No matter what time of year it is, every good cook needs a stellar buttercream frosting. Whether you’re making a special cake for your spouse’s birthday or you’re baking dozens of cupcakes for your kid’s school party, this buttercream frosting recipe will have you looking like the best baker around! There are just 5 simple ingredients and the frosting keeps for several days in the fridge. It is also flexible enough to pipe but stiff enough to hold it’s shape. I use this buttercream recipe for all my kid’s birthday cakes!
Start by setting up your standing mixer and put in 1 1/2 cups of shortening and 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter at room temperature. If you don’t have a standing mixer you can use a hand mixer instead.
Cream the butter and shortening for a minute or two on low and then add in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Mix the buttercream frosting again.
While the mixer is whirling on low-medium speed, slowly add in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. If you are using a hand mixer, you’ll likely have to stop between each time you blend. Use a spatula to scrap the sides so that all the ingredients are incorporated. The buttercream frosting should be starting to get dry.
Slowly add in 1/3 cup of heavy whipping cream. Keep mixing on medium speed until all the buttercream frosting is smooth and fluffy. If you want to add color to your frosting, add in a few drops of food coloring and blend again.
Look at that beautiful, fluffy buttercream frosting! It’s perfect for piping onto cupcakes or spreading onto cakes.
These were some simple cupcakes I made for my kids’ back to school carnival a couple months back. Just a few rainbow sprinkles and the kids thought it was the best thing ever!
I used the same buttercream frosting recipe here but got a little more creative with my harvest cupcakes. I made a batch of the frosting, took half out for the white buttercream, and then colored the second half orange. It was the easiest thing in the world but it looked like I spent all day doing it!
If you need some more dessert ideas, check out my Recipe Index or my Delectable Desserts board on Pinterest. Happy cooking y’all!
5 Ingredient Buttercream Frosting
5 Ingredient Buttercream Frosting is the easiest and most delicious frosting for decorating cupcakes or frosting cakes.
- 1 1/2 cups of shortening
- 1 stick (1/2 cup butter at room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 32 oz bag of powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- Cream the butter and shortening in a standing mixer.
- Add in the vanilla and mix again.
- On low-medium speed, gradually pour in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.
- Stop periodically to scrape the sides of the bowl so all the ingredients are incorporated.
- As the frosting gets dry, add in the heavy cream.
- Continue mixing until the frosting is fluffy and smooth.
- Optional: add a couple drops of food coloring and blend again.
Recipe adapted from Crystal and Comp
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My husband and I made this frosting last weekend and we loved it! Thick, creamy, and wonderfully rich. We added 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice to add a taste of Fall. This frosting does lend itself to easy flavoring so I would wager there are several spice combinations that will work beautifully.
Jon, I love your idea of adding pumpkin pie spice! What a wonderful way to incorporate seasonal flavors. I’m so glad you enjoyed the frosting. Thanks for reporting back.
Just had an idea…perhaps a drop or two of peppermint extract?
That would be lovely! Or lemon zest, orange zest, almond extract…the possibilities are endless! Another reader tried it with a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and I thought that was brilliant!
I have some butter flavored Crisco that I need to use up. Do you think that would work?
Most definitely!
Can this be frozen for use at another time? I am anxious to try it out!
I have not personally frozen it, but I have left it in the fridge for up to a week and it was perfectly fine.