Vanilla Frosting

Name: Vanilla Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6 cups.
Ingredients: 12 cups confectioners' sugar; 3/4 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup whole milk; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Why settle for store-bought frosting when you can make this four-ingredient easy vanilla frosting recipe instead? The homemade taste just can't be beat. —Mary Faulk, Cambridge, Wisconsin

Ingredients

12 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

Combine sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread over cake or cupcakes. Store in refrigerator.

Test Kitchen Tips

If your frosting is too thick, add a touch more milk. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

Make sure your butter is at room temperature before making frosting. Learn how to soften butter quickly here.

The vanilla flavor in this recipe will really shine through, so we recommend using a pure extract.

Nutrition Facts

2 tablespoons: 145 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 25mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.

Originally published as Vanilla Frosting in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2003

Reviews

My Review

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Average Rating:

Riley

Mar 17, 2019

Even with softened butter there were huge clumps of butter. Additionally, it came out as a complete liquid. Tastes great but its hard to frost a cake with liquid!
Mandy

Feb 3, 2019

This recipe is great! I’m not sure why people are saying it’s watery and icing-like. It’s thick like how frosting is supposed to be and very easy to make. I already had all the ingredients and I’m sure anyone could make it!
Sasha

Dec 31, 2018

Absolutely delicious and worked perfectly on our cupcakes! We followed the directions and will definitely make again.
Jennifer

Dec 6, 2018

Makes very tasty icing--not frosting. Adding some sugar wouldn't be nearly enough; this runs everywhere. It's nowhere near thick enough without significantly adjusting the ratios. However, if you want icing, this is great!
Kevin

Dec 2, 2018

Worked great as it says it would. It came in handy when I ran out of frosting for my gingerbread house. To those who had watery sugar it’s 2 tablespoons not quarter of a cup of milk and it’s softened butter not liquid butter. The best way to make sure the butter is only softened just get some spreadable butter. It works great. My problem was not measuring out the vanilla so I had a slight brown tint to it.
Mary

Nov 6, 2018

It was easy to make and Delicious! I had to make more of it because it couldn't cover the whole cake.
Chris

Oct 20, 2018

I read the reviews, and based on the recipe, I thought the reviews about icing was wrong. I followed the directions exactly as they are stated, and it turned out GREAT!! My guess is someone messed up when making it. I do recommend doubling it because it only makes a cup.
Nikita

Oct 15, 2018

Came out very clumpy and had to add a splash of milk to make smooth (I might have done something wrong, I don’t know). Tastes exactly like gingerbread house frosting.
Lisa

Sep 27, 2018

Very good frosting. I don't know why there were negative reviews saying it was a "icing" I've made ici g with these similar ingredients but different amounts. This recipe is thick and creamy, great for cupcakes!
Linda

Jun 19, 2018

I have not made this either, but for y'all that say it is runny and thin, just add more powder sugar, didn't you ever bake with your moms? Don't remember her ever measuring anything. I just came in here to double check how to make my own because for so many years we have just bought it in the store. My memory likes to play games with me and has to be kicked every once in awhile to make me remember.....frosting is so easy.