If you haven't yet started adding fruits to your buttercreams, this is your sign! Fruity buttercreams are my ultimate jam, and this recipe for Passion Fruit Buttercream happens to be one of my favorites.
This Passion Fruit Buttercream recipe is for a fluffy vanilla American buttercream that has passionfruit puree and almond essence added. I love using this buttercream on cupcakes, spread over a simple vanilla cake, or sandwiched in between layers of cake.
If you love passionfruit flavoured bakes, then you have to try this recipe for Passionfruit Cookies or this recipe for Passionfruit Cupcakes.
Ingredients
To make this delicious recipe, you will need the simple ingredients listed below. Remember to always use fresh room temperature ingredients when baking.
- Powdered sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Milk
- Passionfruit pulp
- Almond essence
- Vanilla extract
Unsalted butter - choose unsalted butter rather than salted butter when baking, so that you can adjust the saltiness on your own if needed.
Passionfruit puree - for this recipe, I used store-bought passionfruit puree, you can do the same or use fresh passionfruit.
Almond essence - almond essence is a great addition to this buttercream, it adds a delicious flavour and smell to the frosting. If you don't have any you can decide to leave this out.
Vanilla extract - choose a quality vanilla extract for this buttercream, if you can't find any vanilla essence can also work.
See the recipe card for ingredient amounts.
Instructions
To make this easy frosting, follow the simple steps below.
STEP 1: Beat butter and icing sugar. To a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment add the butter and icing sugar. Beat at medium-low speed until the mixture comes together.
STEP 2: Add milk. With the mixer's motor running at low speed slowly add the milk. Continue until it has all been added. Then increase the speed of the mixer to medium-high speed. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.
STEP 3: Add the vanilla and almond extract. Add the vanilla extract and almond essence to the buttercream and beat until just combined.
STEP 4: Add the passion fruit pulp. Add the passion fruit puree to the buttercream and beat again until combined. Scrape the bottom of the bowl using a rubber spatula and mix again briefly. The buttercream is now ready for decorating your favourite bakes!
Hint: Depending on the temperature when making this buttercream, you may want to adjust the amount of milk added. I find during summer I need less milk as the butter heats up quicker. For this reason, make sure to add the milk in stages so that you can stop when needed.
Variations
I like adding both vanilla extract and almond essence to this buttercream. You can choose to add both, add one, or if you don't have either you can leave them out.
For this recipe, I used passionfruit puree, you can do the same or choose to use fresh passion fruit. I use both interchangeably depending on the season. When it comes to drizzling passionfruit over cakes and cupcakes, I prefer using fresh passionfruit as their tartness is a great contrast to sugary bakes.
This buttercream pairs well with cakes that include flavors like fresh pineapple, lemon curd, and orange zest. So get creative on how to use this recipe.
Equipment
To make this frosting, you will need an electric mixer, a stand mixer or a hand mixer. I don't recommend making this by hand as you need the mixers to help get the frosting light and fluffy.
To use this buttercream to decorate cakes, you will also need decorating equipment such as a piping bag, an offset spatula, and piping nozzles.
Storage
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 allow it to come to room temperature before whipping it in a stand mixer and then using it to decorate your baked goods.
I do not recommend freezing this buttercream.
Top tips
Follow the top tips below to ensure you make the best buttercream frosting!
- The butter must be at room temperature otherwise it will not whip properly.
- Use a stand mixer or hand-held mixer to ensure your butter is whipped enough.
- Add the milk gradually, as you may need less or more milk depending on the temperature of your butter.
- Before decorating make sure your bakes have cooled properly on a wire rack
- Always use your frosting to decorate cakes or cupcakes soon after it has finished beating.
FAQ
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 to not melt it.
This can happen when you have added too much liquid to the buttercream. To try salvage the buttercream, add two tablespoons of icing sugar to the frosting and beat again. Keep doing this until the texture looks right.
Passionfruit adds such a great flavor to bakes, and I love seeing those black seeds flecked throughout a frosting or cake! If you give this passionfruit buttercream recipe a try, please leave a comment and star review below - I love hearing from all of you! I'd love to know what type of passion fruit cake you made with this frosting!
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Happy Baking
With Love,
Kitty
📖 Recipe
Passion Fruit Buttercream
Ingredients
- 160 g unsalted butter
- 500 g icing sugar
- 30 ml whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond essence
- 2 tablespoon passion fruit pulp
Instructions
- To a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment add the butter and icing sugar. Beat at medium-low speed until the mixture comes together.
- With the mixer's motor running at low speed slowly add the milk. Continue until it has all been added. Then increase the speed of the mixer to medium-high speed. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.
- Add the vanilla extract and almond essence to the buttercream and beat until just combined.
- Add the passion fruit puree to the buttercream and beat again until combined. Scrape the bottom of the bowl using a rubber spatula and mix again briefly. The buttercream is now ready for decorating your favorite bakes!
Julia says
This frosting was delicious! So perfect on vanilla cupcakes!