American Buttercream Recipe (With How To Video!)

This American buttercream recipe is straight up frosting goals, whipped up to absolute perfection. It’s got that fluffy, airy, light thing going on without being too sweet. It’s just sweet enough boos. Whether you pipe it on cupcakes or add a dollop to your fave cookie, this American buttercream frosting has got the ultimate versatility to be a hit!

They’re Lovin’ It! Here’s what They’re Sayin’:

“This is a wonderful buttercream! Thank you so much for sharing. It has been one of the most delicious – not too sweet, not too greasy- frostings. The texture is amazing and is incredibly easy to decorate with.”

—ELLEN

I have a ton of cake and cupcake recipes on this website so having a versatile frosting that works in a pinch but still taste unreal is necessary. When I don’t have a ton of time, I can whip up this American buttercream in a flash making folks weak in the knees. I like to call it my fave beginner frosting because literally anyone can nail it.

And the best part is its versatility ya dig? You can use it for any and everything whether you want to frost shortbread cookies, or whether you want to ice a simple birthday chocolate cake or yellow cake recipe. Make this frosting recipe your bff.

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The Lowdown of The Best American Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: American Classic

Primary Cooking Method: Mixing

Dietary Info: Gluten-Free; Can be made Dairy-Free with ingredient swaps

Key Flavor: Creamy, Fluffy and Sweet

Skill Level: Easy y’all (No Sweat Fam!)

Straight Up No-Fuss

We whip up this buttercream with just five ingredients and the easiest instructions ever. It ain’t hard at all boos. Trust me, you can pull this off in mere minutes.

Light and Super Fluffy

Baby, this American buttercream frosting is like a cloud for your tastebuds. The smooth fluff factor is undefeated.

Versatility on Lock

Whether you whip up a bowl for hooking up your cake or cupcake recipes, this American butter cream goes with anything and everything y’all.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make American Butter Cream

• Unsalted Butter: Y’all this is the most important ingredient so make sure you go with a high fat brand with high quality. Higher fat butter has less water content. Brands like Land O Lakes, KerryGold, and Plugra are some of my faves.
• Salt: We add just enough to balance flavors and enhance the sweetness.
• Confectioner’s Sugar: This fine sugar dissolves into the butter easily making sure it whips to perfection.  You won’t taste the granules because of the fineness.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy whipping cream is my big secret when it comes to lightening the texture and flavor of the buttercream.  Just a hint adds to this buttercream giving it lightness and texture like whipped cream.
• Flavoring: I rely on pure vanilla extract when I’m making my basic recipe because that aromatic essence is the truth!

How to Make American Buttercream

Step 1: Cream It Up

1

Add the softened butter and salt to your stand mixer and beat at medium-low speed.

2

Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the confectioner’s sugar in small portions. Once it’s all added turn the speed to medium-high and beat until fully combined.

Step 2: Flavor It Up And Make It Smooth!

3

Add the heavy cream and vanilla.

4

Mix until the buttercream is nice and fluffy. If you are adding food coloring you can do it now.

5

Pipe and spread the buttercream onto your cake, cupcakes, or cookies. Be sure they are fully cooled before adding the frosting.

How to Use American Buttercream

• Cookies: Spread this American frosting on simple sugar cookies or tea cakes.
• Cakes: It works great on any cake you can think of! Try it with white cake, devil’s food cake, and even lemon cake.
• Cupcakes: Try it out on strawberry cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, and chocolate cupcakes.

Recipe Substitutions

• Butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter, use salted butter instead. Just leave out the salt in the mix boos.
• Confectioner’s Sugar: You can make homemade powdered sugar with granulated sugar if you don’t any.
• Heavy Cream: Since it’s just a little used, you can leave out if you don’t have any around or use half-and-half for a similar vibe.
• Vanilla: Feel free to up the vanilla essence with vanilla bean paste or use another extract you prefer.

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Dairy-Free: Swap out the butter for your fave plant-based butter and use a creamy coconut milk or oat milk cream replacement for the heavy cream.
• Citrus: Add zest and extract with your favorite citrus flavors. Lemon and orange taste delish!
• Coconut It Up: Add coconut extract to your frosting then sprinkle sweetened shredded coconut lightly over the top of your frosting after adding it to your desserts.
• Switch Up the Color: Use your favorite food coloring to add some pops of colors. If you are trying to create bright, vibrant colors, grab the gel food coloring instead of liquid boos.
• Add some sprinkles: This is best after frosting your cupcakes or cake but it’s an easy way to make it a bit more festive.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Room Temp boos!! This will allow the butter to be whipped into a fluffy texture and will also allow the sugar to melt into it perfectly y’all.
• Don’t skimp on the mixing! Allow the mixing process to continue on high for a few minutes!  It gives more lift and helps the sugar to truly dissolve into the butter allowing it to become one.  It also airs more air making everything much more fluffy!
• Have fun with flavors and colors. After whipping cream is mixed into the frosting you can in extracts, flavorings, or food coloring.
• Fully cool cakes, cookies, and cupcakes before adding the frosting.

How to Store American Buttercream

You can keep American buttercream at room temp for about 2 days in a cool area. Just make sure you keep it covered or stored in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.

How long will it last in the refrigerator?

It should be all good in the fridge for up to 6-7 days.

Can I freeze ?

Absolutely boos. Just transfer the buttercream to an airtight container removing all air and freeze for about 3 months. Don’t forget to add a label with the date you froze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using again. I like to give it a whip when it comes to room temp in the mixer before piping.

Frequently Asked Questions

More of the Best Frosting Recipes

• Oreo Frosting
• Caramel Frosting Buttercream
• Swiss Meringue Buttercream
• Chocolate Frosting
• Seven Minute Frosting
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Buttercream

Perfect American Buttercream Frosting Recipe

This American Buttercream Recipe is fluffy, airy and light, sweet and whipped to serious perfection!  You can use it on any cake, cookie or cupcake recipe because of its amazing versatility!  

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

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Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Course: Dessert

Servings: 12 servings

Equipment

• Stand mixer
• hand mixer

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter
• ▢ 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• ▢ 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
• ▢ 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1 ½ t pure vanilla extract
• ▢ Optional: Food coloring

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In your stand mixer, add butter and salt at medium low speed.
• Next turn the mixer down to low and slowly add confectioner’s sugar in small portions until all is added then turn the speed to medium high to combine.
• Add heavy cream and vanilla extract and mix until nice and fluffy. Add in food coloring at this point if desired.
• Pipe buttercream on room temperature cupcakes, cake, cookies or whatever you desire and serve it up.

Video

Notes

How to Store American Buttercream

You can keep American buttercream at room temp for about 2 days. Just make sure you keep it covered or stored in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.

How long will it last in the refrigerator?

It should be all good in the fridge for up to 6-7 days.

Can I freeze ?

Absolutely boos. Just transfer the buttercream to an airtight container removing all air and freeze for about 3 months. Don’t forget to add a label with the date you froze to the packaging. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using again. I like to give it a whip when it comes to room temp in the mixer before piping.

Nutrition

Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Calcium: 6mg

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This recipe was originally published January 2018. It has been updated with new images and content.

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