Fluffy Vanilla Sugar Cookie Frosting
A light, airy, and perfectly sweet vanilla frosting ideal for sugar cookies, cupcakes, and more. Made with simple pantry staples, it whips up quickly to a fluffy, spreadable texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups frosting (approximately 16 servings of 2 tablespoons each) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 to 4 cups (360 to 480 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: a few drops almond extract
- Optional: gel food coloring
Instructions
- Soften the butter by letting 1 cup (225 grams) of unsalted butter sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes until soft but not melting.
- Sift 3 to 4 cups (360 to 480 grams) of powdered sugar into a bowl to avoid lumps.
- Beat the softened butter on medium speed with a stand or hand mixer for about 2 minutes until creamy and pale.
- Lower mixer speed to low and gradually add powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Add 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, then beat on medium speed to combine.
- Slowly pour in 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk, beating on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Adjust consistency by adding more cream (1 teaspoon at a time) if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- If desired, add food coloring or almond extract and mix until evenly combined.
- Give the frosting a final whip for 30 seconds to 1 minute to ensure perfect fluffiness.
Notes
Use softened butter at room temperature but not melting for best texture. Add powdered sugar gradually to avoid sugar dust clouds. Heavy cream is preferred over milk for fluffiness. Chill frosting for 10-15 minutes if too soft for piping or spreading. For dairy-free versions, substitute butter with vegan margarine and heavy cream with coconut cream or almond milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 22
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
Keywords: vanilla frosting, sugar cookie frosting, fluffy frosting, easy frosting recipe, homemade frosting, cookie topping, vanilla buttercream