The BEST Buttercream Frosting for Sugar Cookies
The only buttercream frosting recipe you will ever need to top your Sugar Cookies with! Two special ingredients make this frosting the most vanilla-y recipe you ever did taste.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! What are you doing to celebrate Ireland getting all the snakes out of the land? Is that a myth? What is St. Patrick’s Day about again??
All I know is that I’m glad I’m not in school anymore, because I’m pretty sure I would be pinched within an inch of my life. I have ZERO green in my wardrobe right now. That’s because my wardrobe consists of 5 shirts. (Even after asking my friends on Facebook where to buy shirts and getting tons of suggestions, I still ended up buying all 5 shirts at Target, where I always buy my shirts. Because I’m classy and like to pick up my fashion digs and toilet paper all in one run.)
3 of my 5 shirts are the same shirt in different colors. (So if you see a blonde girl picking up toilet paper at Target wearing a black, red, or blue plaid button up, it’s me.) This is my uniform lately because I’m still working on getting that beach body back after having my 3rd kid (har har), and because I like to wear button up shirts because I’m still nursing.
The other day I get this text from my best friend Sarah:
“Ok so today we went to Muir Woods and Max [her 5 year old] saw a picture of someone standing next to a redwood tree. He said, ‘Why are Karen and Eric in that picture?’ I had no idea what he was talking about until I saw the person was wearing a red and black plaid shirt.”
These photos were taken on 2 different occasions at Sarah’s house. I can see why Max is confused.
Side note: When Sarah texted me, I sent her a picture of myself. Because I was wearing that exact same red plaid shirt. Somebody get me some green earrings or something, stat.
I hope you guys saw my post earlier this week where I shared the recipe for the Softest Sugar Cookies! This frosting is the perfect compliment! This recipe is a classic buttercream: all butter, whisked together with a bunch of powdered sugar and cream. Typically for vanilla frosting all you have to do is add a bit of vanilla extract. But THIS recipe also adds in coconut and almond extract.
Trifecta of awesomeness.
You might think it sounds overkill, but I swear it’s not. This is a variation of a copycat recipe I found for the frosting at The Sweet Tooth Fairy, which is an amazing bakery chain in Utah. (The copycat recipe is by Bless This Mess, who has an awesome blog that you need to check out!) Sweet Tooth Fairy has the BEST sugar cookies. The frosting is so light and fluffy and just has the most amazing flavor…now you know the secret, it’s a little touch of almond and coconut.
If you have a stand mixer, be sure to use the whisk attachment. It gets so much fluffier than when you use the paddle! I tested it both ways. Fluffy frosting=love.
You can frost these however you want, but I wanted to show you how to do this fun technique:
I found this frosting idea on Kayley’s blog, The Kitchen McCabe. It’s easy enough that even a frosting dummy like me could pull it off.
You guys know the glass trick right? It’s so much easier to add frosting to the bag like this. Or if you don’t have a bag you can use a sandwich bag and snip the end off.
You can also do two colors if you want. Kayley did an ombre egg, it’s so pretty!
Poll time: ^^Sprinkles?^^ Yay or nay?
Here’s the SOFTEST Sugar Cookie recipe to go with this Buttercream:
I also recently posted a recipe for How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting, another great topping for sugar cookies!
If you make any of my recipes, share it on Instagram using the hashtag #TheFoodCharlatan so I can see it! I love that.
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One year ago: Classic Deviled Eggs
Two years ago: Easter Bunny Dinner Rolls
Three years ago: 30-Minute Maple Bars
The BEST Buttercream Frosting for Sugar Cookies
Makes enough to frost 2 dozen cookies adjust servingsIngredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar, divided
- 4-6 tablespoons cream, divided**
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (I love Mexican vanilla)
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- gel food coloring
Instructions
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, use the whisk attachment* to beat the softened butter until it is fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add half of the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons cream**. Beat well. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and 2 more tablespoons of cream. Beat well.
- Add salt, vanilla, coconut, and almond extracts. Beat well. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Add remaining 1-2 tablespoons of cream, if needed.
- Add gel food coloring if you want to tint the frosting. (liquid food coloring can mess with the consistency.)
- This is enough frosting to do about 2 dozen cookies, but that totally depends on your cookie shape. Frost the cookies (Here's the cookie recipe) and store in a tupperware on the counter for 2-3 days.
- Leftover frosting is great on graham crackers!
by The Food Charlatan
Source: recipe is adapted from Melissa’s blog, Bless This Mess. Go check her out, her blog is great!
Here are some more killer frosting recipes!
The Best Chocolate Cake I’ve Ever Had (with Chocolate Buttercream). <<no lie.
Maple Pecan Buttercream Frosting << this stuff is amazing on Carrot Cake. AMAZING.
