The Perfect 3-Ingredient Vanilla Frosting Recipe

This 3 ingredient frosting recipe is my go-to quick and easy frosting on short notice. We combine the right balance of vanilla, sugar, and a creamy base to quickly dress up your sweet treat. Once you get the basic idea down, you can take this recipe and make it your own.

Great Simple Flavors

For a great homemade frosting, you just need quality whole ingredients. The best part of a traditional vanilla buttercream is the pure vanilla flavor wrapped in a fluffy frosting. We are going to do that now and create a quick and very pure frosting. I have a few different recipes for you to try out depending on what you want to use your frosting on. 

Why I Love This Frosting

This became my go-to recipe for frosting when I became a busy mom. When my sweet tooth is calling, but I don't have the time and energy to labor in the kitchen, I could make this. A simple recipe that comes together in minutes is all you need to dress up a store-bought dessert and make it way better.

3 Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

Let's start with a buttercream option. Then, listed below, I have a few recipe modifications for you to check out. 

• powdered sugar
• vanilla extract
• room temperature unsalted butter

Helpful Kitchen Supplies

You don't need much to make an easy frosting, but here are a few suggestions just in case you need some help...

• Electric Stand Mixer
• Electric Hand Mixer
• Piping Bag with Tips
• Disposable Piping Bags
• Bowl with Whisk

How to Make Easy 3 Ingredient Frosting

You can follow these steps using either a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer. 

1. Start by creaming the room-temperature butter in the bowl of your electric mixer using the whisk attachment on a low speed.
2. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and repeat this process 3 times until the butter is whipped and lighter in color.
3. After the butter becomes light in color, slowly add the powdered sugar.
4. Add the vanilla extract and continue to whip the frosting. 

Ways to Use This Quick Frosting

When you make a thick, stiff buttercream, you can use it by piping or spreading on cake, sugar cookies and cupcakes. 

For a thinner, creamy frosting, use as a topping on a bundt cake, blueberry muffins, homemade donuts, or any breakfast item that you want to make special. 

3 Ingredient Icing

An icing is a much thinner topping than frosting. This is perfect for a drizzle over coffee cake, muffins, and cinnamon rolls. It's a quick and easy option to add a sweet flavor to a simple baked item.

• Powdered Sugar
• Heavy Cream, half and half, or whole milk
• vanilla extract

To make a simple glaze, mix 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup of confectioners' sugar. 

I make this icing when I want to serve something special, but am too busy or tired to bake from scratch.

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love the flavor of cream cheese and want a creamier frosting, make this instead!

• 8 ounce block of cream cheese
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Easy Cream Cheese Frosting: combine 1 ½ cup of confectioners' sugar with 1 teaspoon of vanilla and an 8 ounce block of room-temperature full-fat cream cheese.

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so it's nice and loose when you whip it. We are not in the mood to fight with our ingredients. It's the key to a smooth frosting.

Optional Flavors to Add in

The is a really easy recipe to add extracts and bright fruity flavors if you want. 

Orange Glaze: add 2-3 tablespoons of orange juice to the simple glaze or cream cheese frosting for a fun twist.

Lemon Icing: add a splash of lemon extract, lemon zest, or fresh squeezed lemon juice to any of the frosting recipes listed here. 

How to Save Frosting

Always save leftover frosting in an airtight container. This frosting will last refrigerated for a full week. 

When I have extra frosting in a piping bag, I just put the whole piping bag in a zip-top bag and pop in the fridge until I need to use it again. 

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More Sweet Treats

If you like this, you might also like this royal icing recipe for sugar cookies. Do you love sugar cookies? Check out my No-Chill Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe.