Don't know how to make icing for cake but don't want to settle for store-bought frosting? This four-ingredient easy vanilla frosting recipe is the perfect topper for your cakey creations. The homemade taste just can't be beat. —Mary Faulk, Cambridge, Wisconsin

Vanilla Frosting

confectioners' sugar

butter, softened

milk

vanilla extract

This recipe is very similar to what I have always used for my cakes, but I saw one thing that might be the problem for other reviewers who weren't happy with this. The tips say to use milk to thicken extra and the confectioner's sugar to thin......it's just the OPPOSITE!  Milk will definitely make it more runny like a lot of commenters were complaining about. Don't know if this was a mistake by the poster or not....?

I think the problem some people were having is with the butter... soften butter, do not melt butter....and yes, does better if you chill it a bit before using..I cut back the vanilla and worked it up to almost 3/4 tablespoon...came out perfect

I made a half batch. Texture was nice and thick, and I did have to add a touch more milk as the recipe indicated. The only reasons I could think that others had trouble was not measuring exactly, and I also put ingredients in my stand mixer in the order listed, and used 6/10 speed. Worked great for me!

This recipe is PERFECT! It is easy, works easy and took about 3 minutes to make. 5 star!! Great job.

Please tell me - once frosted with this, does cake need to be refrigerated???I am always confused about this when using milk and butter.

For those that had problems with this recipe. When you are adding powdered sugar to any recipe (even flour) you should add slowly only adding more when it is incorporated. Add only part of the milk with each addition of sugar. If it gets too thick add more milk at a rate of 1/8 teaspoon at a time. If you need thicker icing/frosting for decoration then make the mixture thicker. This is a basic recipe for more buttercream icing/frosting.

Worked great as it says it would. It came in handy when I ran out of frosting for my gingerbread house. To those who had watery sugar it’s 2 tablespoons not quarter of a cup of milk and it’s softened butter not liquid butter. The best way to make sure the butter is only softened just get some spreadable butter. It works great. My problem was not measuring out the vanilla so I had a slight brown tint to it.

I thought this was frosting, it is just goop!!!! I am disappointed. I was making cupcakes in a short amount of time, and now I have to restart the “frosting” again!!!!! I am so MAD!!!!

I had no luck making this frosting. It came out too dry for me. I played around with it and came up with 1/2 cup butter 1/2 solid Crisco only  4 cups confectionery sugar and a touch of vanilla extract. The best frosting I ever made I even added in another recipe made the same way some cocoa powder for a light chocolate delicious

Look at these reviews. How does Taste of Home publish a lousy (to a lot of us) vanilla frosting recipe? The texture was fine—but who wants a sickly sweet powdered sugar flavored icing? It ruined a perfectly good gingerbread cake recipe.The Test Kitchen must have been in a rush that day.

This recipe is great! I’m not sure why people are saying it’s watery and icing-like. It’s thick like how frosting is supposed to be and very easy to make. I already had all the ingredients and I’m sure anyone could make it!

I made this recipe last night and it turned out delicious. I read some previous reviews and added 1 tablespoon  of vanilla to a double batch. I will definitely be making this again!

This recipe is amazing! Quick , easy, and delicious... I will definetly be using this recipe again!

Add a little more butter-more calories, yes, but less sweet and even creamier.

Very good,loved it just made strawberry cupcakes!

This frosting turned out looking and tasting like cat puke. it was so thin that you could easily mistake it for a drink. In fact, when trying to dispose of it, we couldn"t figure out whether to throw it in the trash or rinse it down the sink. I would not recommend this recipe, I am a very experienced baker and followed the directions correctly but it turned out to be a waste of ingredients.

I have not made this either, but for y'all that say it is runny and thin, just add more powder sugar, didn't you ever bake with your moms? Don't remember her ever measuring anything. I just came in here to double check how to make my own because for so many years we have just bought it in the store. My memory likes to play games with me and has to be kicked every once in awhile to make me remember.....frosting is so easy.

Oh my GOSH! This frosting is the bomb dot com! Can't wait to use it on my mom's birthday cake!

this tasted good but the consistency wasnt great. to keep adding sugar would have ruined flavor. good for baking nite with the kids but not if u want to hold firm.

Needed to make a quick and easy icing for a cake I was taking to church and didn't want to run to the store and buy a store bought icing. I had all the ingredients on hand and it was so easy to prepare.

https://videodam.tmbi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/VanillaFrosting_DIYD_22592_010819_H.mp4

Check out this video for how to make Vanilla Frosting

vanilla frosting

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Servings: 6

Cost: $3.76 /serving

Author : Taste of Home

Ingredients

Instructions

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