How to Make a Basic Buttercream | Perfect Recipe

How to make a basic buttercream is one of my most asked questions! Here’s my no-fail, super tasty, EASY recipe. Enjoy!
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (339 g)
4 oz. cream cheese
8 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs. or 907 g)
2-4 Tablespoons heavy cream (30-60 g)
2 teaspoons vanilla (10 g)
Pinch of salt Check out my new online course Stay-At-Home Baker where you'll learn everything you need to know to thrive on your baking journey! www.stayathomebakers.com/3for1

[@yvettemarie9934]

Looks great! I'll try this !

[@leticiaperez1476]

Thank you as always! Love it!

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

You bet!

[@alsoriano1973]

I love it maam! Thank you for sharing! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[@mariarugolo2487]

Excellent buttercream! Taste, texture and pipability!

[@evefranko8904]

Thanks!!

[@lucilenesousa4216]

Obrigada querida Amy!😘💐

[@reillykaelin129]

Thanks so much for the sharing the storing tips!! That's going to make my baking life so much easier!!

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Yay I’m glad!

[@tsaibshasha90]

You are amazing . You helped me a lot . I wish you all the best .

[@Beastiscntrlr]

You’re the absolute best! Thank you for sharing with us all of your fantastic recipes! :)

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

You’re welcome!

[@yahussen5578]

Thanks a lot

[@eringobraugh24]

This is delicious, thank you. I add 1/2 c shortening in place of 1/2 c butter for stability… this recipe is a great help. Love the idea of adding cream cheese. It’s perfect

[@soyxio]

Thank you!! 😊

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Welcome ☺️

[@lisselottebenito5144]

Since I made this recipe , is the only one I used. Love the taste and consistency . Thank You Amy for sharing …

[@xiomararivera673]

Would you say this is something that can hold fondant decorations? Thank you in advance!

[@lisselottebenito5144]

I made it and I love it. Love the flavor is not too sweet and the consistence is amazing.

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Awesome!

[@juanitachaidez3417]

It’s amazingly delicious❤️

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@DaviPlayz64]

i never try putting cream cheese on my buttercream,but im going to make this week to try, sounds delicious

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

It’s sooooo good!

[@RebrushedByMaddison]

Made this buttercream for my sons bday cake! I used this and your black buttercream for a “galaxy cake” I made! Plus your most recent perfect vanilla cake recipe!!! It was a HIT!!!! So delicious!!!!! We’re from outside philly and the cake and buttercream tasted just like a stocks pound cake! So good!

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

So so happy with this feedback!!!

[@lindahopkins8215]

We just made this last night and it tasted Amazing! Thanks for sharing it with us 💗

[@catinhat95]

did it taste like cream cheese?

[@arshiyaanjum2694]

339 gms butter 130 gms cream cheese 907 gms powder sugar 2 to 4 tbls whipping cream

[@LifeIsMessyImLearningAsIGrow]

Wow Fantastic! I have been really enjoying all of your videos! I’ll definitely have to give this a try. I love the presentation of your video. You make it look easy! I also make cooking videos for KZbin. I love to learn from talented creators like you!

[@debbieguile4008]

I just tried your buttercream!!! I DO NOT like American buttercream BUT I LOVE this!!! It's not so sweet!!! Going to be my go to recipe from now on!!!!

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I’m so glad! I’m with you on the ABC. Too sugary.

[@Evjooky]

Always great advice. I make mine with all butter....gonna try the cream cheese substitute!

[@ellescakes7636]

It’s really good I tried this recipe of her other videos and it’s amazing

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Hope you love it!

[@ellescakes7636]

Neurotic Mom Bakes it was really good

[@ginaprobert7960]

Love the music!

