No matter what dessert you’d like to make, we’ve got the right buttercream recipe for you! From the simple to complex, here’s 6 different methods for making buttercream for all your frosting needs.
American Buttercream
This buttercream is quick, sweet, easy to make and ideal for applying to less-sweet cakes and desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides and add in the powdered sugar slowly with the speed on low. Gradually increase speed to medium-high after all the sugar is incorporated. Whip for about 1 minute until light and fluffy.
- Turn speed down to medium and stream in the vanilla and heavy cream. Sprinkle in the salt. Turn the speed back up to medium-high and whip for another minute, until very light in color and texture.
Cream Cheese Buttercream
This buttercream is tangy and dense making it a great choice for offsetting sweeter desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- pinch of kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides and add in the powdered sugar slowly with the speed on low. Gradually increase speed to medium-high after all the sugar is incorporated. Whip for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Turn speed down to medium and stream in the vanilla and heavy cream. Sprinkle in the salt. Turn the speed back up to medium-high and whip for another minute, until very light in color and texture.
Russian Buttercream
This buttercream is quick, sweet, and dense. It's excellent for a last-minute recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium, high until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides then with the mixer on medium, slowly stream in the sweetened condensed milk.
- Add the vanilla and salt and increase speed to medium-high and whip until mixture is very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Ermine Buttercream
This buttercream is light, stable, and less sweet: perfect for fillings and sweeter cakes and desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the milk and flour in a medium saucepan over medium low heat and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the sugar and continue to whisk until sugar has dissolved and a few bubbles pop on the surface.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until completely cool.
- Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high until fluffy and light in color, about 3 minutes.
- With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the flour mixture a few spoonfuls at a time until completely incorporated. Add in the salt and vanilla and whip again until fully incorporated and mixture is smooth and fluffy.
Swiss Meringue Buttercream
This buttercream is smooth, light, and very stable, making it great for frosting large cakes or baking projects with intricate piping details.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 3 Vital Farms egg whites
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Fill a medium pot with a few inches of water and bring to a simmer.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites, sugar, and salt. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water and whisk constantly to dissolve the sugar, about 5 minutes. Feel the mixture between your fingers. If you feel granules of sugar, continue to whisk until it feels smooth.
- Remove from heat and place in the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on high and whip until meringue is thick and glossy and bowl is cool to the touch, about 5 minutes.
- With the mixer on medium-high, add in the butter, a tablespoon at a time until the butter is fully incorporated and the buttercream is smooth and glossy. Switch to the paddle attachment and add in the vanilla and whip to combine.
French Buttercream
This buttercream is stable, less sweet, and rich, making it ideal for lighter desserts and fine decorating work.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vital Farms Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 1 Vital Farms egg
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons water
- big pinch kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Fill a medium pot with a few inches of water and bring to a simmer.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg, sugar, and water. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water and whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture reaches at least 165 F, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Place in mixer with whisk attachment and whip on high for about 7-9 minutes, until pale in color and bowl is cool to the touch. Allow to cool completely.
- With the mixer on medium, add in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated and texture is light and fluffy.
