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    Home » The Best Homemade Vanilla Frosting

    The Best Homemade Vanilla Frosting

    Published: Jul 14, 2020 · Modified: Jul 19, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    The BEST homemade vanilla frosting recipe! This vanilla frosting recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes with 6 ingredients! Great frosting for decorating cakes & cookies! Ditch the store-bought frosting for good!

    unicorn cake decorated with homemade vanilla frosting

    This is a recipe for the best Homemade Vanilla Frosting Recipe that is perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies! There's no reason to ever buy store-bought frosting again, when this frosting recipe is so easy to make that it comes together in 5 minutes with 6 ingredients!

    This is seriously the best vanilla frosting.  Every person who tries it falls in love...even if they're "not a frosting person." I love that it not only tastes great but it's also excellent to decorate with. The mixture of shortening and butter makes it easy to pipe, plus it hardens beautifully! It's really a recipe you need in your tool belt!

    I have used it to decorate every cake (this chocolate cake from scratch and this chocolate chip cookie cake) I've ever made over the last 13 years - which, with 6 kids plus one husband is a lot of cake decorating.  It can also be frozen and saved for later. Seriously you need to try this easy vanilla frosting recipe ASAP!

    front view of a cake decorated with homemade vanilla frosting

    Vanilla Frosting: Ingredients & Substitutions

    This homemade vanilla frosting is made with only 6 ingredients, so we'll chat about them quickly before we jump into the recipe!

    Use Room temperature ingredients

    One very important thing to note about the ingredients in this vanilla frosting recipe is that they all need to be at room temperature. They mix much better if they are not cold. Frosting also pipes much easier at room temperature.

    overhead view of the ingredients in this homemade vanilla frosting recipe
    • Salted Butter. I use salted butter to make frosting (and just about everything). Unsalted butter works perfectly as well. You can also try using vegan butter for a dairy-free version. 
    • Shortening. I use Crisco all-vegetable shortening to make this vanilla frosting. It works well and is easy to use because it comes in stick form. I don't recommend making substitutions for the shortening. 
    • Milk. I have used many different varieties of milk, I recommend whole milk or 2% milk to make this homemade frosting. 
    • Pure vanilla extract. Use pure extract for the best flavor. You can also use vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste. 
    • Sea salt. I like to add a pinch of sea salt to really bring out the flavors. This is optional, and you can omit it if you'd like. 
    front view of a cake decorated with homemade vanilla frosting

     How to Make Homemade Vanilla Frosting 

    This vanilla frosting recipe is very straightforward, but here are a few tips to ensure that it turns out perfectly!

    Cream together butter and shortening

    The first step in this homemade vanilla frosting recipe is to cream together the butter and shortening. Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture before moving onto the next step. 

    Add vanilla and sea salt

    Next, add vanilla and sea salt and beat again until the mixture is smooth. 

    overhead photo showing how to make vanilla frosting

    Add half of the powdered sugar

    Next, add half of the powdered sugar and beat until it is all incorporated. 

    overhead photo showing how to make vanilla frosting

    Add milk & the rest of the powdered sugar

    One the first half of the powdered sugar is incorporated, add the milk and the rest of the powered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. You may need to pause, scrape down the sides, and continue beating to be sure to incorporate all the powdered sugar. 

    Front photo showing homemade vanilla frosting on a beater over a mixing bowl

    Food coloring

    If you would like to dye the vanilla frosting, add coloring after your frosting is well-mixed and has reached the desired consistency.  

    If you are making many colors, pull out small bowls and dye them one at a time.  I highly recommend using gel food coloring instead of the liquid variety, and always save some pure white just in case!

    overhead photo of 3 bowls of frosting dyed with food coloring: blue pink and purple

    Decorating with Vanilla Frosting

    You can use this homemade frosting to decorate many different baked goods. From sugar cookies to cake, there's no wrong way to enjoy this vanilla frosting! Here are some suggestions:

    • I use this vanilla frosting to frost this chocolate cake for every birthday cake I make!
    • It's also great to use on these chocolate cupcakes.
    • Slather some of this on top of the best sugar cookies.
    • We use it to make this nativity cake at Christmas.

    Freeze cake before frosting

    If you are using this vanilla frosting to decorate a cake, I recommend baking the cake a day ahead of time and freezing it. That way after you make the frosting, it will spread onto the cake easily without catching crumbs. Remember, do not chill or freeze the frosting, it spreads and pipes easiest at room temperature. 

    Overhead photo of vanilla frosting being spread onto a cake

    Frost a crumb coat

    Even if you plan on covering the cake in a design, roses, etc. I recommend doing a thin crumb coat with the vanilla frosting on the entire cake first. This also minimizes crumbs in the frosting so the final product looks pretty. I use this large pastry scraper to make smooth edges/tops. 

    Front view of a cake being frosted with homemade vanilla frosting

    Pipe on a design

    For this video I made my daughters 5th birthday cake, and of course she requested a unicorn cake. I put 3 colors into a piping bag and piped on rosettes using a Wilton 1M tip.

    front view of a cake decorated with homemade vanilla frosting

    FAQs about Homemade Frosting

    Here are some commonly asked questions about this vanilla frosting recipe. 

    How do you store homemade frosting?