[@emiliaotoba8179]

I love ur videos. Will u make a video of ur cake. They always look structurally stable

[@annr7096]

I just learned to make buttercream... ty for this video

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

You’re welcome 😊

[@siparomaheriquetapestana8150]

Queria tanto entender tudo o que você diz.... Thank's! You are amazing

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Thank you 😊

[@DaviPlayz64]

rsrs ela esta ensinando uma receita de buttercream que e uma cobertura muito usada aqui nos estados unidos, e realmente pra entender ela tem q falar ingles

[@sunshinebakery_melinda]

I will say...I absolutely LOVE your idea to add cream cheese to American buttercream! That’s what I do now when I make my version of buttercream because it is just the best tasting. I also add some shortening to my buttercream to have a more stabilized frosting when it’s warmer weather. 😉 Thanks for sharing your version! 🥰

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Game changer!!

[@catinhat95]

does it taste like cream cheese?

[@DaviPlayz64]

agree with your use shortening in my buttercream to, and it changes for better

[@talindakelley189]

Same here. I live in Florida so it’s a sticky hot 😂 I did my first wedding about 10 years ago. I made way over 300 cupcakes for guests and cupcakes bouquets. They sat the cupcakes right in front of floor to ceiling windows, in September, the sun through the windows started to melt the cupcakes, I was so frantic 🤣 I told them, they were either going to have to move the table or crank the AC up 🤣🤣

[@nompomelelomoloi985]

Thank you so much Amy, already subscribed to your channel.

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Thank you 😊

[@tabithatownsend9837]

Thank you so much for your videos, question: if i want to make a flavored buttercream, such as salted caramel, would I just make this and then add in the flavor, or do I need to remove or portion the ingredients differently?

[@SoniaGarcia-fo3yv]

Thank you for your video, I also follow you on Instagram and had asked about your frosting, though I did not get an answer back from you, I am glad I found this video. This video will help me, so Thank you a million times, I appreciate it and I love all your videos, keep up the great work!!! 😃👌🏼👏👏💥💥💥💥💥💯

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I’m so sorry! I get hundreds of messages a day and many, many of them get lost. Glad you’re here!

[@EloyzaCortz]

I can’t wait to try your black buttercream and chocolate cake recipe for my husbands birthday! How many cups does this buttercream recipe yield? Thank you for the recipes and tips!

[@talindakelley189]

Black buttercream and chocolate cake?? I have to find that one now 😂

[@annakrause521]

Hi love your site. Dose this make 3 layer cake and extra

[@yvettemarie9934]

Good Morning! Looks great! I'm going to try this in a few hours. I plan to double the recipe...lots of cupcakes! I'm thinking of using 12 cups of powdered sugar instead of 16, should that be fine? I don't want it sugar sweet. Also, because I'm doubling it, i know I'll be using 1 full block of cold cream cheese. Thank you in advance for your input! 😊

[@gbirdr5991]

Great vid 😍 how long does the heavy cream bottle last opened ? The heavy cream packets we have stays opened for 3 days 😪

[@karymemercado7346]

I am having such a hard time getting the right consistency. Can you let us know at which number of speed do you typically let it whip up for in each step? Either i’m overbeating or under beating that it ends up either too stiff to cover a cake or too bubbly to be able to smooth out without it getting crusting or such

[@punkchick9500]

Hi Amy- I absolutely love your recipes! Could you add the recipe to the description? It's always super helpful. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@LilyanaV]

Hi Amy, can I substitute cream with 3%milk? Thanks for all the amazing recipes!

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Yes you can! Use a little less though

[@MrsBvegarae]

Can I use this under fondant?

[@melaniemichellec]

You are so talented! I made your white cake last night and I’m making the buttercream today. Can you make the buttercream ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it? Or do you have to use it all right after you make it?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

You can totally make it ahead of time! Just let it come back to room temperature before using

[@eringobraugh24]

She went over that at the end of her tutoring in great length and detail. Replay and watch the end. You’ll see what you missed 🤗

[@susanknight9]

@@NeuroticMomBakes First time making my own buttercream and used your recipe -- didn't get it as smooth I'd prefer -- assumed I mixed to fast or too long -- is it possible to get it smoother? Have it in the fridge right now and will be using it tonight or in the morning. LOVE your videos!

[@andreacorcega613]

Hello, can I use milk instead of heavy cream?

[@yeraldynvasquez110]

Hi I live in new york do you think this recipe could be resistant out of the fridge, I mean is resistant to hot weather ?

