2-Minute Vanilla Frosting
You can double or triple the recipe if you need more but make sure you add the milk very slowly. It thickens up very quickly. - Jenny Jones
Total Time: 2 minutes
Makes: about 1/2 cup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (do not sift before measuring)
- 2 Tablespoons softened butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- about 3 teaspoons milk
Instructions:
- Place powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla into a bowl.
- With electric mixer on low, combine for a few seconds.
- Slowly beat in the milk, a little at a time, until it’s frosting consistency.
- Beat on high for about 15 seconds.
Super quick and easy! Love this easy recipe 10/10
Thank you for this quick and easy recipe! I blew through two sticks of butter on a more complicated frosting that didn’t taste good. This was easy, delicious and finished up my kids cupcakes.
I tried this recipe and it worked really well 10 / 10
Hi Jenny, thank you for the easy and delicious recipes. Hope your doing well and and happy to have found it you. As always, your fan petunia
So quick and easy! It’s yummy and perfect
Very sweet and yummy! Used this to make a small layer of frosting on my cupcakes since I don’t like the really big twisty things of frosting. Ty for this! 🙂
I have to be truthful, I haven’t made it yet, but my husband loves lemon. I’m making a 9×13 poke cake, I’m using lemon pudding for the pokes. He’s gonna have lemon overload, I’m gonna attempt to find lemon extract for your wonderful recipe. Thanks so much!! I just noticed that you can send you a picture. Be prepared to see mine.
Hello, I was making an orange cake for my mom’s birthday and this is just what I needed!!!! Thank you sooooo much!!
I used pure mint extract instead of vanilla and it turned out WONDERFULLY. I also made two batches because there was less frosting than I expected. Great recipe that I’ve used many times.
I became a fan of your lemon brownie (have baked multiple times), and today tried the easy chocolate cake with vanilla frosting! As expected of Jenny- Fail-proof recipe! Thank you!
Here are two alternatives for a real pizzazz!
1. Try using some good dark, freshly brewed coffee instead of milk if you’re going to be using any cocoa or chocolate. Coffee and Chocolate are great companions
2. Add just a hint (not more than a 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder to the mix (again, if you’re going to be making a chocolate frosting). You won’t taste the chili powder but the chocolate will have a kick.
I don’t know if I’d ever do the two of these together, but either one might give you a great surprise.
Does this frosting have to be refrigerated?
I always refrigerate my frosting just in case.
This frosting recipe was so good! I couldn’t find my buttercream frosting recipe so I searched the internet and found this recipe. It worked so well and I will definitely use it again! Notes: When making the frosting, you might want to make 2 or more batches of it because the batches are small.
DUDE THIS STUFF IS SO GOODDDD
This could use more liquid. Was kinda dry.
The liquid is approximate. You control the consistency with less or more liquid.
I didn’t use the full 3 tablespoons because it was already getting too runny. I also tasted what you might have been considering “Dry” and what I think that is, is the texture of the powdered sugar that hasn’t completely dissolves yet. I’m letting it sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before using and that changes the texture because the sugar has more time to dissolve. It’s a more creamy texture after waiting.
Make sure your powdered sugar is from cane sugar. Use Dominoes to be sure. Others use beet sugar and it comes out gritty.
This is really good
Could use more liquid though
If you don’t use a mixer than refrigerate for about twenty minutes
YOU SAVED OUR CAKE!!!! I thought I’d have to eat dry Funfetti cake, but alas, Jenny Can Cook saved the dish! Can anyone say… bon appetit?
Bon Appetit! The same thing happened to me! I couldn’t find my frosting recipe so Jenny Can Cook saved me!
This is wicked!
Unrlated to the resipe but I like your vibe man
Added milk a “drizzle” at a time to desired consistency. Then added sifted cocoa to desired flavor. Used stand mixer with whisk attachment.
WONDERFUL recipe!
I cut the sugar to 2/3 cup but added blueberries and mixed it and it turned out really yummy, and a pretty shade of light purple. Yummy!
This icing was super easy a d tastes great!
Would margarine work instead if butter?
