Description

This Sugar Cookie Buttercream Frosting is a creamy, sweet, and fluffy topping perfect for enhancing your sugar cookies. Combining softened unsalted butter with vanilla and almond extracts, along with powdered sugar, this buttercream is versatile and easy to customize with food coloring for a festive touch. It whips up quickly and spreads or pipes beautifully, making it ideal for cookie decorating.

Ingredients

Scale

Frosting Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ to 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract
¼ teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar
Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

Whip the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter on high speed for 3-4 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the frosting.
Add Flavorings and Salt: Beat in vanilla extract, almond extract (start with ½ teaspoon and add up to 1 ½ teaspoons according to taste), and salt until fully combined.
Incorporate Powdered Sugar: On medium to low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar half a cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until all 3 cups are incorporated.
Beat to Creamy Consistency: Increase speed to high and whip the frosting for an additional 2-3 minutes until it is creamy, smooth, and spreadable.
Decorate Cookies: Spread the frosting on cooled sugar cookies or transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. To pipe swirls, start from the inside of the cookie and swirl outward for a decorative finish.
Yield and Serving: This recipe makes about 2 cups of frosting, sufficient to generously frost approximately 24 sugar cookies, each about 2.5 inches in diameter.

Notes

You can adjust the almond extract amount depending on your preferred flavor intensity.
Food coloring can be added to customize the frosting for holidays or themes.
Ensure the butter is softened but not melted for the best texture.
For a lighter frosting, you may sift the powdered sugar before adding to prevent lumps.
Use fresh ingredients and mix well for optimal consistency and flavor.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dessert Frosting
Method: Blending
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Buttercream frosting, sugar cookie frosting, vanilla frosting, almond extract frosting, cookie decorating, easy frosting