[@debbyfaucheux2017]

Does this buttercream go well with lemon curd and white cake? Thank you!

[@tinalawler4973]

Where do you buy your cream cheese please, i can't find blocks in the uk.

[@alexiale9499]

Awesome! How big of a cake can this quantity frost?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

It really depends on how you decorate with the frosting. If there’s lots of swirls going up and down the sides it will use more than if you just do a basic outer coat if that makes sense. It should easily crumb coat and frost three 6 inch rounds with generous swirls on top

[@lindsayyoung3312]

Is this an updated version than the one from a year or so a go? The quantities are slightly different so I wanted to check

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Yes the ratios are the same but the quantity is slightly less

[@starrynight6289]

Hi .good day does this buttercream crust

[@sharonchow7938]

Can you halve the measurements to make half a batch of BC?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Definitely!

[@alvarez_martha]

Does this taste the same as the recipe you posted with the blue cake tutorial you did? Looking at the amount of ingredients it’s a smaller batch than the other one. Just wanted to see if it tasted the same 😊

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Yes. It’s a smaller batch

[@great25100]

I am in Arizona and the weather is super hot so I only use high ratio shortening and sometimes my buttercream comes out grainy what is it that I am doing wrong ??

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I know shortening is a good stabilizer for places where it’s hot. However I have never used it so I’m not sure

[@annakrause521]

Would that frost 3 layer cake . Love your site

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Yes it should. 6” rounds

[@annakrause521]

Thanks 😊

[@tanyaarriazola9826]

Is this what you use for your sugar cookies?

[@xiomararivera673]

I’d like to use this buttercream for a cake I have coming up. Can I add fondant decorations to it?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I don’t usually work with fondant however I have used small amounts to make small features like eyeballs or :-) faces etc. I just moisten the back of the fondant with a dab of water and stick it to the Buttercream

[@xiomararivera673]

@@NeuroticMomBakes Thanks so much for responding! Great. I was just afraid that they wouldn’t hold/stay up because of the cream cheese in the buttercream or do you think your regular American buttercream recipe would work better? The cake I’m making has wide vertical fondant stripes all around the cake and a fondant scalloped border on top to resemble a circus cake. Thank you in advance!

[@pwellerfan]

What temp is your butter? Straight out of fridge, room temp? I usually take mine out of fridge for 20 min. Wondering what you do?

[@HolyandChicMama]

She says in the video room temperature.

[@TheMegaEberle]

Love your recipes quick question... for powdered sugar... can I use icing sugar? We don’t get powdered sugar here in Canada 🇨🇦

[@ashselbs6065]

Yes It’ll be the same thing , same for here in the uk x

[@WL1006]

everything need to be in Room temperature for the buttercream?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Butter should be slightly soft. That’s all

[@masimoneaux]

About how many cups of icing does this make

[@mariascreations9783]

With 8 cups of pwdeted sugar will it be too sweet?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

That’s just the nature of american buttercream.

[@marinas7010]

Can this recipe be doubled? Or will that mess with the consistency?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

It won’t mess with the consistency but it’s very hard to make unless you have an industrial size mixer. It will make the biggest mess in the regulars mixer

[@syedaalishanasir4015]

Is the buttercream grainy.?? . I always use whipping cream bc it's soft n silky

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Never grainy! 😊

[@syedaalishanasir4015]

@@NeuroticMomBakes I'll definitely try it

[@richelleatian1425]

Can I pipe a flower using this? Or only swirled design?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

You can pipe flowers. Make sure the butter cream is a little more stuff by adding a little bit more powdered sugar

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Stiff

[@roopanaik2150]

Can I add fresh fruits like strawberries or raspberries to this buttercream?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

It will drastically change the consistency with all the added liquid so you’re going to have to counteract with more powdered sugar

[@rosaelenacorrea5475]

Hi...how many minutes to beat the butter cream ? I'm sorry, I do not speak english

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Just a minute or so

[@evefranko8904]

Amy, about how many minutes do you mix the butter and cream cheese??