Nana’s Famous Fudge Brownies with Fudge Frosting <<you’ve GOT to try these. Famous for a reason.
Almond Sheet Cake with Almond Frosting < one of my favorite cakes, ever,
More amazing frosting recipes!
The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting from Wine and Glue
Fresh Lemon Buttercream Frosting from Spend with Pennies
White Chocolate Buttercream from Comfortably Domestic
Dark Chocolate Cake with Nutella Buttercream from Taste and Tell <<!!!!!
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You are absolutely right! This is the best butter cream frosting! I am so happy I tried it! My kids loved it too! They mentioned they liked that the icing stayed moist and did not get dry and hard days later! Thank You so much!
Can I freeze the frosted cookies?
Hi Barb! Yes, I do this every year when I make massive amounts of these for Christmas! Freeze frosted in a sealed container, they will stay fresh at least two weeks. Let thaw in the sealed container at room temp. Enjoy!
I was a taste tester for a major food company and Mexican vanilla was never in the top five of all vanillas thought to be the best for baking. It is basically a myth that we have propelled through generations of women. Madagascar vanilla is considered the best quality of all vanillas and I highly recommend you use it, bake with it and then taste the result.
A myth! My tastebuds must be lying to me! ;) How dare they.
Cream is one of the ingredients you listed. What kind of cream are you referring to?
Hi Danielle! I will update the recipe with notes. Cream is the part of cow’s milk that rises to the top. It is sometimes called heavy cream or whipping cream. (Any type will work for this recipe) It’s usually sold by the milk. Enjoy making cookies!
Does the buttercream set up hard or will it remain soft ?
Hi Bridget! It will form a crust on the edge but still be soft. You can’t really stack them, you can lean them against each other though. I line them up vertically in a tupperware, resting against each other, when I need to take them somewhere.
This is the BEST frosting I have EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!! SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO yummy!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so glad you liked it Lydia!! It’s my favorite too! Thanks for commenting :)
I made this for cookies and it was wonderful!!!! Could I frost a cake with it or do you think it’s too dense, too sweet? What do you recommend for cakes? I need a vanilla frosting for a birthday cake.
Hi Heather! No this is what I use for cakes too! I change up the flavors depending on what kind of cake I’m making. Here’s my white cake recipe to give you an idea: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/homemade-white-cake-recipe/
I made this recipe to complement a sugar cookie recipe I perfected. Literally the BEST sugar cookies. But sometimes those cookies need frosting. Let me tell you…. this frosting was bomb. I made them for a friend and she said they were the best cookies she’s ever eaten. I’m no baker, so that was pretty exciting.
If you’re looking for amazing frosting, look no further. This is it.
Woohoo! Buttercream frosting ftw! Thanks for reviewing Ashley! So glad you liked it. :)
Loved this frosting recipe. I just used vanilla and no other flavours. You’re right even a frosting dummy like me could do it. I also substituted half the icing sugar with Splenda and it still turned out great.
Frosting dummies unite! ;) That’s so interesting that half splenda works! Thanks for the tip!
Really good frosting! I doubled the frosting for 5 dozen cookies but was able to frost that many with the recipe as is. I’ll use the leftover frosting for cinnamon rolls!!
Does the frosting harden at all?!
Hi Sarah, no, this is buttercream, you need royal frosting if you want it to harden!
Wonderful! I didn’t have coconut extract or almond, so I used 2 tsp vanilla extract and 4 tbls 2% milk because It’s what I had. It was so delicious!!!! We put this on Halloween cookies with the kids. I will save this and make it to frost our Christmas cookies. Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the frosting Heather! Your substitutions are perfect. I just made a version of this frosting to go on a cake last night. It’s pretty versatile! Thanks so much for commenting!
This frosting sounds delicious! Could it be used to frost cakes as well?
Absolutely Jesenia! This is the base recipe I use for all my cakes.
Is this a crusting buttercream?
Hi Shawnie! If you leave the cookies out eventually the frosting will crust on top, but your cookies will be getting dry at the same time so I don’t recommend it. And it will never get as crusty as a recipe using royal icing.
When I took a cake decorating class years ago the teacher had us add 1 half teasoon of vanilla, lemon and almond. I still think this works very well..
I like the idea of adding lemon Bev! I’ll have to try that next time!
This icing is incredible! I have no interest in any other sugar cookie frosting now. This is it! I already collect extracts so I was happy that these are ones I use regularly. I definitely ate this stuff with a spoon!
I’m with you Joanna, no other frosting will do anymore! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks so much for commenting!
best sugar cookie recipe ever I will never use another recipe again…thank you
So happy to hear that Lynn! I feel the same :) Thanks for your review!
Can cookies be stacked after frosting them using this recipe?
