Cream Cheese Frosting: Cream cheese adds richness and creaminess.Classic Vanilla Buttercream: This classic American buttercream is made on a base of butter and powdered sugar.Let’s briefly go over the differences so you can choose when one you prefer:

I’ve included three of my favorite vanilla frosting recipes for you to choose from. Note: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. Allow cupcakes to sit for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Bake for 15-20 minutes (or 8-10 minutes if making mini cupcakes) until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Divide the batter evenly between 12 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan, filling them about 3/4 full. Do not over mix – the less you mix, the lighter the cake will be. Add the other half of the dry ingredients and beat slowly or fold by hand only until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add half of the dry ingredients and beat just until combined.

Alternate adding the wet and dry ingredients.

Add vanilla extract and beat until combined. On medium speed, beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula to incorporate all the ingredients. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. If you do choose to make it ahead, let it come to room temperature before using and then re-whip it to bring it back to a fluffy consistency, adding a little extra cream if needed. Though you can make frosting ahead of time and either refrigerate it (up to 2 days) or freeze it (up to 1 month), we live by the adage “freeze your cake, not your frosting,” and really recommend just making it day-of. You could even turn this into a chocolate buttercream by adding in 1/2 cup cocoa powder with the confectioners’ sugar (add in some espresso powder too to make the chocolate flavor really stand out!). For a bright refreshing flavor, add citrus zest when beating the butter and some freshly squeezed juice with the heavy cream. For a simple flavor change, try subbing out the vanilla extract for others like mint, almond, or maple (use a light hand to start). The best thing about this recipe is how customizable it is. Start slow! A tiny amount (we’re talking 1 teaspoon) can make all the difference, so only add a little at a time until it’s just right. If you’re looking for a very spreadable and very smooth icing for something like a sheet cake, cookies, or to make your life easier when using a piping bag, add a bit more cream until the desired consistency is reached. A little lump can clog the tip, which can create drag that’ll ruin the smooth surface of your frosting and result in an overall grainy texture, so don’t skip this step!

Because of this, it’s always a good idea to sift it out before using, especially if you’re planning to use piping tips or frosting a cake with an offset spatula. Unfortunately for frosting, some brands of confectioners’ sugar will be distinctly lumpier than others. Not all confectioners’ (or powdered) sugar is created equal. For the perfect temperature, leave your butter out at room temperature until it's easy to press your thumb into it with only slight pressure.

On the other hand, a butter too warm will most likely 'break' and leave you with a frosting that's sweaty and won't hold its shape. If your butter is too cold, it will clump with the confectioners’ sugar, causing a grainy consistency that’s unpleasant to eat and to frost with. One of the most important factors in how well your frosting will turn out is the temperature of your butter. We find that unsalted works best-adding a pinch of salt and adjusting to taste will give you more control over the flavor and keep your frosting from being cloyingly sweet. The most important ingredient in buttercream is, naturally, the butter. We've included all of our top tips and tricks with this easy recipe so you can achieve buttercream perfection every time: If you've ever attempted making homemade buttercream, you know it can be surprisingly tricky to get just right. Nothing compares to a homemade buttercream-the simple frosting is light, fluffy, and ideal for piping pretty swirls atop cupcakes, decorating sugar cookies and cakes, or just eating straight from the bowl.

Best vanilla buttercream frosting ever