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Only about a minute

[@user-_-37470]

Waiting 80 years to get the butter whipped and smooth

[@mouasweets4112]

Is there a way to make it less sweet without losing the structure of the buttercream?

[@uzma3154]

make swiss meringue buttercream! it uses less sugar! i’m just waiting to buy a stand mixer for the swiss meringue buttercream! :)

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Not for American buttercream, however, the addition of the cream cheese offsets some of the sweetness. Yes, Swiss meringue buttercream is less sweet but it’s also less stable, harder to work with, and a lot more work. 😅

[@mouasweets4112]

Uzma Maalik I love the Swiss meringue but it’s so much work lol. So I was just wondering if there was a way for the American buttercream.

[@uzma3154]

SimplyUs Moua hmm yeah, i know it is hahaha, unfortunately you can’t use less sugar for american buttercream because the sugar is what gives it its structure

[@mouasweets4112]

Uzma Maalik thank you so much.

[@aaaaaaa8920]

What Cream cheese g?

[@laurenarguelles5809]

IF I wanted to make chocolate buttercream, how much cocoa would you recommend adding? Also would this recipe cover a standard set of cupcakes?

[@Oceansoftime88]

She has a video on how to make chocolate buttercream.

[@davinakanhai3862]

How much does this make ? Will this cover 24 cupcakes?💜

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

It all depends on how you pipe them. But it should definitely cover 24

[@davinakanhai3862]

@@NeuroticMomBakes Thanks so much. My first time making buttercream with cream cheese. It taste divine! I suck at measurements tho...but thank you, you are so awesome !

[@andigorbegin]

Why before this my buttercream always grainy? mixing for a long time but still grainy.

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Are you using real butter? Confectioners sugar?

[@andigorbegin]

@@NeuroticMomBakes yup im using pure butter & confectioners sugar,i even sifted the sugar few times 🥺 now i proceed to smbc but always want to try buttercream

[@sarahcourtney9847]

I used the recipe tonight and thought it was a little grainy. I had to cut the recipe so I think I got the ratios off cause it was pasty. Tasted delicious tho

[@marjorieflores9530]

Hi Amy ! This looks so easy I want to try it for my daughter’s birthday cake ! I have a question though: I’d like to color my buttercream in blue, when do I add the color? Also is it better to use powder or a gel?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I have never personally tried powder but I heard they were great. I always add my food coloring very last. After the butter cream is all combined

[@marjorieflores9530]

@@NeuroticMomBakes Thanks so much ! I have another question :) my cake will be round (7 inches diameter) and 5 inches tall, do you think with the measurements you say here I'll have enough to fill, crumb coat and cover the cake? Or do I need to double?

[@user-fb4sb1zi8g]

It still taste like buttercream even with cream cheese in it?

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

Tastes even better!

[@user-fb4sb1zi8g]

@@NeuroticMomBakes awesome! Love your channel btw!

[@ceevanwilde]

Real silly question. Cream cheese! Which one? Mascapone, philadelphia, or something else? Haha cream cheese always confuses me 😅

[@Shaki611]

I guess she uses a cheese like Philadelphia. It comes in sticks

[@evelynvillegas9753]

I tried this recipe but am I the only one who had a weird “perfume” after taste? I made 2 batches to make sure I did it right but the weird after taste was still there .... idk what I did wrong.... ingredients were fresh and not expired so idk

[@joannerobitaille2358]

very tasty but I had trouble, after following the recipe in your video, I couldn’t seem to gain the proper consistency of regular buttercream. I wanted to pipe rosettes on top of my cake and the icing was melting in the bag from the heat of my hands. I’ve been decorating cakes since 1970 needless to say the old tried and true recipe without the cream cheese was better for me After reading the comments I wish I had added a bit of shortening for stability. Sadly this cake is going for my Mother in law’s 97th birthday party in 3 hours and it’s not up to my standards. BUT after saying all that, I enjoy your videos

[@kamopst5253]

I don't agree with this recipe ! ...You feel sugar in your mouth when You eat it

[@NeuroticMomBakes]

I have never felt that and I’ve made this thousands of times. It must be the ingredients you’re using.