Basic Vanilla Buttercream

Rating: 3.54 stars
769 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 172
  • 4 star values: 247
  • 3 star values: 215
  • 2 star values: 97
  • 1 star values: 38

Ask any pastry chef about frostings and they'll tell you that there's nothing like a good basic vanilla buttercream. This American-style vanilla buttercream from chef Billy Reece of Billy's Bakery in NYC requires just four ingredients and comes together in just about as many minutes. Smooth, fluffy, and creamy, it's ideal for all kinds of cakes, from cupcakes to multi-layered confections. 

The Martha Stewart Show, Episode 1150

Gallery

Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

total:
5 mins
Yield:
Makes enough for 30 cupcakes
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Ingredients

Directions

  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add 6 cups sugar, milk, and vanilla; mix until light and fluffy. If necessary, gradually add remaining 2 cups sugar to reach desired consistency.

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Reviews (30)

769 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 172
  • 4 star values: 247
  • 3 star values: 215
  • 2 star values: 97
  • 1 star values: 38
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
03/14/2017
This was easy, fast and tasty! The consistency was great and even better set up in fridge. Mine was not runny and if it had been I would have added more sugar. And it was not too sweet to me! Husband loved it! Will be making this recipe again!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
06/21/2015
This was horrible. It was all sugar so we had half the sugar and add milk. I would not recommend this recipe we had to add a lot of cream cheese. I hope this helps you make your decision. It wasn't even icing and tasted DISCUSTING after 40 minutes of blending.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/13/2014
I like the recipe.
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Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/19/2012
this recipe is yummy, but does anyone know how long it lasts before it goes off? how long do you have to use it? as it makes quite a lot, i used it for my victoria sponge cake- made using two 8 inch sandwich tins, and even after sandwiching the layers together with it and putting some over tops and sides of cake, I still had half a load left!!! best made with lurpak though as any other butter will make buttercreams too buttery and lurpak has a more mild flavour. can substitute milk for water.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/21/2012
Too sweet but good. I added like one teaspoon of lemon juice.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
08/12/2011
delicious! super creamy - used just a little over 6 cups (sugar) and i threw in extra vanilla. i will be using this again and again. perfect with chocolate fudge cupcakes!
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Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/01/2011
I am in love with this recipe. It is def my go to recipe for frosting. Simple and ingredients that I normally have on hand. However, the cupcake recipe I use calls for 24 cupcakes and I find that cutting this recipe in half gives me more than enough frosting. Also, a suggestion I tried today, I cupback a little bit ont he milk and used about a 1 tbsp of lemon juice and it added a nice tropical flavor to it!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/31/2010
Love this frosting!! It's a little sugary sweeter than other buttercream I have tried, but I thought it was a good thing! It went perfectly with Billy's vanilla cupcakes.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/19/2010
This buttercream is simple
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
07/26/2010
Mine turned out perfectly! I'm a pretty novice baker. I also live at a high altitude, so I made the necessary adjustments. I think the recipe is PERFECT! YUM!!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
06/08/2010
When you made your icing that was really watery, did you use a non fat milk? That is all I can think of. The more fat in some hard to mix ingredients, the easier it will blend. I think it is called emulsifying. Try using [filtered] milk and make sure you add your ingredients in the right order. angiegirl62 - did you use 2 Tbsp of baking soda? or 1 Tbsp? or maybe you overfilled the cups? I just want to make sure my batch turns out well. lol!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/24/2010
In the video - Billy says to put in 2 TBS of baking soda but the recipe indicates 1 TBS. Please clarify. This is consistently an issue with recipes on your website!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/21/2010
WOW! This is probably the best buttercream icing I've found. To make it extra vanilla-y, I added the scrapings of 1 vanilla bean :) No lumps or grittiness, nice and smooth.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/03/2009
i tried the cupcakes and didn't even make it to the frosting because when i took the first pan out of the oven, the batter had bubbled and expanded during baking and had come up out of the cups and spread all over the top of the muffin pan. Why did my batter explode? Anyone have any ideas?