Yes you can, HOWEVER, the taste and consistency is off. Not terribly, but you will taste more margarine than frosting. This is due to the margarine being primarily vegetable oil. I would not recommend using margarine over butter. But hey, to each their own.
It’s the same thing
Cailee, not sure what you mean are the same???
Are you trying to say that margarine and butter are the same? I have a suspicion the Dairy Industry would take exception to that. You may use them interchangeably and consider one the same as the other in the way you use each of them. However, they are no more the same than a fork and a spoon are the same. Both have a commonality in that they are eating utensils but just try eating some soup with a fork and see the difference. To a good chef, the difference between butter and margarine is even greater in how they react to the other ingredients and the end result taste of the dish.
I agree!
This recipe was a lifesaver. And the top it off it tasted wonderful!!! I won’t even be purchasing frosting from a tub anymore!
I added a little Maker’s Mark whiskey…magnifique. 😙
Can I use amaretto instead of vanilla?
Yes. But use almond extract for that ammereto, Be careful thought a little almond extract goes a long way. You can use both Vanilla and almond extract as well. extract s allow all the flavor with out the risk of your frosting becoming watery or thin or split.
OMG I BAKED THIS WITH MY KIDS AND THEY LOOOVED IT!!
This is a very good recipe for when you are in a hurry and do not have any cream or cream cheese, or butter!
Thank you!
It HAS butter 🤷♀️
Definitely my go to frosting from now on.
Great recipe. Thank you for sharing 🙏
it turned out amazing!
Has anyone tried this with coconut oil (not heated)? Need a vegan recipe
Is this frosting good for cupcakes?
Any frosting for a cake can be used on cup cakes because they are just cake too
I made this for my cookies and it turned out great
It was difficult to make because if you’re pouring milk from a gallon container it will be hard not to pour more milk than needed into the frosting.
You could pour the milk into a smaller container (like a measuring cup, bowl, glass or a regular cup) then measure it using a spoon you dip into the milk.
Measure it out and put it in a small cup.
quick and easy my 14 year old self could do without any help and with little to none cooking/baking experience
My mom and I made this icing for our cake and it turned out so delicious I would recommend this recipe it’s easy and quick
My mom and I made this icing for our cake and it turned out so delicious I would recommend this recipe🥰
Visiting my grand daughter in La Mesa California from the Florida Keys. We Made a cake and had no frosting to put on it. I googled Quick Frosting, this recipe was the first one that came up. We had everything we needed. We made the frosting and it was perfect. Thank you! It saved the day.
Visiting my grand daughter in La Mesa California from the Florida Keys. We Made a cake and had no frosting. With. I googled Quick frosting and we had everything we needed. We made this. It was perfect. Thank you!
Loved it!
it tastes so good and easy to make
DELICIOUS.
I tripled this recipe with great success. It’s the perfect icing for my Hot Milk Cake.
Made a double batch using lemon instead of vanilla. Was excellent. ( covering for my cracked cake.).
I did the same I’m a huge lemon lover I used lemon extract and also a full teaspoon of real lemon zest then put another of lemon zest on top after frosting is on the cake
Can you use any type of milk? Like almond milk?
yeah use mayonnaise if you REALLY want to 😉
AAAAAGGHHH
You could use either vanilla or plain yogurt as well. Softened cream cheese would be another good alternative. Or for really sweet chocolate frosting, skip the milk or any other liquid and mix in some chocolate syrup. Or any other Ice Cream topping syrup for additional flavor options. Or if you’re frosting a Red Velvet cake and you want some kick, try using a good RED wine instead of milk. You’ll get a nice pink color as well.
Can it be left out overnight after cake is frosted without refrigeration?
If your house is cool then yes, it will keep overnight. I would personally refrigerate though it keeps longer that way
Do you need to refrigerate it? Can it be left overnight out after cake is frosted?
Literally perfect. I will never buy icing again!!!
Mine was really watery. I did everything right, but I did not use a mixer. I used a whisk.I really hoped it would work.
My exact experience as well!
