Buttercream icing is the ideal way to turn a simple cake into something a little bit special, and this recipe takes just 5 minutes to make! Deliciously smooth and creamy, this buttercream icing is perfect for <a href="/recipes/simple-fairy-cakes">fairy cakes</a>, cupcakes and <a href="/recipes/quick-and-easy-victoria-sponge">Victoria sponges</a>. This recipe will create enough buttercream to cover an 8" circular cake. 
 
Once you've mastered how to make buttercream, why not try <a href="/recipes/salted-chocolate-buttercream">salted chocolate buttercream</a> or <a href="/recipes/coffee-buttercream">coffee buttercream</a>?

Easy

We show you how to make buttercream icing using this really simple recipe. This step by step video shows you how easy it is to make buttercream perfect for frosting cupcakes & birthday cakes

How to make buttercream

Unsalted butter (softened)

Silver Spoon Icing Sugar

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract

Whole milk

Looking for a quick and easy buttercream recipe? Look no further Try our smooth buttercream icing and a special flavour to your cakes

Buttercream Icing Recipe | How To Make Buttercream

Bring your butter to room temperature so that it is softened, then using either a hand or electric mixer&nbsp;beat together the butter adding in the icing sugar gradually until fully incorporated.

Add&nbsp;in the vanilla and continue to beat until the buttercream is light and fluffy. This might take a few minutes, the longer that you beat your buttercream for the light in texture it will be. If your buttercream is quite stiff, add half a table spoon of milk and whisk until it loosens.

Once the buttercream is ready, fill a piping bag fitted with a nozzle with the buttercream to pipe decorations on your cupcakes or alternatively, use a pallet knife to smooth your buttercream inside or over your cake.

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Tips & Tricks

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Buttercream

Brandy Butter on a plate next to a Christmas pudding. Glass of brandy in the background

Brandy Butter

Chocolate traybake covered in chocolate icing on top of a wire cooling rack with a spoon covered in chocolate in top corner

Chocolate Fudge Icing

Citrus Buttercream

Using for four tier cake. Doing 3 or four batches and is absolutely incredible. First time I've ever made buttercream and it was so quick.

AMAZING!!! I sometimes add some chocolate powder to this recipe to make chocolate buttercream and I usually mix the butter and sugar together until it looks like breadcrumbs, then I add the milk (or if you want it extra thick and creamy add some cream!)

Definitely 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always use this buttercream recipe for my cakes! It is very good! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Basic Buttercream Icing

How to make butter icing

Method

Ingredients

Utensils

We'd love a slice of advice.

Recipe Reviews