American Buttercream (With Variations)

Notes

• Make sure to add enough cream that the frosting is spreadable, if spreading on a cake.

Ingredients

• 1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pure vanilla paste (or extract)
• 3 c (360 g) powdered sugar
• 1-4 tbsp cream

Steps

1. Beat butter, salt, and vanilla paste until creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar and cream, alternating and in increments, until frosting reaches desired consistency.

Variations

Champagne

• Use either 1 c (236 mL) champagne reduced down to 2 tbsp and cooled, or 1 tsp Marc de Champagne, in place of vanilla.

Chocolate: Cocoa Powder

• Add 3/4 c (75 g) cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process).
• Reduce vanilla to 1 tsp.

Chocolate: Feves/Discs

• Add 110 g chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 tsp.

Chocolate: Feves/Discs, with Egg Yolk (Ina Garten’s Recipe)

• Add 170 g chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature, with 1 tbsp instant espresso powder.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 tsp.
• Reduce powdered sugar to 150 g.
• Whip butter and yolk, then add sugar, and beat until creamy. Blend in chocolate but DO NOT WHIP.

Chocolate (White)

• Reduce sugar to 1 c (120 g).
• Reduce vanilla to 1 tsp.
• Add 12 oz (340 g) white chocolate, melted and cooled to the same temperature as the butter (to avoid clumping). Beat with butter, then add sugar.

Coffee/Espresso/Latte

• Combine 4 tsp instant espresso with 2 tsp water. Stir to dissolve. Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Beat with butter, then add other ingredients.

Lemon

• Add 1 c (120 g) powdered sugar.
• Use 2 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tsp lemon zest instead of vanilla.
• Optionally, add 1 tsp apple cider vinegar for extra tang.

Lemon Elderflower

• Add 1 c (120 g) powdered sugar.
• Add 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp elderflower liqueur.

Marshmallow

• Reduce sugar to 1.25 c (150 g).
• Add 180 g marshmallow creme.

Orange Blossom

• Use 1/2 tsp orange blossom water and 1/4 tsp vanilla.

Peanut Butter

• Replace half the butter with smooth/creamy regular (i.e., not “natural” or organic) peanut butter.

Peppermint

• Use 1/2 tsp peppermint extract instead of vanilla.

Strawberry or Raspberry

• Use 30 g powdered freeze-dried fruit instead of vanilla.