WORKED GREAT. NO PROBLEMS. SAVED ME. CAKE GOT OVER DONE ON TOP. TRIMMED THE TOP AND FROSTED IT. NO A COOK SO I DID KEEP IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR SINCE IT HAS MILK AND BUTTER.
Quick and easy, but most importantly…..delicious! Great recipe to satisfy your sugar fix when store bought icing is unavailable. As a matter of fact, I may never buy store bought icing ever again. Thanks for sharing.
I’m going to try this, I want to add coconut to it.
This recipe is great! I used my electric mixer and it came out so good. It’s the perfect size for a small cake. Thanks!
This recipe is great! I used my electric mixer and it came out so good. It’s the perfect size for a small cake. Thanks!
Will it turn out the same if I use a whisk?
Turned out great with a whisk!
Just wondering do I have to throw in the butter I’m 12 its my sis 18 birthday!!! and she made me a cake for my 10th plz help!!!
Gordon Ramsay would hate me for this….
My kids and I wanted to make a cake but didn’t have frosting so we found this recipe and had all the ingredients in hand so we made it and it was FANTASTIC!!! Great recipe and simple instructions!
Thanks Jenny for the easy frosting recipe. It taste great and saved me a trip to the store made my pineapple,mandarin cake & whip cream disappear and a lot of smiling faces. Steve
Mine turned out runny but I failed to slowly add the milk. My bad. I ended up adding some cream cheese to thicken it up. It didn’t thicken up enough to be frosting but made a delicious glaze.
AMAZING! So easy, so simple, so perfect! 😋 YUM
It was very confusing and turned out to be very watery. Not even like frosting.
same thing really watery
tried to put in fridge and it worked though
How long did you refrigerate it
Mine was perfect! used a whisk after half melting the butter
The instructions were not clear, and my frosting turned out very watery
Can you please say what was confusing and I can try to clarify. Thank you.
Can I use this frosting for my cookies?
It was easy and very taste.
Thank you God bless
Best frosting recipe
Really! I might as well try it!!!
This frosting recipe is fantastic just as it is. The go to for anytime I want to make a white frosting. Reminds me of the old fashioned buttercream frosting my mom used to make.
I made it turned out great only very sweet, anyway to make it a cream cheese flavor or just not so sweet
Thanks
This doesn’t make sense!? In the ingredients list, it does not lust milk. But in the instructions, it says to beat the milk slowly & also doesn’t say how much milk. Help, lol, please!?!
The amount of milk is listed in the ingredients.
I missed the milk ingredient also, now I see it 🤣
This is a perfect recipe if you follow directions carefully adding the liquid 1/2 tsp at a time I added 1/2 coffee 1/2 milk and a T of cocoa. Should double the recipe for a 2 layer cake or maybe even 2 1/2 times. Great mocha flavor this way. Would be great on german chocolate cake with coconut added😀
Hi Jenny – love your videos! For the frosting recipe, can I use skim milk?
Frosting came out perfectly again! This time I swapped the vanilla with lemon extract and the powered sugar with Lemon Powdered Sugar! Still added a bit of Vanilla extract to soften the taste. I added a splash of milk for my preferred consistency!! Thanks Jenny!
Brown ish. Think has curdled. Tastes good with ginger snap. Similar consistency to ketchup. ;0
Frosting can not curdle and the consistency is what you make it with the amount of milk added. If you follow the recipe it can’t be brown, can’t curdle, and you can use less milk to keep it thicker. I hope you’ll try again.
Tiffany, if it looks curdled but tastes fine, your butter was probably too cold. What looks like curdles, is probably little pieces of butter. The brown color is probably too much vanilla. Good luck!
This worked great. Not runny at all.
Just add milk a little at a time. Need to double or triple recipe if you want to frost a double layer cake & middle all over.
Thank you came out yummy!!
It was so good the kids loved it i will use it again
At the VERY TOP of this recipe readers are directed to: “…make sure you add the milk very slowly. It thickens up very quickly. – Jenny Jones”
PLEASE let ALL of us know HOW you made “soup” following these directions. Please???😂😂😂😂 Very Sharon Weiss
I think it worked pretty well I would do it again for sure a little thick at fist def need the electric mixer for this one