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Straightforward Lemon Buttercream Frosting – My Baking Dependancy


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

Spoon in a bowl of lemon buttercream frosting.Spoon in a bowl of lemon buttercream frosting.

Certainly one 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 very easy to make. 

That basic 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 an excellent time to work on a shiny, 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.

Piping bag filled with lemon buttercream frosting next to cake layers on a wire rack.Piping bag filled with lemon buttercream frosting next to cake layers on a wire rack.

The very best lemon buttercream frosting

In the event you’re an enormous fan of lemon, you’re gonna be an enormous fan of this lemon buttercream recipe.

This frosting has all the creamy, fluffy texture of my basic buttercream frosting, however with the added brightness from lemon zest and lemon juice. 

The truth is, 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 prime of muffins and cupcakes or as a filling for cookie sandwiches, this lemon buttercream is a recipe you’re going to need to make time and again.

Spoon holding up a bite of lemon buttercream frosting with a bowl of the frosting in the background.Spoon holding up a bite of lemon buttercream frosting with a bowl of the frosting in the background.

Methods to make my lemon buttercream

In the event you’ve by no means made selfmade frosting earlier than, you’ll be shocked at how straightforward it’s. And it’s soooo significantly better than the canned stuff you purchase on the retailer. You’ll by no means return after you have the true factor!

Components you’ll want

To make my lemon buttercream frosting, you will have:

  • 1 1/2 cups softened unsalted butter
  • 24 ounces confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • Pinch of advantageous grain salt
  • 2 tablespoons recent lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1-3 tablespoons chilly milk
Ingredients for lemon buttercream frosting arranged on a countertop.Ingredients for lemon buttercream frosting arranged on a countertop.

For the smoothest, creamiest buttercream, you should begin with room-temperature butter. In the event you neglect to set your butter out forward of time, try my ideas for methods to soften butter rapidly.

Powdered sugar is the opposite key ingredient in frostings comparable to buttercream or cream cheese frosting. If you’re out of powdered sugar, make a easy powdered sugar substitute to make use of as an alternative. 

Be sure to use recent lemon juice on this recipe. It’s going to style significantly better than the bottled stuff. You will want 1 giant 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 velocity for 6-7 minutes.

Butter being beaten with an electric mixer in a white bowl.Butter being beaten with an electric mixer in a white bowl.

Recipe Tip

To get one of the best texture in your frosting, take the time to whip the butter totally earlier than you add the opposite components. 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.

Ingredients for lemon buttercream being mixed in a white bowl.Ingredients for lemon buttercream being mixed in a white bowl.

As soon as the sugar is totally integrated, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk till properly blended.

Now flip the mixer again as much as medium-high velocity and proceed mixing for an additional 6-7 minutes. This can show you how to get that fluffy consistency all of us love in an excellent frosting.

In case your lemon buttercream is a bit too thick, add in extra milk a splash at a time till you attain your required consistency.

Freshly mixed lemon buttercream in a white mixing bowl.Freshly mixed lemon buttercream in a white mixing bowl.

Utilizing this frosting

The obvious means 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 would additionally pair the lemon with different cake flavors, comparable to vanilla cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, or coconut cake. 

You can too use it as a filling for cupcakes along with or as an alternative of utilizing it to prime the cupcakes. In the event you’ve by no means stuffed cupcakes earlier than, try my publish on methods to fill cupcakes.

Don’t restrict your self to muffins! It’s a fantastic topping for sugar cookie bars and even bitter cream cookies.

I even find it irresistible as a filling for cookie sandwiches! Attempt it with lemon poppy seed cookies, vanilla bean lemon sugar cookies, or straightforward sugar cookies.

Layer cake covered in lemon buttercream frosting.Layer cake covered in lemon buttercream frosting.

Make-ahead and storage ideas

Lemon buttercream frosting will be made a number of days forward of time and piped or unfold onto muffins or cupcakes everytime you’re able to serve them.

Cowl and refrigerate the frosting in an hermetic container for as much as three days. Once you’re prepared to make use of it, merely deliver it to room temperature. Beat it for about 5 minutes with a mixer or till clean.

You might 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 may also be frozen for longer-term storage.

Place the frosting in a freezer-safe hermetic container. Generally I can even place a layer of plastic wrap on the highest of the buttercream for additional 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 clean. Add a splash of milk or cream if wanted.

Lemon buttercream in a white bowl set on a green and white napkin.Lemon buttercream in a white bowl set on a green and white napkin.

Ceaselessly requested questions

I like to make use of shortening in my frosting. Is that an choice?

If you’re a fan of shortening in your buttercream frostings, merely change 1/2 cup of the butter with 1/2 cup shortening.

Does this frosting harden or crust up?

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, make certain to do this proper after piping it on, earlier than it has an opportunity to type a crust.

Although it crusts up, it gained’t utterly harden. Watch out if storing or transporting baked items embellished with this frosting so that you just don’t smash your stunning adorning work.

How does this frosting maintain as much as warmth?

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 sizzling.

In the event you’re taking muffins or cupcakes embellished with this frosting to an occasion with out air-con or the place it’ll be within the solar (comparable to a summer time cookout), I counsel retaining the dessert chilled till able to serve.

Is that this recipe thick sufficient to cowl the edges of a cake with out seeing via or to pipe decorations?

Sure, this buttercream holds up rather well as a thick coating on muffins or for piping decorations. You can too modify the thickness of the frosting by including much less or extra milk to fit your adorning wants.

I solely have salted butter, will that work okay?

In the event you solely have salted butter readily available, omit the salt within the recipe.

I desire a shiny yellow lemon frosting, what ought to I do?

This frosting has a naturally yellow tint to it from the lemon zest, however won’t be shiny yellow by itself. In the event you want a brighter colour, 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.

How a lot frosting does this recipe make?

This recipe makes sufficient lemon buttercream to prime 24 cupcakes, one 8-inch or 9-inch layer cake, or one sheet cake.

  • Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high velocity for 6-7 minutes.

  • With the mixer on low velocity, slowly add within the salt and powdered sugar, and proceed beating till the sugar is totally integrated.

  • Add in lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk, and blend on low velocity till integrated.

  • Flip the mixer again as much as medium-high velocity and beat the frosting for a further 6-7 minutes.

  • If the frosting is simply too thick, add in a little bit of milk, one teaspoon at a time till you attain the specified consistency.

  • You possibly can simply modify the consistency of this recipe by merely including in additional milk a splash at a time.
  • If you’re a fan of shortening in your buttercream, merely omit one stick (1/2 cup) of butter and change with 1/2 cup shortening.
  • Coated and refrigerated frosting will be saved for as much as three days. Merely deliver it to room temperature and beat with an electrical mixer till clean. You might want so as to add a few teaspoons of  heavy cream or milk to revive the consistency. Frosting may also be frozen for as much as a month.
  • In the event you garnish with sprinkles, be sure you do that instantly after you frost your baked items. As soon as the highest layer of the buttercream crusts, nothing will stick.
  • Be taught methods to make powdered sugar for these instances when you may have 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

Vitamin info is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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