I’m back with another go-to frosting recipe for all of your dessert decorating adventures. This week it’s time to celebrate with the most perfect, fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting that can easily be turned into a gorgeous birthday cake frosting!
Vanilla buttercream is one of those frosting recipes that goes with literally everything. I mean, who can resist the delicious sweetness of vanilla? This frosting recipe comes from my incredible Healthy Birthday Cake, but just so happens to pair perfectly with cookies (like these), brownies, and even pretzels and graham crackers for a little dip action.
You’re just 4 ingredients away (5 if you love sprinkles) from whipping up this beautiful buttercream. Options to easily make it vegan and dairy free, too!
Everything you’ll need to make the best vanilla buttercream frosting
As I mentioned, this easy vanilla buttercream frosting recipe requires just 4 simple ingredients, plus sprinkles to make it a birthday cake frosting! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter: because this is a buttercream frosting, the base is made from butter. I always use salted butter in my cooking and baking recipes, but you can use unsalted butter if you’d like. This recipe is technically an “American buttercream frosting” because there’s no cream cheese or shortening involved.
- Powdered sugar: we’re sweetening this frosting with powdered sugar, AKA confectioners’ sugar.
- Vanilla: for that delicious vanilla flavor you’ll add a couple teaspoons of vanilla extract. Learn how to make your own vanilla here!
- Milk: you may need to add a little milk to make the frosting extra creamy. Feel free to use any milk you’d like! I typically use unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Many vanilla buttercream recipes call for adding heavy whipping cream to smooth it out, but I find that any type of milk works well.
- Sprinkles: make the best birthday cake frosting by simply folding sprinkles into the frosting!
Can I make it vegan and dairy free?
Feel free to make vegan and dairy free vanilla buttercream by simply using a vegan buttery stick like Earth Balance instead of regular butter. Then simply add dairy free milk (like the unsweetened vanilla almond milk I use). So easy!
An easy refined sugar free swap
If you’d like, you can also use my homemade paleo powdered sugar in order to make this birthday cake frosting refined sugar free. My paleo powdered sugar recipe uses coconut sugar instead of regular sugar and though I haven’t tested it out myself in this recipe, I think it should whip up well. Let me know in the comments if you try it, and note that it will make the frosting slightly darker in color due to the color of the coconut sugar.
Birthday cake frosting in 3 simple steps
- Whip the butter. Start by adding softened butter to the bowl of an electric mixer and whipping it on high until it’s light and creamy.
- Mix the frosting. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whip the frosting for 2-3 more minutes until it’s well combined and fluffy. If you like your frosting a little creamier, add in a teaspoon or two of milk to help thin it out and get the right consistency.
- Add the party. If you’re making a birthday cake frosting, fold in the sprinkles with a spatula so that they don’t break up. Otherwise, enjoy the vanilla buttercream as is!
Can I use a hand mixer?
Absolutely! If you don’t have a stand mixer, feel free to whip up this vanilla birthday cake frosting in a large bowl using a hand mixer.
Don’t forget this tip for super fluffy frosting
To get the perfect fluffy consistency, you’ll want to whip together all of the ingredients using an electric mixer on low speed and then increase to medium-high speed. This will create beautiful peaks in the frosting and make it easy to frost your favorite treats. Don’t forget to add a little bit of milk at a time to reach your desired consistency. This will also help to make the frosting easier to spread.
How much frosting will you get?
This recipe will make enough frosting to frost 3 6-inch round cakes or 2 8-inch round cakes. It’s perfect for making a beautiful layered cake! If you’d like to frost an 8×8 or 9×9-inch square cake I recommend halving the recipe.
The key to a perfectly frosted cake
I like to do a crumb coat on my cakes so that they have that clean bakery look. To do so, frost each layer as you normally would, coat the outside of the cake with a very thin layer of frosting, and then place it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before you finish frosting. This is so that the crumbs stick to the thin layer of frosting and not your main layer! I like to use an offset spatula to frost my cakes.
Our favorite ways to use it
- On this perfect Healthy Birthday Cake, this Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake or, for a little extra indulgence, on these Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats
- Layered on (or sandwiched between!) these delicious Grain Free Birthday Cake Cookies, these Incredible Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies, or these Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- As a dessert dip for pretzels, fresh fruit, or graham crackers (hello, homemade Dunk-A-Roos!)
Storing tips
- At room temperature: this birthday cake frosting will stay good at room temp for about a day on a cake.
- In the fridge: feel free to keep the frosting in the fridge for up to a week if you’re looking to prepare it ahead of time. Let the frosting come to room temp before using it. After you’ve frosted your cake or another dessert, I also recommend storing the cake in the fridge after one day.
Freezer-friendly birthday cake frosting
You can freeze this frosting for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer-friendly bag. When you’re ready to use it, simply let it thaw in the refrigerator, let it come to room temp, and then re-whip it in your electric mixer.
More cake recipes you’ll love
- Damn Good Peanut Butter Banana Cake (gluten free, grain free)
- Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake
- The Best Paleo Chocolate Cake with Paleo Chocolate Frosting
- Orange Zucchini Cake with Orange Frosting
- The Best Healthy Carrot Cake You’ll Ever Eat (gluten free & paleo-friendly!)
Get all of my cake recipes here!
I hope you love this vanilla buttercream frosting recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it (and how you used it). Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter (or vegan buttery stick such as Earth Balance), at room temperature
- 2 ½ - 3 cups powdered sugar **
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Optional: 2 teaspoons milk (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
- ⅓ cup sprinkles (for birthday cake frosting)
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the softened butter (or vegan butter) and whip on high until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat slowly at first, then increase speed to high and beat for 2-3 minutes. You may need to add in a teaspoon or two of milk to thin the frosting out, but it depends on how you like it. Enjoy as is or fold sprinkles into the frosting with a spatula to make birthday cake frosting!
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
Frosted my friends son’s smash cake for his first birthday with this recipe and everyone loved it! I would suggest using vanilla bean paste instead of the vanilla extract as it acts more like a flavor booster and the specs of vanilla bean in the frosting look great. Definitely saving this to use again!
Amazing! Great idea to use vanilla bean paste 🙂
Cant wait to make this and your cake recipes soon for me will use vegan butter and will add sprinkles to this buttercream as my birthday is next month i never had vanilla buttercream before perfect for snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Sounds great, hope you enjoy!