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The proper mixture of candy and tangy, this lemon buttercream frosting is scrumptious on high of desserts and cupcakes or when used as a filling.


One in every of my hottest recipes right here on MBA is my selfmade buttercream frosting. And I get why! It’s scrumptious, has an attractive texture, and is really easy to make.
That traditional recipe has served as a base for a number of different frosting recipes round right here: strawberry frosting, brown butter frosting, and chocolate buttercream.
Since spring is simply across the nook, it appeared like a great time to work on a brilliant, citrusy model for you. This lemon buttercream frosting simply screams spring to me, and I can’t cease picturing it on an attractive layer cake as the middle of an Easter unfold.


The very best lemon buttercream frosting
For those who’re an enormous fan of lemon, you’re gonna be an enormous fan of this lemon buttercream recipe.
This frosting has the entire creamy, fluffy texture of my traditional buttercream frosting, however with the added brightness from lemon zest and lemon juice.
Actually, if American buttercream frosting is commonly too candy for you, this can be the right compromise. The tart lemon taste actually helps to steadiness out the sweetness, making for a frosting that’s not too candy and never too tart.
Whether or not you’re utilizing it on high of desserts and cupcakes or as a filling for cookie sandwiches, this lemon buttercream is a recipe you’re going to wish to make over and over.


The best way to make my lemon buttercream
For those who’ve by no means made selfmade frosting earlier than, you’ll be stunned at how straightforward it’s. And it’s soooo a lot better than the canned stuff you purchase on the retailer. You’ll by no means return after getting the actual factor!
Substances you’ll want
To make my lemon buttercream frosting, you will want:
- 1 1/2 cups softened unsalted butter
- 24 ounces confectioner’s sugar, sifted
- Pinch of positive grain salt
- 2 tablespoons recent lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1-3 tablespoons chilly milk


For the smoothest, creamiest buttercream, you have to begin with room-temperature butter. For those who overlook to set your butter out forward of time, try my suggestions for soften butter rapidly.
Powdered sugar is the opposite key ingredient in frostings reminiscent of buttercream or cream cheese frosting. In case you are out of powdered sugar, make a easy powdered sugar substitute to make use of as a substitute.
Be sure you use recent lemon juice on this recipe. It’s going to style a lot better than the bottled stuff. You’ll need 1 massive lemon to get the zest and juice required for this frosting.
Making lemon frosting
Utilizing a mixer, begin by beating the butter on medium-high pace for 6-7 minutes.


Recipe Tip
To get the most effective texture in your frosting, take the time to whip the butter completely earlier than you add the opposite elements. Don’t attempt to skimp on the blending time!
As soon as the butter is properly overwhelmed, flip the mixer to low and slowly add the salt and powdered sugar.


As soon as the sugar is absolutely integrated, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk till properly combined.
Now flip the mixer again as much as medium-high pace and proceed mixing for an additional 6-7 minutes. It will allow you to get that fluffy consistency all of us love in a great frosting.
In case your lemon buttercream is a bit too thick, add in further milk a splash at a time till you attain your required consistency.


Utilizing this frosting
The obvious method to make use of lemon buttercream frosting is on a cake or cupcakes. For a double dose of lemon, strive it on lemon cake or lemon cupcakes.
You could possibly additionally pair the lemon with different cake flavors, reminiscent of vanilla cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, or coconut cake.
You can even use it as a filling for cupcakes along with or as a substitute of utilizing it to high the cupcakes. For those who’ve by no means crammed cupcakes earlier than, try my put up on fill cupcakes.
Don’t restrict your self to desserts! It’s an excellent topping for sugar cookie bars and even bitter cream cookies.
I even adore it as a filling for cookie sandwiches! Attempt it with lemon poppy seed cookies, vanilla bean lemon sugar cookies, or straightforward sugar cookies.


Make-ahead and storage suggestions
Lemon buttercream frosting could be made a number of days forward of time and piped or unfold onto desserts or cupcakes everytime you’re able to serve them.
Cowl and refrigerate the frosting in an hermetic container for as much as three days. While you’re prepared to make use of it, merely convey it to room temperature. Beat it for about 5 minutes with a mixer or till easy.
Chances are you’ll want so as to add a splash of cream or milk to revive the consistency earlier than utilizing it.
Freezing lemon frosting
Additional lemon frosting will also be frozen for longer-term storage.
Place the frosting in a freezer-safe hermetic container. Typically I can even place a layer of plastic wrap on the highest of the buttercream for further safety. Freeze for as much as a month.
Let the frosting thaw within the fridge in a single day. Earlier than utilizing, let it come to room temperature and beat it along with your mixer for about 5 minutes or till good and easy. Add a splash of milk or cream if wanted.


Incessantly requested questions
In case you are a fan of shortening in your buttercream frostings, merely substitute 1/2 cup of the butter with 1/2 cup shortening.
As soon as piped or unfold onto your cake, cupcakes, or cookies, this lemon buttercream will crust up. If you wish to add sprinkles or different decorations, be sure that to do this proper after piping it on, earlier than it has an opportunity to type a crust.
Although it crusts up, it received’t fully harden. Watch out if storing or transporting baked items embellished with this frosting so that you just don’t smash your stunning adorning work.
Lemon buttercream frosting holds up nice at room temperature. However it is going to undoubtedly begin to droop or soften if it will get too scorching.
For those who’re taking desserts or cupcakes embellished with this frosting to an occasion with out air-con or the place it’ll be within the solar (reminiscent of a summer time cookout), I counsel holding the dessert chilled till able to serve.
Sure, this buttercream holds up very well as a thick coating on desserts or for piping decorations. You can even modify the thickness of the frosting by including much less or extra milk to fit your adorning wants.
For those who solely have salted butter readily available, omit the salt within the recipe.
This frosting has a naturally yellow tint to it from the lemon zest, however is not going to be brilliant yellow by itself. For those who want a brighter shade, add 1 or 2 drops of yellow meals coloring together with the milk. I like to recommend beginning with 1 drop and including extra as wanted.
This recipe makes sufficient lemon buttercream to high 24 cupcakes, one 8-inch or 9-inch layer cake, or one sheet cake.
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Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high pace for 6-7 minutes.
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With the mixer on low pace, slowly add within the salt and powdered sugar, and proceed beating till the sugar is absolutely integrated.
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Add in lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk, and blend on low pace till integrated.
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Flip the mixer again as much as medium-high pace and beat the frosting for a further 6-7 minutes.
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If the frosting is just too thick, add in a little bit of milk, one teaspoon at a time till you attain the specified consistency.
- You may simply modify the consistency of this recipe by merely including in additional milk a splash at a time.
- In case you are a fan of shortening in your buttercream, merely omit one stick (1/2 cup) of butter and substitute with 1/2 cup shortening.
- Coated and refrigerated frosting could be saved for as much as three days. Merely convey it to room temperature and beat with an electrical mixer till easy. Chances are you’ll want so as to add a few teaspoons of heavy cream or milk to revive the consistency. Frosting will also be frozen for as much as a month.
- For those who garnish with sprinkles, be sure to do that instantly after you frost your baked items. As soon as the highest layer of the buttercream crusts, nothing will stick.
- Discover ways to make powdered sugar for these occasions when you’ve run out however nonetheless need frosting!
Energy: 102kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 0.1g, Fats: 12g, Saturated Fats: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fats: 3g, Trans Fats: 0.5g, Ldl cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 6mg, Fiber: 0.004g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 356IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.004mg
Diet data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.