Buttercream Frosting for Sugar Cookies

A hand piping green frosting onto a tree shaped sugar cookie.

This Buttercream Frosting is the perfect choice for decorating your cut out sugar cookies. It's smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet and the best pairing for your sugar cookies. Perfect for coloring in different options, and topping with sprinkles to make the perfect cookies for your holiday celebrations!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: American Buttercream, Buttercream Frosting, cut out sugar cookies, Frosting, Vanilla Frosting

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 133kcal

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
3-4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
3-4 TBS heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 dash salt (skip if using salted butter)
Food Coloring

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add the butter to a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer. Beat it for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. 1 cup unsalted butter
Add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until each is mixed in completely. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed. 3-4 cups powdered sugar
Add in the heavy cream (starting with 3 TBS), vanilla extract, and salt on medium speed and mix until everything is combined. 3-4 TBS heavy cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 dash salt
Add additional heavy cream, or powdered sugar as needed to get the right consistency for a spreadable frosting.
Mix the frosting for another 2 to 4 minutes at medium speed until it is smooth and fluffy.
Separate the frosting into 3 or 4 portions and add a few drops of food coloring to each if desired. Mix into the frosting until evenly combined. Food Coloring
Beat the frosting with a rubber spatula by hand to get air bubbles out.
Use the frosting to spread with a knife or pipe it onto your prepared cookies. (Also works on cakes, cupcakes, etc.)

Notes

Shortening - You can substitutee half the butter for an equal amount of unflavored, or butter flavored shortening. This can give your frosting a lighter white color, and give it a slightly stiffer crust if desired.

As Pictured - I like to pipe the frosting onto my cookies in little lines. I put it in a ziplock bag, snip off the corner, and pipe up and down to decorate. You can use your favorite piping tips, or spread the frosting with a knife too.

Flavor Variations - Try different extracts to flavor your frosting for different occasions, add 1/2 to 1 tsp of the extra extra depending on preference and flavor. Try almond, lemon, orange, peppermint, etc.

Chill the Frosting if needed - If your frosting becomes too soft while working with it, chill it in the fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes ten try again.

Nutrition