Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting (Print Version)
Creamy vanilla buttercream that spreads smoothly and sets with a light crust for decorated sugar cookies.
# What You'll Need:
→ Butter Mixture
01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
→ Sweetener
02 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
→ Flavors
03 - 2 tablespoons whole milk (plus more as needed)
04 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - Pinch of salt
# How-To Steps:
01 - Beat softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, approximately 1 minute.
02 - Gradually add powdered sugar while beating on low speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down bowl sides as needed.
03 - Pour in milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until mixture becomes light and fluffy.
04 - For thinner frosting, add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time. For firmer texture, incorporate more powdered sugar.
05 - Spread or pipe frosting onto completely cooled sugar cookies. Let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours to form a slight crust.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You probably have every single ingredient in your kitchen right this second
- It creates that professional slight crust on top while staying creamy underneath
- The consistency is forgiving enough for beginners but impressive enough to gift
02 -
- Hot cookies will melt your frosting into a sad puddle, so patience waiting for them to cool completely pays off
- Humid days might need an extra pinch of powdered sugar to maintain structure
03 -
- When piping onto cookies for gifts, I place a small dot of frosting on the back of each cookie to act as glue, securing it to a piece of parchment paper in the gift box
- For an extra bakery touch, sprinkle edible glitter or nonpareils immediately after frosting before it sets