Silky Smooth Vanilla Buttercream!

This buttercream recipe is light, fluffy, and perfect for decorating!

I use this recipe for almost all of the cakes that are on my Instagram!

Here I'll be sharing this recipe step by step with pictures, so you can make it too!

The first step to making this buttercream is the butter. Make sure it is unsalted, and REAL butter. Using a stand mixer is highly recommended for this recipe, but you can use a hand mixer if you don't have one. The first thing you'll want to do is beat the butter on the highest speed (using the whisk attachment), for about 10-15 minutes or until the butter is super pale and fluffy, similar to the photo here:

The next step is adding in the powdered sugar. This needs to be COMPLETELY sifted through to prevent any clumps later on. This needs to be added in gradually (I just use a spoon), to prevent a mess. If you just add it all at once, it'll be hard to mix and a lot more to clean up later.

Turn the mixer on the lowest speed and add in the powdered sugar. Once fully added, stop the mixer. The buttercream should be thick and should look a little clumpy (not so much a smooth texture):

Salt is also key in this recipe. I like to make a salt water mixture to add to the buttercream. If you just add in the salt, you'll typically get bits of salt throughout the frosting. American buttercream is normally a more sweet frosting than most no matter what, so adding the salt here will tone the sweetness down a bit. When making the salt water mixture, make sure your water is as hot as possible (I just use hot water from the sink), and add it to the salt in something small like a measuring cup. Also make sure your salt is small and granular (avoid larger coarse salt). Mix it until most of it dissolves. You can let it sit for a while but if there's still small bits left that's okay. The goal is to make sure the grains are as small as possible so you can't taste them:

Next, add the rest of the ingredients to the buttercream- the salt water mixture, vanilla, and the heavy whipping cream. Mix this on low just until everything is combined.

After everything is mixed together, increase to the highest speed for about 3-5 minutes or until the buttercream is fluffy and nearly white:

At this point, switch to the paddle attachment. There will be a lot of air bubbles visible in the buttercream. Mix on low speed for about 1-2 minutes, just enough to get rid of them and smooth out the buttercream even more. The buttercream should be super smooth at this point and really easy to spread. Here's what it should look like once it's done:

This buttercream recipe is light, fluffy, and perfect for decorating! Recipe below!

Silky, Smooth Vanilla Buttercream!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp hot water

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted real butter, softened to room temperature

• 4 cups (500 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a small measuring cup, mix the salt and the hot water until salt is nearly dissolved. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat the butter on the highest speed for 10-15 minutes until it is pale and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

3. With the mixer on the lowest speed, gradually add in the powdered sugar, (easiest with a spoon), until everything is fully combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. The buttercream should be thick and look a little clumpy.

4. Add in the salt, heavy cream, and the vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

5. Bring the mixer to the highest speed and mix for about 3-5 minutes, or until the frosting is fluffy and almost white.

6. Change to a paddle attachment. Mix on the lowest speed for about 1-2 minutes or until the air bubbles disappear in the buttercream. At this point the frosting should be light, fluffy, and smooth. Use for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more! Enjoy!!