Really, Really Good (And Easy!) Buttercream Frosting

Submitted by Greeny4444

"First off, I have to give all credit to the Confessions of a Cookbook Queen blog, because that's where I found this recipe. It is the best country (non-cook) buttercream frosting that I have ever had. If you're decorating a cake or cupcakes, it also holds up well. I guessed on the yield, but this recipe will easily frost 24 cupcakes."

 

• Ready In: 10mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Yields: 2 1/2 cups

ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk (any type except fat-free)
• 1 -2 tablespoon corn syrup (I used light)
• 1⁄3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for chocolate frosting) (optional)

directions

1. Put butter, milk, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer (if you don’t have a stand mixer, a hand mixer will do).
2. Mix on low speed until it just starts to come together, about a minute.
3. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Increase to medium low speed and beat for about another minute.
4. Increase mixer speed to medium high and beat for about another or minute or so.
5. Add powdered sugar (and cocoa, if using). Beat on low speed until sugar is just barely incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and increase speed slowly to medium. Beat for about a minute.
6. Check your consistency. This is very important because if your frosting is too thick, it will not spread well.
7. If your spatula does not glide through the frosting, add about a tablespoon of corn syrup and beat on medium for about 30 seconds.
8. When the frosting is just holding its shape, it is too thick (if you are wanting to pipe some decorations on your cake/cupcakes, now would be the time to set a little of this aside in a separate bowl).
9. Add another tablespoon of corn syrup and beat on medium for 30 seconds.
10. Repeat until the frosting seems to be of a good spreadable consistency (you don’t want it too runny, or it will slide off the cake/cupcakes).
11. Once you get your frosting to a good, spreadable consistency, increase mixer speed to medium high and beat for one minute. This will get your frosting nice and fluffy.

Reviews

[Lavender Lynn]

This made a wonderful chocolate frosting. Made for Fall PAC 2012.

 

[Susan R]

This is a fantastic buttercream recipe. I didn't have shortening for my regular buttercream, so i went looking for an easy recipe that didn't contain it. Glad I did! This recipe is super easy and delicious. I used heavy cream instead of milk and subed cherry extract for the vanilla (adding just a touch more cherry). I also added 1 Tbs of the light corn syrup. I used a 1M tip to pipe swirls on mini cupcakes. It piped like a dream. I had enough frosting to pipe 24 minis and small swirls on 7 reg cupcakes. This is my new go-to frosting.