If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to take your brownies or cake up a notch, then you must try this 5 Minute Homemade Buttercream Frosting recipe. This rich chocolate frosting is smooth, velvety, and absolutely delicious!
So, this can be enjoyed plain or by adding variety of flavors such as vanilla, maple, chocolate. This classic recipe is just the right amount classic flavors and made one tantalizing addictive baked treat. Just that perfect layer cake or special birthday cake topped with a thick, fluffy buttercream frosting that looks like ice cream but tastes like a vanilla buttercream frosting. This dessert truly doesn’t get any better than this!
ingredients for buttercream frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
- flavoring of choice OPTIONAL, see notes
unsalted butter: I prefer using unsalted butter for the fat component because I find it to be less greasy than buttercream made with shortening.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Be sure to use full fat heavy cream in order to get those fluffy peaks. You can however, substitute for milk in a pinch.
how to make buttercream frosting
STEP ONE: In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, mix together 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar and ½ cup of butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
STEP TWO: Add 1-2 tbsp. whipping cream beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency. Then add your flavoring (optional).
how to store
does buttercream need to be refrigerated? Store leftover frosting recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Because they are made with fresh ingredients such as milk and butter I do not recommend leaving them out at room temperature.
When it’s time to make your baked good, simply bring it to room temperature and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. You may need to add a splash of cream or milk to revive the consistency before using.
what are the three types of buttercream frosting
American Buttercream Frosting – This buttercream is super speedy and easy. It’s what you would find in many grocery store bakeries. It’s essentially fat (butter, margarine, shortening), confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract whipped together.
Swiss Meringue Buttercream – This type of buttercream icing in made by cooking egg whites and sugar together in a bowl placed on a pot of boiling water.
The mixture is continuously whisked while it reaches 140° F. The egg white and sugar mixture is then removed from the heat and whipped at high speed until it forms stiff peaks and has cooled.
Italian Buttercream – This buttercream is made by adding simple syrup, which is made by heating sugar and water (soft-ball stage) to the egg-whites and allowing the syrup to cook the egg whites and whipped to form stiff peaks.
faq
What is buttercream frosting made of?
Buttercream is just like the name suggests a frosting or icing made of butter, typically used on cakes and cupcakes as a coating, layering or decorating cream. Classic buttercream is made from creamed butter and confectioners sugar. Meringue-type buttercreams: italian and swiss meringue are commonly used.
How much buttercream do I need for a 2 layer cake?
Usually 4 cups for two layers of an 8 inch cake. Here’s how to divvy it up. Use ¾ cup of frosting between each layer. Put 1 ½ cups on top of the cake.
Does buttercream harden?
After spreading the buttercream on the brownies, cakes or cupcakes, it will only take a couple of hours. Before stacking them, though, I would give them overnight to harden, and then stack them on top of each other.
bbq bakers tips and tricks
- When making the frosting, be sure to chill the bowl and beaters for 30 minutes before making the cream.
- Clear vanilla extract is used in this recipe to keep the frosting nice and white. Use 2 tsp.
- If you like to use sprinkles, make sure you do this immediately after you frost your baked goods. Once the top layer of the buttercream hardens, nothing will stick.
- You can add flavor to the buttercream usually adding 1 tbsp. of Maple Syrup however, feel free to substitute 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, mint, lemon, the choice is yours.
Full of sweet, fluffy, and full of simple ingredients, this buttercream frosting is the best thing when you’re craving mint chocolate cupcakes or brownies or pound cake and the list goes on.
5 Minute Decadent Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1½ cups confectioner's sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
- flavoring of choice OPTIONAL, see notes
Instructions
- In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together 1½ cups sugar and ½ cup of butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
- Add 1-2 tbsp. whipping cream beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
- If adding flavor, pour in 1 tbsp. Maple Syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, mint… it's up to you!
- Spread on the brownies or cake and serve!
Notes
- Make ahead: Cover and refrigerated frosting can be stored for up to three days in an airtight container. Simply bring it to room temperature and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. You may need to add a couple of teaspoons of heavy cream or milk to revive the consistency.
- You can add flavor to the buttercream usually adding 1 tbsp. of Maple Syrup however, feel free to substitute 2 tsp vanilla extract, cinnamon, mint, lemon, the choice is yours.
- You can easily adjust the consistency of this recipe by adding more or less heavy cream.
- If you are a fan of shortening in your buttercream, simply omit one stick of butter and replace with ½ cup shortening.