The best fluffy vanilla sugar cookie buttercream frosting! With a blend of vanilla and almond extract, this recipe is perfect for spreading on soft cut out sugar cookies to make the ultimate buttery and creamy Valentine's, Christmas, or birthday cookies!
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When it comes to sugar cookies, I am particular about which types of frostings I pair with cut out sugar cookies depending on the different occasions. Between royal icing, easy sugar cookie icing, cream cheese frosting, and this sugar cookie buttercream - there's a time and a place for each.
And this creamy and buttery buttercream is perfect for when you want to make fancy-looking, bakery-style cookies without spending hours intricately icing cookies with royal icing. The trick to getting this buttercream nice and fluffy is starting with room temperature butter and using an electric mixer to whip.
Don't feel like frosting individual cookies? Make my Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars in a 9x13 pan instead!
Ingredients for Sugar Cookie Buttercream Frosting
- Butter, softened to room temperature
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract
- Salt
- Food Coloring, if desired
How to Make Sugar Cookie Buttercream Frosting
Step 1: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the butter on high speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. (If you have a Kitchenaid mixer, use the paddle attachment on speed 4.)
It is important to start with softened, room-temperature butter for this recipe in order to get the creamy, fluffy texture. (See photo below for reference on what butter should look like after being whipped.)
Step 2: After the 3-4 minutes, keep the mixer on high speed and add in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Turn the mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time until it is all incorporated.
Once all powdered sugar is worked in, add food coloring then turn the mixer back up to high speed and beat for 2-3 minutes until it is light, creamy, and fluffy.
Tip: To achieve this light pink color, I dipped the tip of a toothpick in red food coloring then did 1 swipe through the frosting. For a more in-depth look at achieving a light, blush pink, check out my post on how to make light pink frosting.
Step 3: Use a offset spatula to generously spread frosting onto cooled cookies or place frosting in a large piping bag with a large star tip for more intricate decorating.
For a rosette shape, start in the center and swirl the piping tip around to the outside. For a more traditional swirl (like shown below), start from the outside and swirl the piping inward to create a peak.
Step 4: Immediately after frosting, top with sprinkles! You want to do this right after frosting, otherwise the frosting will start to develop a slight crust.
See FAQ section below for storing instructions.
Don't feel like frosting individual cookies? Make my Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars in a 9x13 pan instead!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this buttercream frosting harden?
The frosting will develop a slight crust if left sitting out (or when refrigerated), but it won't completely harden. Which means you don't want to stack them if piping swirls. For my tips on how to stack non-piped cookies (like the photo below), see my guide on how to freeze sugar cookies.
Does this buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?
Although the amount of sugar will stabilize the butter (meaning you could technically leave them at room temperature for 2-3 days), I recommend refrigerating these so that the frosting doesn't "melt" down and flatten out.
Can I freeze buttercream frosting?
If you have leftover frosting, you can freeze it in a plastic freezer bag for 2-3 months. Just make sure all the air is out of the bag. When ready to use, thaw the bag in the refrigerator and once it's soft, place frosting back in bowl and beat for 2-3 minutes.
Note that frosting may not become as fluffy as before, so this method is typically best when you just want to spread the frosting vs. pipe it. To freeze frosted cookies, see my guide on how to freeze sugar cookies.
What sugar cookie recipe should I pair this with?
I use this sugar cookie buttercream frosting to top my soft & thick cut out sugar cookies. This frosting recipe will make about 2 cups of frosting, enough to generously frost about (24) 2.5" sized round cookies.
What vanilla extract do you recommend?
Although I typically recommend a clear-colored extract when making white buttercream icing, you can also use a pure vanilla extract. My favorite brands are Nielsen Massey, Watkins, and Rodelle.
Sugar Cookie Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ - 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract *adjust to your taste preference (some brands are stronger than others); I like a prominent almond flavor but you can use less for a less strong flavor
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- Food Coloring
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whip unsalted butter (1 cup; i.e. 2 sticks) for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy on high speed.
- Whip in vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), almond extract (*½ - 1 ½ teaspoons), and salt (¼ teaspoons).
- On medium/low speed begin adding in powdered sugar (3 cups) half cup at a time until all is incorporated.
- Mix at high speed for 2-3 minutes until nice and creamy.
- Spread on top of cookies or place frosting in a large piping bag with a large star tip to achieve a more intricate design. To pipe the swirl, start from the inside and swirl to the outside.
- Makes 2 cups of frosting, which is enough to generously frost about (24) 2.5" circle cookies.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Notes
Nutrition
This sugar cookie buttercream frosting is perfect for Valentine's Day cookies! For these adorable bite-sized heart cookies, I used Sugarbelle's Multi Heart Cutter and spread on pink buttercream.
Dye the buttercream frosting any color and top with sprinkles for perfect Christmas, halloween, baby shower, or birthday cookies!
Robert says
I am pleased I found this recipe and this website. I needed a buttercream for cookies, and while I have tried and true never-fail buttercream that I use for just about anything that calls for frosting, it just doesn’t work well with a cookie for some reason. Anyway, this recipe turned out perfect and was not only delicious but very pleasant to work with, which isn’t always the case when dealing with icings and frostings. So thank you for sharing this recipe with everyone, and just know it certainly saved me from what would’ve otherwise been a baking disaster.
Melissa says
Yay, that makes me so happy to hear! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, Robert! Thank you so much!
Nana says
Excellent easy butter cream frosting! Tastes sooooo good! I would add one comment...if the powdered sugar is lumpy, sift all three cups of the powdered sugar after this is measured and before you add it to the creamed butter. No lumps!
Melissa says
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Cathy says
It was very thin, so I added a couple more cups of powdered sugar to thicken it up
Melissa says
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Cathy!
Nana says
Excellent easy butter cream frosting! Tastes sooooo good! I would add one comment...if the powdered sugar is lumpy, sift all three cups of the powdered sugar after this is measured and before you add it to the creamed butter. No lumps!
Meghan says
OMG!!!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. I substituted the almond extract for more vanilla. It turned out wonderfully.
Rita says
April 5,2025
This buttercream frosting recipe was SO light and fluffy and easy to make! I didn’t have any almond extract so I only used vanilla. Simply delicious and addictive!
Thanks for sharing 🩷
Melissa says
I am so glad to hear you loved this recipe! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Rita!
Mary says
This icing was delicious and sooo easy and quick to make.. added it to your butter cookie recipe.. and it was yummy and delish!!!!
Melissa says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a review, Mary!
Kait says
This is the best buttercream frosting recipe I have found, and I have tried a handful!
This one is delicious as well as easy to frost with.
Melissa says
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Leah says
Turned out great! Super easy and delicious!
Melissa says
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Leah!
Karen says
REALLY good and so easy to work with for decorating sugar cookies with the kids!
Melissa says
Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review, Karen! Sounds like you all had fun decorating cookies:)
JG says
Perfection!! 😊
Melissa says
Thanks so much, JG! I'm so glad you enjoyed the sugar cookie buttercream! Thanks for taking time to leave a review!
Kelly Welle says
Throwing Meringue Powder and all other cookie frosting recipes in the trash!! This is the best! I used maximum almond extract that recipe stated plus the vanilla! I may have eaten more frosting than I care to admit. Thus the stomach ache I am nursing!
Melissa says
LOL! I'm so glad you loved the Sugar Cookie Buttercream, Kelly! Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review!