• Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Cheesecake
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Dairy-Free
    • Egg-Free
    • Fillings and Toppings
    • Frosting and Fondant
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Gluten-Free
    • Muffins and Scones
    • Pastry
    • Pies and Tarts
    • Puddings and Custards
    • Quick Breads
    • Yeast Breads
  • Holiday Recipes
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Tea’s and Mother’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Fruit Recipes
    • Apple
    • Banana
    • Blueberry
    • Candied Fruit
    • Cherry
    • Coconut
    • Cranberry
    • Date
    • Lemon and Lime
    • Orange
    • Pear
    • Pineapple
    • Pumpkin
    • Raisin and Currant
    • Raspberry
    • Rhubarb
    • Strawberry
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan-Sweet
    • Vegan-Savory
  • Baking Tips
  • Baking Glossary
  • About
    • About Carol
    • About Recipes
    • About Photos
    • About Glossary and Tips
    • Disclosure Statement
    • Privacy Policy
    • New Features
    • Links
  • Extras
    • Food Days
    • Sweet Celebrations
    • Tieks Review
    • Quilts
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

American Buttercream

May 17, 2013 by Carol Arroyo

Save Print
American Buttercream
This old-time buttercream has been used through many generations, and is the perfect finish to almost any cake or cupcake recipe. The classic flavor is vanilla; however, you can substitute other flavors such as almond or mint in place of the vanilla for a delicious variation.

Many recipes for American Buttercream are so overly sweet they are unpleasant to eat. But this American Buttercream recipe has the perfect balance of butter and sugar, making it not too sweet. A pinch of salt plus a splash of whipping cream and vanilla is all it takes to finish making this luscious and creamy frosting.
Recipe type: Dessert | Cake Frosting
Serves: About 3 cups
Prep time:  15 mins
Total time:  15 mins
Recipe Notes
Equipment: Electric Mixer Yield: 3 Cups Storage: Refrigerate or Freeze

TheBakingPan Recommends: The BEST instant read thermometer I’ve used for cooking and baking; the ThermoWorks Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is incredibly fast, ThermoWorks Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapenaccurate, and well worth the investment. I use my Thermapen Thermometer for checking room temperature ingredients, tempering chocolate, baking bread, making pastry creams, sugar syrup, caramel, and candy, cooking meats and fish, and deep frying. Thermapen Thermometer available here.
Ingredients
Buttercream: (makes about 3 cups frosting)
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3½ cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar, sifted before measuring
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons whipping (heavy) cream
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Buttercream:
  1. In a large bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, place the butter and beat on medium to medium-high speed 3 to 4 minutes until it is smooth, creamy, and light in color.
  2. Reduce the speed to medium-low, add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and salt, beat until smooth. Add the heavy cream and vanilla and beat until well blended. Add the remaining powdered sugar about 1 cup at a time; beating after each addition until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Then continue beating for another 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high to high speed to make the frosting ultra-light and fluffy.
  3. Use an offset spatula, or use a pastry bag and decorating tip to pipe the frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.
  4. Cover unused frosting tightly or place in an airtight container. Frosting can be stored in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Re-whip frosting when ready to use to bring it back to a fluffy texture, adding a small amount of milk or cream if necessary.

Republished 11-29-18 to update ingredients and instructions. Republished 9-9-2018 to update recipe name. Old name: Sweet Cream Frosting. New name: American Buttercream.
3.5.3251

 

Filed Under: Egg Free, Frosting and Fondant, Gluten Free Tagged With: american buttercream, egg-free frosting, gluten-free frosting, vanilla frosting

Search TheBakingPan

Recent Recipes

  • Memories of My Mom’s Apple Pie
    Memories of My Mom’s Apple Pie
  • Easter Coconut Cake
    Easter Coconut Cake
  • Vanilla Macarons – Italian Meringue
    Vanilla Macarons – Italian Meringue
  • Lemony Carrot Cake
    Lemony Carrot Cake
  • Brioche Coffee Cake
    Brioche Coffee Cake

Cakes

Easter Coconut Cake

April 16, 2019 By Carol Arroyo

Save Print Easter Coconut Cake A coconut custard cake all dressed for Easter. I purchased the cute Easter sprinkles at a local cake decorating shop. I made one mistake on this cake; when making the white chocolate drip I was rushed for time and simply melted the candy melts instead of making a ganache. This […]

Lemony Carrot Cake

April 5, 2019 By Carol Arroyo

Save Print Lemony Carrot Cake A simple carrot cake flavored with a touch of cinnamon and crushed pineapple, and wowed with a lemony cream cheese filling. I used American Buttercream for the frosting, but Swiss Meringue Buttercream or Flour Buttercream would also be delicious. Recipe type: Dessert | Oil Cake | Layer Cake Prep time:  45 […]

Recipes

  • Cakes
  • Candy
  • Cheesecake
  • Chocolate
  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Cupcakes
  • Dairy-Free
  • Easter
  • Egg-Free
  • 4th of July
  • Fillings and Toppings
  • Frosting and Fondant
  • Fruit Desserts
  • Gluten-Free
  • Halloween
  • Muffins and Scones
  • Pastry
  • Pies and Tarts
  • Puddings and Custards
  • Quick Breads
  • Tea’s and Mother’s Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Yeast Breads
TheBakingPan
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    ▼
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Cheesecake
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Dairy-Free
    • Egg-Free
    • Fillings and Toppings
    • Frosting and Fondant
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Gluten-Free
    • Muffins and Scones
    • Pastry
    • Pies and Tarts
    • Puddings and Custards
    • Quick Breads
    • Yeast Breads
  • Holiday Recipes
    ▼
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Tea’s and Mother’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Fruit Recipes
    ▼
    • Apple
    • Banana
    • Blueberry
    • Candied Fruit
    • Cherry
    • Coconut
    • Cranberry
    • Pineapple
    • Date
    • Lemon and Lime
    • Orange
    • Pear
    • Pineapple
    • Pumpkin
    • Raisin and Currant
    • Raspberry
    • Rhubarb
    • Strawberry
  • Vegan Recipes
    ▼
    • Vegan-Sweet
    • Vegan-Savory
  • Baking Tips
  • Baking Glossary
  • About
    ▼
    • About Carol
    • About Recipes
    • About Photos
    • About Glossary and Tips
    • Disclosure Statement
    • Privacy Policy
    • New Features
    • Links
  • Extras
    ▼
    • Food Days
    • Quilts
    • Sweet Celebrations
    • Tieks Review