Last Updated on August 11, 2022
Have you ever wishes you could make a homemade frosting that was fluffy, sweet and quick to put together? Well, you can actually make three different kinds of frosting that are all bakery worthy. All of these icing recipes are quite easy to follow, making them suitable for beginner bakers and master’s alike! Once you finish reading, you will be able to make mouthwatering homemade frostings that can be adjusted and tweaked to be exactly what you need.
American Buttercream Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp whole milk
- Food Coloring (optional)
Tools Needed
Instructions
Step 1: Mixing
Add the softened butter to the bowl of the stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and turn the mixer on speed 1, letting the sugar slowly work into the butter.
Step 2: Creaming
Turn the speed up to high and let the butter and powdered sugar mix until light and fluffy, this should take about 5 minutes. After each minute, turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula to ensure all the butter is well blended in.
Step 3: Flavor
Add the vanilla extract, salt and milk to the fluffy butter mix. Turn the mixer on low to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 4: Decorate
Add any food coloring desired then use the buttercream on cakes, cupcakes or anything you’d like!
Royal Icing With Cream Of Tartar
Ingredients
- 3 Egg whites
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Food Coloring (optional)
Tools Needed
- Stand Mixer
- Whisk attachment
- Measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
- Rubber Spatula
Instructions
Step 1: Whip the Whites
Add the egg whites to the bowl of the stand mixer and whisk on medium speed until the whites are frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whip on medium speed until the egg whites form soft peaks.
Step 2: Add the Sugar
With the mixer off, add one cup of the powdered sugar to the whites. Turn the mixer on, slowly going from low speed and working up to high speed. Once the sugar is incorporated, add another cup while the mixer is running. Continue to add the powdered sugar in batches until you have added all four cups.
Step 3: Correct Consistency
Add the vanilla extract and mix it into the icing. If you want to use the icing to cover cookies completely, it should be slightly runny. If you are doing fine decoration, the icing should be stiff. Add a little water to loosen up the icing or add a little more powdered sugar to make it thicker.
Step 4: Color
Add any food coloring you’d like then the royal icing is ready to use. It is perfect for decorating sugar cookies and will harden on the cookie after about 2 hours.
Chocolate Buttercream
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp whole milk
Tools Needed
- Stand Mixer
- Paddle attachment
- Measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
- Rubber Spatula
Instructions
Step 1: Mixing
Add the softened butter to the bowl of the stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and turn the mixer on speed 1, letting the sugar slowly work into the butter.
Step 2: Creaming
Turn the speed up to high and let the butter and powdered sugar mix until light and fluffy, this should take about 5 minutes. After each minute, turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula to ensure all the butter is well blended in.
Step 3: Flavor
Add the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, salt and milk to the fluffy butter mix. Turn the mixer on low to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 4: Decorate
Add any food coloring desired then use the buttercream on cakes, cupcakes or anything you’d like!
Tips and Tricks
No matter what kind of frosting you are making, always be sure to measure the ingredients precisely- baking is a science! Also, be sure to scrape the bowl multiple times with a rubber spatula to incorporate all the ingredients fully.
Are you excited to try our frostings now?! Hopefully, this guide has inspired you to make some homemade frostings and let us know how they turn out in the comments below. Each of these frostings are easy to make and delicious to eat- that’s why they are my favorites! After you see for yourself how great they are, share our article with your friends!
American Buttercream
Equipment
- Paddle attachment
- Measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp whole milk
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
- Mixing: Add the softened butter to the bowl of the stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and turn the mixer on speed 1, letting the sugar slowly work into the butter.
- Creaming: Turn the speed up to high and let the butter and powdered sugar mix until light and fluffy, this should take about 5 minutes. After each minute, turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula to ensure all the butter is well blended in.
- Flavor: Add the vanilla extract, salt and milk to the fluffy butter mix. Turn the mixer on low to incorporate the ingredients.
- Decorate: Add any food coloring desired then use the buttercream on cakes, cupcakes or anything you’d like!
Royal Icing
Equipment
- Measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 3 Egg whites
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
- Whip the Whites: Add the egg whites to the bowl of the stand mixer and whisk on medium speed until the whites are frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whip on medium speed until the egg whites form soft peaks.
- Add the Sugar: With the mixer off, add one cup of the powdered sugar to the whites. Turn the mixer on, slowly going from low speed and working up to high speed. Once the sugar is incorporated, add another cup while the mixer is running. Continue to add the powdered sugar in batches until you have added all four cups.
- Correct Consistency: Add the vanilla extract and mix it into the icing. If you want to use the icing to cover cookies completely, it should be slightly runny. If you are doing fine decoration, the icing should be stiff. Add a little water to loosen up the icing or add a little more powdered sugar to make it thicker.
- Color: Add any food coloring you’d like then the royal icing is ready to use. It is perfect for decorating sugar cookies and will harden on the cookie after about 2 hours.
Chocolate Buttercream
Equipment
- Paddle attachment
- Measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp whole milk
Instructions
- Mixing: Add the softened butter to the bowl of the stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and turn the mixer on speed 1, letting the sugar slowly work into the butter.
- Creaming: Turn the speed up to high and let the butter and powdered sugar mix until light and fluffy, this should take about 5 minutes. After each minute, turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula to ensure all the butter is well blended in.
- Flavor: Add the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, salt and milk to the fluffy butter mix. Turn the mixer on low to incorporate the ingredients.
- Decorate: Add any food coloring desired then use the buttercream on cakes, cupcakes or anything you’d like!
Karen is a passionate pastry chef who loves to create delicious baked goods. She has been in the culinary arts for over 10 years, honing her skills and perfecting her craft. Karen is known for her creativity and attention to detail, creating unique desserts that bring a smile to everyone’s face. She is always looking for ways to challenge herself and come up with new recipes that are both tasty and visually appealing. Karen loves to experiment with different flavors and textures, and she is committed to providing the highest quality of products to her customers.
