This Vanilla Bean Buttercream frosting recipe has to be the butteriest buttercream I've ever made! You need only three ingredients to make this vanilla bean frosting: butter, confectioners' sugar, and a vanilla pod.
This vanilla bean buttercream is perfect for frosting Moist Vanilla Cupcakes, Vanilla Birthday Cakes, or even Sugar Cookies.
Why This Vanilla Bean Buttercream Recipe Works
- Recipe name: Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting
- Ready in: 30 minutes
- Serves: 3 cups
- Main ingredients: Butter, icing sugar, and a vanilla bean pod.
- Perfect for: Frosting cakes and cupcakes! See my collection of Easy Cupcake Recipes From Scratch, or my Easy and Delicious Cake Recipes for some inspiration.
- Why I love it: This vanilla bean buttercream frosting is light, fluffy, and perfect for piping designs onto cupcakes or frosting layer cakes. This recipe makes enough frosting to ice 24 cupcakes or one two-layer 22cm (9 inches) cake.
- Calories: 1847kcal
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If you love trying out different Simple Buttercream Frostings for Homemade Cakes on your favorite bakes, then have a look at this Biscoff Buttercream recipe, this Nutella Buttercream, or this Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting.
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Key Ingredients
- Unsalted butter - Choose unsalted butter for this recipe rather than salted. It is also very important that you use softened room-temperature butter. The butter is whipped until light and fluffy before the icing sugar is added, so it needs to be at room temperature.
- Powdered sugar - The texture of your frosting can be affected by the confectioner's sugar brand you choose. For a smooth buttercream, try to find one with a soft texture rather than a grainy one. I also always sift my icing sugar before using it to ensure there are no clumps.
- Vanilla bean pod - Use the seeds scraped from a fresh vanilla bean pod for this recipe. If you can't find a real vanilla bean, then you can use vanilla bean paste instead.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
This is my go-to vanilla frosting; it pipes beautifully onto cupcakes and spreads easily onto cakes. Try it on these Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes or on this Vanilla and Chocolate Cake. If you'd like to add flavourings to this frosting, dried raspberries or strawberries would be amazing!
How to Make Vanilla Bean Buttercream
- Step 1: Add the softened butter to the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat at high speed until the butter is light and fluffy; this can take between 5 and 10 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl often with a rubber spatula.
- Step 2: Switch the mixer's attachment to a paddle attachment and add the icing sugar to the whipped butter. Beat at a low speed until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat the buttercream frosting until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
- Step 3: Use a sharp knife to slice the vanilla pod lengthwise, then use the back of a spoon to scoop out all the vanilla bean seeds. Add the seeds to the frosting and beat again until the frosting reaches the perfect consistency.
- Step 4: Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your chosen nozzle, then pipe swirls onto cupcakes, or use a spatula to spread it over your favorite cake. Enjoy!
Storage
This recipe uses a lot of butter, so I do not recommend making this frosting on a very hot day or using it if you are going to leave cupcakes or cakes out in the sun for a long time before consuming them. If you are looking for a recipe that will hold up in hotter weather, try the vanilla frosting from these Vanilla Cupcakes with Oil.
To store this frosting before using it to decorate cakes or cupcakes, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Remove the frosting from the fridge and let it come to room temperature, then whip it in a stand mixer and use it to decorate your baked goods.
Expert Tips
- The butter must be at room temperature; otherwise, it will not whip properly.
- Use a stand or hand-held mixer to ensure your butter is properly whipped.
- The butter is ready when it is almost white, has increased in volume, and is fluffy.
- Always use your frosting to decorate cakes or cupcakes soon after it has finished beating.
Vanilla Bean Buttercream FAQs
Wait - having room-temperature butter is the most important step in a successful frosting. Choose to wait until the butter has reached room temperature before making this recipe, or cube the butter and heat it gently in the microwave, being careful not to melt it.
Yes, you can add about one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste to the frosting if you cannot find vanilla bean pods.
Yes, you can substitute the vanilla pod with 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. However, vanilla bean paste will give the closest flavour and the beautiful vanilla specks.
This frosting is light, delicious, and has the perfect pipeable consistency for those insta-worthy cupcakes I know you love baking! For cupcake flavour inspiration, see my collection of Easy Cupcakes Recipes from Scratch.
Happy Baking, With Love, Kitty
Please leave a star rating and comment below if you tried this recipe! And if you're wondering what to try next, have a look at these Chocolate Sandwich Cookies!
📖 Recipe
Vanilla Bean Buttercream
Ingredients
- 500 g unsalted butter room temperature
- 500 g powdered sugar sifted
- 1 vanilla bean pod
Instructions
Vanilla Bean Buttercream
- Add the softened butter to a bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat at high speed until the butter is light and fluffy; this can take between 5 and 10 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl often with a rubber spatula.
- Switch the mixer's attachment to a paddle attachment and add the sifted icing sugar to the whipped butter. Beat at a low speed until combined.
- Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat the buttercream frosting until it is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the vanilla pod lengthwise, then use the back of a spoon to scoop out all of the vanilla bean seeds. Add the seeds to the frosting and beat again until the frosting reaches the perfect consistency.
- Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your chosen nozzle, then pipe swirls of frosting onto cupcakes, or use a spatula to spread it over your favorite cake. Enjoy!
Notes
- For the perfect fluffy buttercream frosting, make sure the butter is at room temperature.
- If the frosting seems too stiff, add a tablespoon of whole milk or whipping cream and beat at high speed.
Mel says
This frosting is so light! It’s perfect for piping!