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/01/2009
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! No probs making it at all. Result, yum!!! I've only just discovered baking through Martha's Cookie cookbook. Discovered that as nice as they were, I'm a cupcake gal. Now trying lots of recipes much to my hubbie, friends and families delight. Thanks Martha for introducing me to baking.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/16/2008
hi im mexican so i dont know if you refer to 325n n f or n n c the cupcakes soud great :D
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/27/2008
I have no idea u guys ever make this!! (dont mind me , im just pissed with myself) I tried to salvage my mixture for 2 WHOLE HOURS. I just kept stirring and stirring, with and without the electric mixer. But mine totally failed. The milk just keep sipping out of the mixture. Then i thought, how could butter and milk ever combine?? So, i just threw 2 hours of effort away bcos the mixture was full of small lumps and wet milk
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
08/17/2008
I used this recipe on chocolate cupcakes (recipe from the back of a Hershey's cocoa can- YUMMY!) but only used 4 cups of the powdered sugar and my guest went nuts! I feel I have finally found the best combo of chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. Life is good!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
08/17/2008
I used this recipe on chocolate cupcakes (recipe from the back of a Hershey's cocoa can- YUMMY!) but only used 4 cups of the powdered sugar and my guest went nuts! I feel I have finally found the best combo of chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. Life is good!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
08/17/2008
I used this recipe on chocolate cupcakes (recipe from the back of a Hershey's cocoa can- YUMMY!) but only used 4 cups of the powdered sugar and my guest went nuts! I feel I have finally found the best combo of chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. Life is good!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
06/28/2008
Did anyone catch where Billy gets his white sprinkles?
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/19/2008
Wonderful tasting buttercream recipe. I cut down a bit on the butter and it still turned out great. One of my favorites. Added a few sprinkles on top and everyone was suitably impressed.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/15/2008
Lolitalinda: Make sure your butter is room temperature and not melted, and really make sure you cream the butter well. This is sooo important. Once you've made the frosting, keep it refrigerated and covered until you are ready to use it. If it gets too warm, it will get "melty." Any baker will tell you that buttercream has a tendency to melt.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/14/2008
I love this frosting - made a bit on the stiff side and it pipes perfectly! These cupcaske are always a big hit in my family and at work. Try spreading a little orange or lemon curd between the cupcake and the frosting - extra yummy!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/13/2008
I actually live across the street from Billy's and I cant have enough of them! so i decided to make the frosting at home, tragedy!! i followed the recipe and it was horrible!! it was massivly watery! was it the milk?? i ended up adding almost 2 boxes of sugar i even refrigerated for like 10 minutesand nothing!! watery!!!!! does anybody have maybe a clue where i went wrong??
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/30/2008
im going to have to try this they look deliouses kimwylie0523!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/13/2008
I did not think that this frosting was anything special. It just doesn't have any flavor and I am a vanilla lover.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/01/2008
Oh, pictures: http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j69/KimboBleep/Food Photos/100_2149.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j69/KimboBleep/Food Photos/100_2133.jpg http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j69/KimboBleep/Food Photos/100_2129.jpg
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/01/2008
Yummmmm!! This frosting rocks my world! I made cupcakes for my community band (we're doing a birthday tribute concert for Leroy Anderson) and needed a simple and tasty frosting to top them off with. I added food coloring, which blended easily, and topped them off with sprinkling sugar. They're delicious, and I can't WAIT to share them! (possible update??)
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/02/2008
Wonderful frosting but I made some changes and made a smaller batch. 1 1/4c butter (some salted that I had lying around), 1 1/3c sugar and enough milk to make it frosting like, approx. 1/4c. It was perfect! Just as tasty as all of the other famous bakeries... Magnolia, The Cupcake Cafe
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