Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting (Printer-friendly)
Creamy sweet vanilla frosting that sets beautifully. Ready in 10 minutes with pantry staples.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base Frosting
01 - 2 cups powdered sugar (confectioners sugar), sifted
02 - 2–3 tablespoons milk (whole or 2%)
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - Pinch of salt
→ Optional Add-ins
06 - Food coloring (gel or liquid), as desired
07 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for flavor variation)
# How To Make It:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, beat together powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined and crumbly.
02 - Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition, until a smooth, spreadable consistency is achieved. For piping, use less milk; for glazing, use more.
03 - If desired, stir in almond extract and a few drops of food coloring until evenly mixed.
04 - Use immediately to frost cooled sugar cookies. Allow cookies to sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour for the frosting to set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This frosting comes together in under ten minutes with ingredients you already have in your pantry
- The texture sets beautifully without becoming rock hard, meaning your cookies stay soft underneath
02 -
- Room temperature butter incorporates much more smoothly than cold butter, which creates tiny lumps
- Adding liquid gradually gives you control over the final texture
03 -
- Sift your powdered sugar over a piece of wax paper to make cleanup easier
- Warm your mixing bowl with hot water and dry it thoroughly if your butter isn't softening fast enough