
    The best I have ever had!

    Reply
  4. Jola says

    August 20, 2024 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    Frosting is perfectly fluffy.. Nice that it is not too sweet. That is why it has become our favorite!

    Reply
  5. Robin says

    June 07, 2023 at 5:07 pm

    5 stars
    I loved this recipe! My family loves me making this recipe. I add large dollop of smooth peanut butter, 2 tab. less of the butter ( because you get the fat from the peanut butter). Smother a homemade German choc. cake with it and it disappears. Yummy!!!!

    Reply
  6. George says

    November 02, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    Is the recipe for a single or double layer cake?

    Reply
    • Robin says

      June 07, 2023 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      I doubled this recipe when I made it. I wanted it to look like store bought. Thick and fluffy.

      Reply
  7. Toni says

    May 07, 2019 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! I love that it was so easy to make!! My new favorite frosting recipe!

    Reply
  8. Katerina says

    May 07, 2019 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Oh wow, this looks SO good!! A must try!!

    Reply
  9. Rachael Yerkes says

    May 07, 2019 at 9:45 am

    5 stars
    This really is the best!

    Reply
  10. Tanya Schroeder says

    May 07, 2019 at 6:45 am

    5 stars
    The PERFECT frosting!

    Reply
    • Kelly D says

      November 14, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Agreed:)

      Reply
  11. Valentina says

    May 06, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    5 stars
    I love how fluffy the frosting is. This will be great with the chocolate cupcakes we are planning to make.

    Reply
Profile photo of the author of Crunchy Creamy Sweet website.

Hi! I'm Anna!

Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family-approved!

read more...

Easy Dinners

  • Square image of chicken in teriyaki sauce, rice and broccoli in a white bowl.
    Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
  • Asian chicken on rice.
    Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
  • Square image of creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Garlic Chicken
  • Lemon garlic chicken in a skillet.
    Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken in mushroom garlic sauce in pan.
    Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
  • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
    Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

Popular Recipes

  • Cooked shrimp on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Shrimp
  • Square image of four Russet potatoes on a rack in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
  • Noodles with peanut sauce and green onions in a white bowl with chopsticks.
    Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
  • Square image of chicken nuggets with parsley on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
  • Pasta salad with tomatoes and bacon in a glass serving bowl.
    BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Square image of KFC coleslaw in a white bowl with red plaid napkin.
    KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

Featured in

Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.