    You can store the vanilla frosting for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    You can also store it in the piping bags in the freezer or refrigerator. I often use disposable decorating bags and if I have leftover frosting I just toss the bags into the freezer or refrigerator

    Can you freeze homemade frosting?

    This vanilla frosting recipe recipe makes a ton of frosting, and it freezes exceptionally well! Even if I know I only need half of the recipe I still make the whole batch so that I can have some on hand in the freezer!
    When you're ready to use it remove from freezer and let it come to room temperature gradually (do NOT microwave). 

    How do you store a decorated cake?

    Once you use this frosting to decorate a cake, I suggest storing the decorated cake in the refrigerator so that the frosting hardens faster. However, we are a room-temperature cake-eating family. If you are too, take the cake out of the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving. If there are any leftovers, store at room temperature covered in foil for up to four days. Or in the refrigerator for longer.

    overhead view of a cake decorated with vanilla frosting

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Best Homemade Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    Laura
    The BEST homemade vanilla frosting recipe! 5 minutes and 6 ingredients is all it takes to make the best frosting at home! Ditch the store-bought varieties! Great for decorating cakes & cookies! 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course condiment, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 (servings) Enough to frost a 2-layer 8-9" round cake
    Calories 283 kcal

    Equipment

    • KitchenAid Mixer
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • gel food coloring
    • piping bag
    • Wilton 1M tip
    • large coupler

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup salted butter softened
    • 1 cup shortening
    • ¼ tsp sea salt
    • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 2 pounds powdered sugar (about 7.5-8 cups, or 1 bag)
    • ⅓ cup milk

    Instructions
     

    • Cream together butter and shortening until smooth.
    • Add salt and vanilla and beat until well combined.
    • Slowly add powdered sugar 1 or 2 cups at a time until your mixture is thick and a little lumpy (you can always add more later).
    • Add milk and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
    • If necessary, add more powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.
    • Use to frost your favorite cakes, cookies and cupcakes!**

    Video

    Notes

    Notes: 

    • As you can see, my frosting isn’t pure white. This is because I used vanilla extract that is brown. If you want a whiter frosting, use clear vanilla.
    • If you plan to decorate with this frosting please keep it at room temperature. Cold frosting does not pipe well (or at all)!
    • If you’d like to add color, simply mix it in after your frosting has reached your desired consistency!
    • I usually decorate cakes the night before and let them set up in the fridge. Then I remove from the fridge at least 2 hours before serving so they can come to room temperature.
    • This makes a TON of frosting! If you don't use it all you can freeze it to use for later!

    How to store vanilla frosting:

    • This vanilla frosting lasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    • You can also store it in the piping bags in the freezer or refrigerator. I often use disposable decorating bags and if I have leftover frosting I just toss the bags into the freezer or refrigerator

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Salted Butter. I use salted butter to make frosting (and just about everything). Unsalted butter works perfectly as well. You can also try using vegan butter for a dairy-free version. 
    • Shortening. I use Crisco all-vegetable shortening to make this vanilla frosting. It works well and is easy to use because it comes in stick form. I don't recommend making substitutions for the shortening. 
    • Milk. I have used many different varieties of milk, I recommend whole milk or 2% milk to make this homemade frosting. 
    • Pure vanilla extract. Use pure extract for the best flavor. You can also use vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste. 
    • Sea salt. I like to add a pinch of sea salt to really bring out the flavors. This is optional, and you can omit it if you'd like. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2TBSCalories: 283kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 0.2gFat: 16.3gSaturated Fat: 84gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.8gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 63mgPotassium: 9.3mgSugar: 34gVitamin A: 250IUCalcium: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This sunflower cake was for M's first birthday. Still my most favorite cake I ever decorated to date! 

    overhead view of a sunflower cake decorated with the best homemade vanilla frosting recipe

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    « Healthy Chocolate Overnight Oats
    Best Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream »

    Did you make this recipe?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vickie Duck

      July 24, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      Can you make this frosting into a peanut butter frosting and will if work then by piping it onto cupcakes and hold up

      Reply
      • Laura

        July 25, 2022 at 7:00 am

        I recommend following this recipe: Peanut Butter Frosting

        Reply
    2. Dawn

      December 24, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      I don't need that much frosting for cookies I'm making and if like to know how to go about making less. Please. Thank you.

      Reply
    3. Michelle

      September 08, 2019 at 10:17 pm

      I’m making this recipe soon, but need to know should the butter be unsalted? Thx!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        April 10, 2022 at 6:42 am

        5 stars
        I used unsalted and it turned out great.

        Reply
    4. Marie Quang

      June 21, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      Can you use margarine instead of butter ?

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 22, 2019 at 6:47 am

        Hello Marie! You can, but for the best flavor I recommend butter!

        Reply
    5. Haley

      June 17, 2019 at 8:45 am

      Can’t wait to try this recipe! About how many dozen cupcakes does it frost??

      Reply
    6. Michelle

      November 28, 2018 at 11:42 am

      5 stars
      Just made this buttercream icing and WOW! It is even more delicious than I was expecting! I made a 3 tier 9 inch cake and unfortunately I was only able to do rosettes around the sides (not the top) but it was my first attempt and turned out pretty great! I will definitely be using this icing recipe many more times! Thanks!

      Reply
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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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