The most effective Vanilla Buttercream you’ll ever make! 4 easy components are all you could make this basic American buttercream recipe.
I made my very own birthday cake. I feel that is fairly normal for bakers, and I’m completely comfortable with it. I used to be really not going to make a cake in any respect, since I used to be knee-deep in Pastry College on the time, however my husband insisted that we wanted one, even when that meant shopping for one from the grocery retailer.
That is more durable and more durable for me to do as of late. Shopping for a grocery retailer birthday cake was once a factor (I do know they’re gross to some, however I really like the sickly sweetness – I’m sorry!). Lately I do know I can (and have) made higher, so I can’t convey myself to purchase them.
It helped that I nonetheless had a pair cake layers within the freezer from after I baked them for my Flat High Desserts put up. The recipe I used there was my Virtually Scratch Cake. It’s such a easy and scrumptious recipe and goes completely with this straightforward vanilla buttercream recipe.
So with the cake layers already achieved, all I needed to do was defrost them, make the frosting, and embellish. I made a decision to go for an American Buttercream for ease.
What’s American Buttercream Frosting?
I’ve really had a tough time nailing down a very good, easy vanilla buttercream recipe – what some would name American Buttercream – that makes use of primarily butter and powdered sugar.
I often make Swiss meringue buttercream, which I really like however takes a bit extra effort, and I used to be most definitely in search of one thing with little or no effort.
The BEST vanilla frosting I’d ever had was on my marriage ceremony cake, a cake we commissioned from Gannon’s, the restaurant we had our reception at. We didn’t do any tastings or see any samples, we simply despatched them an image of what we needed it to appear like and selected our flavors.
This cake was unbelievable, the buttercream so easy and scrumptious. We had a ton of leftovers, which we fortunately took again to our apartment and devoured over the subsequent few days.
I’d talked about a number of instances to Ryan that I questioned how they made it. I assumed it was a meringue-based one as a result of it was so silky easy, nevertheless it was much less buttery than ones I’d made earlier than. Powdered sugar-based buttercreams all the time really feel so gritty… so it couldn’t be that.
Unbeknownst to me, Ryan had emailed Gannon’s and requested them for the recipe. He ought to most likely get some form of award, proper?! I’d by no means do that. I truthfully didn’t suppose they might expose their secrets and techniques, however they despatched over a recipe!
Learn how to make American Buttercream
This American buttercream consists of 4 easy components — butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. However there are a couple of key issues you are able to do to verify your buttercream is sweet and easy with as little grit as potential.
- Step one is to actually whip the butter by itself, earlier than including any powdered sugar.
- Sift your powdered sugar! It is a little bit of a ache, however actually helps to interrupt out these clumps
- Add your powdered sugar slowly — 1/2 cup to 1 cup at a time to the buttercream and whip nicely in between additions.
- As soon as all of the sugar is added, give it a very good whip for at the least 3 minutes, extra if wanted.
- Add solely as a lot cream as wanted to achieve the consistency that you really want and whip some extra till utterly easy.
Frosting Tip!
Assist guarantee a brilliant easy American buttercream by sifting that powdered sugar first to do away with any clumps!
Now, I’m not satisfied that is the very same vanilla buttercream that was on our cake (it nonetheless felt a bit gritty after I made it, not as gritty as others earlier than), nevertheless it was scrumptious. I’m tremendous proud of the top consequence and will certainly be making this buttercream once more!
Learn how to make a rosette cake
For the adorning, I needed to strive one thing new (to me) and a rosette cake. I’ve seen this achieved earlier than and it seemed superb, so I needed to offer it a strive.
I had achieved rosettes earlier than, however often simply as ornament on prime of the desserts or on cupcakes, not one thing that might cowl the entire cake. I might have winged it, however I’m glad I checked out a few video tutorials first. I wouldn’t have thought to offset every row of roses to fill within the gaps.
I stacked and iced the desserts and did a crumb coat layer on the skin – thicker than only a crumb coat, however not too thick, because the rosettes would add numerous icing already.
For this rosette cake, I began on the backside and labored my manner round, then the subsequent layer, then the highest.
All in all, the rosette half was very easy and doubtless took lower than 10mins. I’m shocked at how straightforward it was, actually. It’s a easy method to embellish your desserts and make them look gorgeous!
This specific vanilla buttercream is a bit much less candy than most you’ll discover. I don’t like mine super-sweet, so I simply added much less powdered sugar. You’ll be able to modify this to your liking although — simply use extra/much less for those who desire, however remember to modify the cream as wanted!
In case you’re in search of a straightforward and scrumptious vanilla buttercream recipe, this one is for you!
Steadily Requested Questions
How a lot buttercream does this recipe make?
- This recipe makes sufficient to frost an 8″ two-layer cake or one three-layer 6″ cake.
- It needs to be sufficient to frost 18-24 cupcakes relying on how a lot frosting is used.
How can I taste this buttercream?
- For a chocolate model head on over to my Simple Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe.
- For citrus, add 1-2 Tbsp of zest or curd. If including the latter, skip the cream and solely add that if wanted.
- For different fruit flavors use freeze-dried berry powders. Add 1 Tbsp at a time on the finish till you attain the specified taste.
- For peanut butter frosting I like to recommend utilizing peanut butter powder. Add 1 Tbsp at a time on the finish till you attain the specified taste.
Ideas for making this vanilla buttercream
- Add cream 1 Tbsp at a time till you attain the specified consistency, make certain it’s at room temperature.
- For the rosettes, it’s greatest to observe a couple of on some parchment first. When prepared, pipe the underside row of rosettes, then offset them for the subsequent row.
- I used a 1M piping tip to do the rosettes.
- In case you’d wish to strive a meringue buttercream try my Swiss Meringue Buttercream tutorial.
- To assist guarantee your cake layers bake up good and flat, see my Flat High Desserts put up.
Easy Vanilla Buttercream (American Buttercream Recipe)
The most effective Vanilla Buttercream you’ll ever make! 4 easy components are all you could make this basic American buttercream recipe.
Servings 5 cups – sufficient to frost a 2-layer 8″ cake
Energy 1257kcal
Elements
- 6 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or flavoring of your alternative
- 4 tbsp heavy whipping cream room temperature
Directions
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Put together a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
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Whisk butter till creamy.
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Cut back velocity to low and add in icing sugar 1 cup at a time till nicely blended. Enhance velocity to med and beat for 3 minutes.
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Add vanilla and a pair of Tbsp cream and proceed to whip on medium for 1 minute.
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Add extra cream as wanted till desired consistency is reached (I added all 4 Tbsp).
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Whip till the frosting is easy and silky.
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Use a 1M tip to do rosettes across the cake if desired.
Energy: 1257kcalCarbohydrates: 144gProtein: 1gFats: 78gSaturated Fats: 49gLdl cholesterol: 212mgSodium: 18mgPotassium: 31mgSugar: 141gVitamin A: 2445IUCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
The dietary info and metric conversions are calculated robotically. I can not assure the accuracy of this knowledge. If that is vital to you, please confirm together with your favourite vitamin calculator and/or metric conversion device.
This recipe was initially revealed on Jan 4th, 2015. It was up to date with new content material on Jan twelfth, 2023.