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A red bowl with fluffy vanilla frosting ready to frost a cake.
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4.84 from 6 votes

Fluffy Buttercream "Bakery-Style" Frosting

Frosting that is not-too-sweet, fluffy, and so spreadable. A "bakery-style" vanilla buttercream frosting that mixes together in minutes and holds its shape on any dessert like cakes or cupcakes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake frosting, easy frosting, fluffy frosting, frosting, frosting recipe, vanilla buttercream
Servings: 36
Calories: 585kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks, room temperature)
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • 5 cups powder sugar (confectioners sugar)
  • 2 tablespoons hot water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

make frosting

  • Beat soft butter and shortening in an electric mixer on high speed with the whisk attachment until creamy for 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  • At low speed, add powder sugar 1 cup at a time until smooth into the mixing bowl.
  • On high speed, mix in vanilla, almond extract, and hot water for 5 minutes until fluffy and smooth.

cake decorating

  • Place a dollop of frosting on a small piece of cardboard or on a tray, and set the cake on top. This keeps the cake from sliding around while decorating.
  • Fill a large piping bag with frosting, set the bag in a tall sturdy glass measuring cup. Load it down inside the pastry bag with a spatula, when ¾ full, push inside the bag toward the tip. Fold the top down and decorate your cake. Don't overfill or it will squeeze out of the top of the bag.
  • Frost the cake using a small offset spatula, smooth out as best you can all over the top and sides of the cake. This frosting is so easy to spread, and you don't have to clean your spatula while decorating. Then create beautiful designs using a piping bag fitted with tips.

Video

Notes

PRO TIP:  Great frosting at room temperature and covers cakes and cupcakes beautifully. If you freeze it, it is spreadable within an hour or so of bringing it to room temperature. Simply place in a bowl and re-whip. Simply remove from the freezer at least an hour before using, and remix in a bowl or stand mixer to get it soft again from that thicker consistency.

Decorating Tips

How To Decorate A Cake

Place a dollop of frosting on a small piece of cardboard or on a tray, and set your cake on top. This keeps it from sliding around while decorating. Cake boards made with cardboard help you move the cake once decorated. A cake decorating turntable, allows you to turn the cake for a professional result. These tools help you smooth and decorate cakes at home.

Easy Way To Fill A Piping Bag

Set the bag in a tall sturdy glass measuring cup. Push frosting down inside with a spatula, then when it is ¾ full, push the frosting inside the bag toward the tip. Fold the top down and decorate. Don't overfill the bag, or it will squeeze out the top as you decorate.
Invest in a good large reusable piping bag. They clean easily with hot water to use over and over in your baking.

For Smooth Frosting

Frost using a small offset spatula, smooth out the frosting as best you can all over the top and sides of the cake. This frosting is so easy to spread, and you won't have to clean your spatula while decorating.

Piping Designs

Create beautiful designs using a piping bag fitted with tips. There are so many different tips to try, star tips are so easy to use and make a simple cake look so fancy.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 567IU | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg