Simple Vanilla Frosting

174 Ratings
  • 5 26
  • 4 32
  • 3 68
  • 2 33
  • 1 15

Our simple frosting recipe is made with just four basic ingredients: unsalted butter, confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. This basic buttercream is one of the most simple frostings you can whip up—and it elevates cakes and cupcakes alike. Try it on top of these chocolate chip cookie cupcakes (you won't regret it!).

Martha Stewart Living, July 2011

Gallery

Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

Yield:
Makes 4 1/2 cups
Advertisement

Ingredients

Directions

  • Beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium-low; gradually add an additional 5 1/4 cups sugar. Raise speed to medium-high. Add milk and vanilla. Continue to beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Store at room temperature until ready to use (up to 2 days).

    Advertisement
Advertisement

Reviews (5)

174 Ratings
  • 5 26
  • 4 32
  • 3 68
  • 2 33
  • 1 15
Martha Stewart Member
03/18/2017
Good catch, I didn't even notice that the stick size was not even mentioned...
Martha Stewart Member
03/16/2017
is a stick 4 oz or 8 oz? Lin
Martha Stewart Member
03/15/2017
a stick is 4 oz or 8 oz. Which?
Advertisement
Martha Stewart Member
02/10/2017
Easy and delicious. It was a little sweet for my liking, but my 4 year old son loved it. Next time I will use 4 or 5 cups of sugar instead of 6.
Martha Stewart Member
01/06/2016
It's a good frosting because you can use pastry sleeves so your cupcakes look nice.
© Copyright 2023 Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com 02/06/2023