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Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting (Vanilla Buttercream)

Baking Basics

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This easy sugar cookie frosting (vanilla buttercream) is the perfect homemade vanilla frosting! It’s light and fluffy, and full of sweet vanilla flavor.

star shaped cookies with vanilla frosting

This vanilla frosting is my favorite topping for homemade sugar cookies! Plus a video!

sugar cookie frosting on soft sugar cookies

How is it already the end of December?!

I keep telling myself I have all this time to buy gifts and bake Christmas goodies and do all the things on my Christmas bucket list…and time is ticking away at the speed of light and I just don’t know how I’m going to pack it all in.

Send help.

And time, if any of you have that to spare. πŸ˜‰

plain sugar cookies on white plate

At least I did check one thing off my list: baking Christmas cookies with my sweet niece! My mom, sister, niece and I spent Saturday making homemade cutout sugar cookies with this super Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting, and it as one of those fantastic Christmas-memory-making-moments.

You should have seen her eyes when the cookies came out of the oven. 😍

Cutest thing ever.

Before I go on and on and start sharing pictures and videos (I am unabashedly that aunt), let’s get back to the reason we’re all here!

And, in the words of my niece, “It’s cookie time!”

Yes. Yes it is. 

homemade vanilla frosting on star sugar cookies

All right, so I’ve been watching Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge, and let me tell you, there are some cookie artists over there.

Umm, I have discovered that I am not a cookie artist. I can do minimal designs with royal icing, buuut, frosting is more my jam. 

When it comes to sugar cookie frosting, I am all about the vanilla buttercream. And thankfully, spreading buttercream on a cookie does not take any artistic ability whatsoever.

Hallelujah! Plus, I’m kind of in love with this frosting and I would pretty much slather this on everything, including a spoon.

It’s only a few ingredients (butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract and heavy cream or milk), and a homemade buttercream frosting recipe is so much richer and creamier than store bought frosting.

In truth, I used to be intimidated to make frosting at home. However, this recipe really is simple (you can see how simple in the step-by-step video!) and the rich vanilla flavor is unbeatable.

homemade vanilla frosting on star sugar cookies

And, and, and! This Sugar Cookie Frosting is only 4-ingredients. Let’s talk about the Tips & Tricks for this Sugar Cookie Frosting!

  • Start with room temperature butter. You want the butter to be soft to the touch but not liquid.
  • Cream the butter for a couple of minutes (seriously!). It might feel like a long time, but it is worth it to get the butter extra creamy.
  • Add the powdered sugar a little bit at a time. Not only will this keep the powdered sugar from exploding everywhere, it also will help it mix more smoothly into the buttercream.

So, technically, even though I call this “sugar cookie frosting,” you can use this vanilla buttercream recipe on any dessert you want.

vanilla frosting piped on sugar cookies

 

Oh happy day!

5 from 2 votes
star shaped cookies with vanilla frosting
Print
Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting (Vanilla Buttercream)
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Sugar Cookie Frosting: This easy homemade vanilla frosting (vanilla buttercream) is the perfect sugar cookie frosting! It's light and fluffy, and full of sweet vanilla flavor. This vanilla frosting is my favorite topping for homemade sugar cookies!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy sugar cookie frosting
Servings: 1 -2 cups frosting
Author: Michelle
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2-4 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
  • food coloring, if desired
Instructions
  1. With a standing mixer or hand mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes--it seems like a long time, but it's worth it!).
  2. Add in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time (beginning with only 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar), beating well after each addition.
  3. Add in vanilla extract and 2 Tbsp of heavy whipping cream, beating well.
  4. If the frosting seems too thin, add in the remaining powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add in the remaining heavy whipping cream.
  5. If desired, add food coloring.
  6. Spread or pipe onto cookie!
  7. Enjoy!
  8. If making ahead of time, keep frosting in the fridge, and then let the frosting come to room temperature before spreading onto cookies.
Recipe Notes

*Allow the frosting to dry (10-15 minutes or so) before stacking in an airtight container.

 

easy sugar cookie frosting on sugar cookies collage

Here are some other recipes you might like:

Chewy Sugar Cookies

These soft and chewy sugar cookies are a Christmas cookie staple! This no-chill dough sugar cookie recipe is full of simple ingredients and comes together quickly!

Chewy Molasses Sugar Cookies

These chewy molasses sugar cookies are one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes! They are rich, chewy, and have just a hint of spice to make them perfect for the holidays! Homemade molasses cookies are the best Christmas dessert or edible Christmas gift!

Cutout Chocolate Sugar Cookies

cutout chocolate sugar cookies with royal icing on white plate

Updated 2019.

Shared by Michelle

Comments

  1. JP says

    January 17, 2018 at 7:08 am

    Do the cookies need to be refrigerated since there’s heavy whipping cream?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      January 26, 2018 at 10:40 pm

      If sealed in an airtight container, the cookies and frosting do last for about 3-4 days. You are more than welcome to refrigerate, however, if you would prefer! Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Anna Lorraine says

    February 28, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    5 stars
    So easy and yummy. πŸ™‚ I used Earth Balance Vegan Butter and it still worked great.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      April 28, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Ooh, that’s so good to know! I’m glad it turned out great! ❀️

      Reply
    • Jenny says

      December 23, 2019 at 6:06 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing this! I was wondering if my Earth Balance butter would work or not!

      Reply
  3. Moniqueca says

    October 28, 2018 at 5:27 am

    5 stars
    Made cookie cake bars but after reading the reviews decided to look for a different frosting. That’s when I found this recipe and can I say I am so happy that I did!!
    Easy recipe, that made my cookie bars pop with the extra flavor. 😊

    Reply
  4. Peggy Jones says

    December 13, 2018 at 10:42 am

    I dont have heavy whipping cream so going to use half and half.

    Reply
  5. Jasmine opal says

    December 14, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    This worked out great thank you so much! I’m hoping to make a you tube video of it!

    Reply
  6. Donna says

    December 16, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe! Very vanilla-y! Im mailing to my Dad out of state so i left the milk oit and it tastes fine still. Made one batch with peppermint flavor and green coloring. Savimg this recipe thanks!

    Reply
  7. Katy says

    December 18, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    An making this for my caroling party!

    Reply
  8. krista Lynn says

    December 24, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    ugh! I don’t have heavy whipping cream, can I use milk?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      December 30, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      Yes! It won’t be as creamy, but milk will definitely do the trick πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Sara says

    January 6, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Salted or unsalted bitter? Lol

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      January 6, 2019 at 11:08 pm

      Hi Sara! I always use unsalted butter so that I can control how much salt goes in the recipe. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  10. Margi says

    November 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    5 stars
    My 12 year old son told me I nailed the frosting on the cookies. Thanks for the recipe sooooooo good.

    Reply

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I'm Michelle and this is where you'll witness my baking addiction. I bleed coffee and breathe sugar. Come join me as I journey through life one recipe at a time! READ MORE
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