Description
This American buttercream is perfectly sweet, ultra-creamy, and incredibly smooth. Unlike classic recipes, this one uses less butter, giving it a fluffier texture while still being stable enough for tiered cakes, easy to pipe, and simple to smooth. It comes together in minutes and is totally beginner-friendly! This will quickly become your new go-to American buttercream recipe!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 7 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream or Milk (see notes)
- 2 Teaspoons White Gel Food Coloring
(affiliate)
(optional)
Instructions
- Whip It Up! Start by adding the room temperature butter to a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment. Whip the butter on a medium speed for about 1-2 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl at least once.
- Vanilla & Salt: Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk to the butter, along with the vanilla extract and salt.
- Start Mixing! Turn mixer on medium speed until these ingredients are incorporated. This should only take about 30 seconds. Again, scrape that bowl!
- Powdered Sugar: Lower mixer speed to the lowest setting and start adding the powdered sugar in increments. Adding a tablespoon of heavy cream or milk between each.
- Mix on Low: Slightly increase the mixer speed to help mix these ingredients, but do not turn on too high or you will whip too much air into the buttercream.
- Scrape, Scrape, Scrape: Remember to scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are incorporated!
- White Gel Food Coloring
(affiliate)
: After adding all powered sugar and heavy cream, finish by adding 2 teaspoons of white gel food coloring(affiliate)
. (This step is optional, and only necessary if you want a bright white buttercream) - Finish: Mix on low-medium until all ingredients are incorporated, at this point you should have perfectly white, smooth classic American buttercream!
Notes
Powdered Sugar: 7 1/2 Cups or (1) 2 lb bag of powdered sugar. I always use the full 2 lb bag!
Stiffer: For a stiffer buttercream, add less than recommended amount of heavy cream.
Ultra-Creamy: For an ultra-creamy buttercream, add a maximum of 10 tablespoons of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American