Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

I made these cupcakes with St. Patrick ’s Day in mind, with their beautiful, green cakes and a light vanilla buttercream frosting. I have been craving this frosting since I bought the green velvet cake mix (yes, craving something other than chocolate, surprising!).

As I was making these cupcakes, I realized the best part is the vanilla buttercream frosting. The delicate taste of this creamy, buttery, vanilla frosting upon these miniature green mounds was quite yummy! Vanilla buttercream frosting for breakfast….is it my birthday already? {smile}

If you haven’t gotten around to making your own buttercream frosting yet, you have got to try this recipe! Not only is it easy to make but it only calls for five ingredients – butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and half & half. As I’ve said before, it taste so much better than store bought versions. This recipe is adapted from Alice Currah's  Classic vanilla buttercream frosting recipe.

To be honest with you, this is the first time I’ve used my Kitchen Aid mixer that I got for Christmas! I know, I don’t know what took me so long to use it, but I absolutely, positively LOVE it <3

I’ve always mixed everything by hand growing up and just found it easier than bringing out a mixer…until today! I don’t know how I ever did without it! I found a little place on the counter for it so now it’s more readily accessible than sitting in that box in my bedroom!

So if you too are using your stand mixer, this frosting should take only five minutes to whip up and makes a serving size of 2 and half cups of frosting or 12 cupcakes. This vanilla buttercream frosting is great for decorating cakes and cupcakes.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature *texture should be like ice cream*

2-3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

¼ teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

4 Tablespoons half & half (can also use heavy cream)

2-4 drops food coloring  *optional*

Directions

Place butter in mixing bowl and beat for a couple minutes with the paddle attachment on medium speed.

Slowly add 2 cups of powdered sugar to butter and mix on lowest speed (otherwise your powdered sugar will blow everywhere) until sugar is creamed thoroughly with butter.

Turn off mixer and add your vanilla, salt, and 2 Tablespoons of half and half. Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.

*If you want thicker frosting, add remaining cup of sugar.

*If you want thinner frosting, slowly add remaining tablespoons of half and half until you achieve desired consistency.

*I also added a little food coloring to give my frosting a hint of green color for St. Patrick’s Day. You can add other colors too if you want colored frosting.

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