Hi Tracey! No, you need to use Royal Icing to stack these cookies. This is buttercream, just like you would find on cake. Enjoy!
I have FINALLY found the frosting recipe I’ve been looking for all my life! I will use this recipe again and again. Warning, the flavors seem a little intense at first but they mellow our and marry nicely after a day or so! Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you found the recipe you’ve been looking for Katie! Isn’t that the best?? Great tip on waiting a day, I never thought of that but it makes sense. Thank you!
The Best Frosting Ever. I wrote a review with the Softest Sugar Cookie but want to add that your yield is always more than you need and I like that because they don’t look skimpy. This icing was smooth and held its shape and was wonderful to work with. So delicious.
Yes, there is plenty to go around! It’s so sad when there’s not enough frosting :) Thanks for the review Marilyn!
Hello! This recipe looks great. I have two questions. I have a friend who is allergic to coconut. Can you omit that extract and add more vanilla in its place? Secondly, when you say cream did you use heavy cream or half and half? Most recipes I’ve done heavy cream but I wanted to double check.
Hi Nicole! Yes you can absolutely use whatever extract you want, just make sure the liquid amount is the same. And I used heavy cream, but half and half or milk would work fine too! Enjoy!
Perfect
Hey will this frosting for sugar cookies make it ok to overlap the cookies? I’m sending them in the mail and was worried about that.
Hi Laura! No, these are not mail-friendly, sorry! They frosting will not harden. You will need to use a royal icing for that.
Okay so I’m not a fan of coconut or almond….so do I add more vanilla and if so how much? P.S. I’m so excited to try your soft sugar cookies!!!
Hey Jen! Yes, just replace the almond and coconut with vanilla!
I’m getting ready to make this recipe for a children’s cookie decorating Advent party. Can the icing be stored overnight before using?
Hi Frances! Yes, absolutely! Store tightly covered on the counter if it’s just over night, after that I would stick it in the fridge. Have fun at the party, I should do something like that for my kids!
Just a quick question – is it really supposed to be salted butter or should it read unsalted? I just made this with salted butter per the recipe (and against my instinct to always use unsalted), I didn’t add the additional salt but it was still too salty for my taste.
Hey JS! Yes, salted butter is what I always use, plus a little kosher salt. Salt level is really a personal preference. I can’t imagine making frosting without even a pinch! I feel like it really increases the depth of flavor. Now you know, for you, every time you make any frosting, use unsalted!
In the recipe you list coconut extract but your picture shows coconut flavor does it matter which one you use?
Hey Jen, yeah either one will work!
Yummy!!! I LOVE butter and icing. Can’t wait to try this with your sugar cookie recipe. They look so fat and soft, I’m beyond excited!!!!!!
My family and I loved this. I didn’t change a thing. Thanks :) super yummy!!!
Thanks Melissa! This is my favorite frosting recipe ever! Thanks for coming back to review!
Does the frosting get stiff after decorating the cookies? I am wondering if you can stack them….thanks.
Hey Barbie! Nope, this is an all butter frosting and it stays gloriously sticky :) You will have to use Crisco if you want it to harden up. I would recommend googling a stackable sugar cookie recipe.
Amazing!!! I like coconut flavor so much. The frosted cookies look pretty also. I’m on diet, but I think I can’t resist anymore :)
Please and THANK YOU. Beautiful buttercream!
Good morning, I am planning on making sugar cookies and want to try your frosting. Is the cream needed heavy whipping cream or I have seen light cream in a carton. Want to buy the right one. Or maybe it is something different? Thanks so much!!! 💟
Hi Pam! Light or heavy cream will work for this recipe. Sometimes it’s also labeled whipping cream.
What does it mean when you say cream, divided?
Hi Emily! It just means don’t add it all at once, as described in the instructions. Add it in between cups of powdered sugar. Enjoy!
That’s so sweet. I like to eat very much but I’m on a diet. Huhu. But no problems, I will make cookies for my family, I think my younger brother will love it very much. Can the frosted cookies be stored at hot temperature?
Hey Anne! Not hot, but if it’s room temperature they will be fine. Enjoy!
Wow this is amazing!
I love how pretty it looks.
Izzy | Pinch of delight
Oh my goodness, this frosting looks AMAZING!!
This frosting looks to die for creamy and delicious. Love all the frosting tips too!
The Frosting does look lovely! Can the frosted cookies be stored at room temperature?
Hey Karens! all the karens!! Thanks ladies! y’all pretty much have the best name ever.
Not sure if you saw my FB response above, here it is: Yes, store the frosted cookies covered tightly at room temperature. If they are frosted they will stay even softer. Enjoy!
What do you mean by cream, is it cream in the carton.
Hey Keisha, yes, cream is usually sold in a carton near the milk.