The flavor of homemade frostings is impossible to beat, and when you make it yourself, you can tweak it exactly to your liking. This recipe for almond buttercream frosting uses a dash of vanilla while still letting the flavor of almond shine through, though you can lean fully on the almond if that’s your jam. Use this recipe if you’re looking for a good buttercream frosting to decorate vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, cut-out cookies, or a variety of other cake flavors and dessert. This versatile frosting recipe nicely complements other flavors without overpowering them.
Simple Ingredients for Almond Buttercream Frosting
The recipe card below includes all the ingredients you’ll need, as well as the quick steps for whipping up this delicious frosting recipe. It’s an easy American buttercream frosting with a delicious flavor.
- Unsalted butter, room temperature – Room temperature butter mixes more easily in your bowl, ensuring a smooth consistency. Also, using unsalted butter gives you more control of the overall saltiness of the frosting.
- Powdered sugar – While this ingredient of course adds sweetness, it also contributes to its light and fluffy texture.
- Pure almond extract -Almond extract gives a unique and pleasant nutty flavor.
- Pure vanilla extract – The aroma of vanilla extract contributes to the overall warmth in taste and appeal of the frosting.
- Regular milk, heavy cream, almond milk, or heavy whipping cream – Any one of these ingredients add moisture, contributing to a smooth, spreadable texture of the frosting.
- Kosher salt (use half as much for table salt) – Salt enhances the overall flavor profile. This ingredient balances the sweetness.
Why You’ll Love this Creamy Frosting Recipe
- Simple to make – Whether this is your first time making frosting or you’re a pro, this tried and true recipe has a short list of ingredients that combine quickly and easily. Particularly if you often bake or decorate your baked goods, you very likely already have many of these ingredients on hand in your pantry or refrigerator.
- Perfect for decorating – Because this frosting is white, it’s great for dying with gel food coloring (I recommend AmeriColor, Wilton, and Chefmaster). Place it in a piping bag with your favorite decorating tip. I use a version of it on my wreath and tree cookies at Christmastime.
- A traditional frosting for special occasions – Almond-flavored frosting has been a favorite go-to recipe and classic choice for special occasions. Its refined taste adds an elegant touch to any celebration. Whether you’re marking a significant milestone or creating memories with a festive cake, this buttercream is a reliable recipe for big milestones and moments.
- Versatile frosting – Together, vanilla and pure almond extract create a buttercream that pairs well with so many other flavors and different cakes. It is great for decorating all kinds of layer cakes – from a classic white cake to a birthday cake or even wedding cake. Its smooth consistency makes it appealing. This buttercream recipe is helpful in creating beautifully layered cakes that are both visually stunning and delicious. Whether you’re baking a show-stopping birthday cake or a classic wedding centerpiece, the versatility of this frosting allows it to seamlessly complement a variety of flavor profiles.
Steps for Making Vanilla Almond Buttercream
With a hand mixer and large bowl or paddle attachment and stand mixer, beat room temperature butter with vanilla and almond extracts, powdered sugar, kosher salt, and heavy cream.
You’ll want to initially stop and start your electric mixer in quick bursts on a low speed to prevent dry ingredients from flying everywhere. Alternatively, you could cover your mixer with a towel or plastic wrap to prevent splatter. Both options save a lot of time during cleanup!
Once incorporated, bump mixer to medium-high speed for 5 minutes. This longer mixing time produces a super silky texture.
The Secret to Super Smooth Frosting
Once your stand mixer has fully combined all the ingredients, use a flexible rubber spatula to swipe the frosting around in your bowl
Push frosting with the spatula from the middle to the sides of the bowl, watching as the tears and bubbles in your buttercream disappear. This gives the perfect consistency to your frosting, making it nice and fluffy as air bubbles pop in the buttercream.
Tips for the Best Homemade Almond Buttercream
- Set out your ingredients before diving into the recipe! Organizing ingredients and setting them all out on the counter before beginning a recipe is a great start and huge help. This makes it harder for you to accidentally omit a step or key ingredient. And you won’t have to make as many trips back and forth to your pantry!
- Buttercream too sweet? Add a few dashes of lemon juice, lime juice, or distilled white vinegar. It cuts the sweetness, so taste test until it’s your desired flavor.
- Prefer a tangier frosting? You can also add some cream cheese to this recipe if you prefer a bit of tanginess in your frosting. It will also help offset sweetness if you prefer a less sugary tasting buttercream.
- If you need to thin out this frosting, add a few splashes of heavy cream or milk. If you need to make a thicker frosting, add about 1/4 cup of powdered sugar at a time. Mix until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
- If you’re not already, use a kitchen scale for accuracy in baking. Weighing your ingredients and writing or following a recipe using a standard metric like grams ensures consistency. I highly recommend investing $30 or less in a kitchen scale.
Almond Buttercream FAQ
The baking aisle of most grocery stores will have this ingredient.
Buttercream freezes very well.
Store this frosting an airtight container in your freezer for up to three months. Before using it, remove it from the freezer at least 12 hours in advance. For best results, rewhip it by hand or by adding it back to your mixing bowl to help achieve the right consistency. This makes it easier to spread.
This homemade buttercream frosting has many uses. It would be great paired with another almond-based dessert, like almond cupcakes or cookies. It tastes great with chocolate cake and other deeper, more intense flavors, too.
Due to its versatility, this thick frosting is great for decorating cakes or stacking between layers.
Because it is white, it is perfect for dying with food gel to color cakes, cupcakes, frosting between cookie sandwiches, and more.
More Recipes
If you need more ideas like this almond frosting, check out my black buttercream recipe! It’s silky smooth and tastes like an Oreo cookie.
I also have a delicious Biscoff buttercream recipe which has notes of spice in it.
PrintAlmond Buttercream Frosting
This homemade almond buttercream frosting is easy to make. Use it for decorating chocolate cake, vanilla cupcakes, soft sugar cookies, and a variety of other desserts!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups of frosting 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks (170 grams) of unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 cups (575 grams) of powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup (80 grams) heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp almond extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: A few drops of lemon or lime juice (or white vinegar) to cut sweetness; add to your preference
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine your unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, and salt. Start mixing on a low setting in short spurts to incorporate and avoid powder flying everywhere. Then increase speed and beat for another 5 minutes.
- Taste test and add lemon juice if too sweet for your liking. Thin it out as needed with another tablespoon or two of heavy cream.
- Once happy with flavor, use a spatula to smooth the frosting. Drag the spatula from the middle of your bowl to its edges, watching as the tears and bubbles in your buttercream disappear. Spend 3-4 minutes doing these motions to achieve nice, smooth frosting.
- Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a tip of your choice.
Notes
This frosting recipe provides enough buttercream to decorate 18-24 cupcakes, a 3-layer 6″ cake, or 2-layer 8″ or 9″ cake. Increase as needed.
Keywords: frosting recipe, almond buttercream frosting, cupcake decorating, cake decorating, almond frosting
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