Home » RECIPES » THE BASICS » Almond Buttercream Frosting
byElizabeth Swoish
5 from 1 vote
Time: 15 minutes mins
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Indulge in this delicious Almond Buttercream Frosting made modern from Grandma’s recipe box. With 6 ingredients and 15 minutes of your time, you can create a silky smooth frosting to spread over cakes or cupcakes for a timeless treat.
Don’t miss out on my tips for making the whitest Almond Buttercream Frosting with a perfect consistency every single time. There is also a guide for scaling this frosting to use in and on all your baked goods.
Browse all my buttercream frosting recipes here!
Homemade buttercream frostings are one of my favorite things to share! They are basic recipes anyone can use to frost favorite cakes, brownies, cupcakes, eat with a spoon, or sandwich between two cookies. They are always delicious, simple, and can be passed from generation to generation.
I recently found an Almond Frosting in my grandma’s recipe card box. Not sure who it came from exactly, but it was a great start! I did have to swap the shortening for butter and amp up the amount of almond (it isn’t made like it used to be). Now what we have is a light, fluffy, melt-in-your mouth Almond Buttercream Frosting!
Reasons to LOVE This Almond Frosting
- bright and sweet almond flavor
- perfect texture and consistency every single time
- only 6 ingredients
- whips up in about 15 minutes
- endless frosting possibilities
Let’s Make It Together! Click To Watch My Video Tutorial
Almond Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
You’ll love how simple this buttercream is. All you need is 6 pantry staple ingredients, 7 if you include the food coloring. Keep reading for a few notes and potential substitutions.
- Unsalted Butter:Make sure it has been softened to room temperature. You can use plant based and dairy free butters (both turn out great). If you decide to use salted butter, omit the added salt.
- Salt:An essential flavor booster.
- Almond Extract: Use pure extract, imitation does not have the same authentic flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Again, always uses pure extracts. I choose clear vanilla so it does not color the buttercream yellow.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioner’s Sugar):Always use 10x powdered for a smooth buttercream.
- Heavy Whipping Cream:This gives our buttercream the perfect consistency. You can also use half and half, vegan varieties of heavy cream, or dairy free heavy whipping cream. Keep in mind, the higher the fat content the better. So I do not recommend whole milk, almond milk, or soy milk.
- OPTIONAL Gel Food Coloring: My favorites are Wilton or AmeriColor. It is great for customizing frosting to fit designs and party themes.
Equipment Needed for Buttercream Frosting
- Hand Mixer OR Stand Mixer:I recommend using a stand mixer, it’s the easiest, but a hand mixer works too.
- Silicone Spatula:You’ll need this to scrape down your bowl and smooth out the buttercream after it has combined.
- OPTIONAL TOOLS: Piping bag, standard piping tips, or extra large piping tip (for bakery-like swirls and designs). Use an icing spatula or butter knife for rustic designs and spreading.
The Secret to Perfect Almond Frosting
You’ll never guess this but the secret to perfect buttercream frosting is CHOOSING THE RIGHT MIXER ATTACHMENT!This depends on the outcome you are looking for and your personal taste preferences. Either way, the frosting will be perfect no matter which attachment you choose.
The paddle attachment is used for making a smooth frosting. It is great for frosting layer cakes, brownies, and filling sandwich cookies.
The whisk attachment is used for an airy and light frosting. It is great for single layer cakes and cupcakes.
How to Make Almond Buttercream Frosting
Here’s a basic overview of how to make this easy Almond Buttercream Frosting in under 15 minutes. The recipe card below will have complete instructions.
1. Choose the proper attachment.Use a whisk for airy and light frosting OR a paddle for smooth and creamy frosting.
2. Beat together the butter, salt, almond extract, and vanilla extractuntil fluffy and lightened in color.
3. Alternate adding the powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream until the frosting is well combined. Make sure you are scraping down the bowl frequently.
4. Assess your Almond Buttercream Frosting (see the next three troubleshooting sections).
How to Achieve A Bright White Frosting Color:
Depending on the color of your butter and vanilla extract, your Almond Frosting may have a yellow tone to it. Fix this by added a very small amount of violet food coloring. A little goes a long way, I lightly coat the end of a toothpick and that seems to be enough. The violet cancels out yellow to make an even whiter and brighter buttercream.
Troubleshooting the Consistency:
If the Almond Frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar (2 tablespoons at a time). If it’s too thick, add more heavy whipping cream (1 tablespoon at a time).
Troubleshooting the Texture:
For Almond Frosting that is too airy, fold it by hand with a silicone spatula to knock out some of the air. If it is too heavy, whip the buttercream on high to aerate for another few minutes or so.
Storing Information
Almond Buttercream Frosting should be kept in an airtight glass container, piping bag, or even a reusable bag. I recommend storing in the refrigerator or freezer. Freezing is a great option for reducing waste and using later.
- In the refrigeratorit will last up to 5 to 7 days.
- In the freezerit will keep up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to use the buttercream, remove it from the freezer or refrigerate andlet it sit at room temperature.Wait until it has softened before whipping with a hand mixer or stand mixer.
How Much Almond Frosting To Make
That is the question of the year. It can be difficult to figure out how much Almond Frosting you will need because it isn’t an exact science. Here is my “rule of thumb” that I like to follow.
NOTE: Easily double or triple this in the recipe card below by choosing 2x or 3x. It will do the math for you.
- 1 layer cake:half batch
- 6 cupcakes:half batch
- 6 inch layer cake:one batch
- 8×8 dessert:one batch
- 12 cupcakes:one batch
- Filling 12 cookie sandwiches:one batch
- Filling 48 macarons:one batch
- 8 inch layer cake:two batches
- 13×9 dessert:two batches
- 24 cupcakes:two batches
Popular Uses for Almond Buttercream Frosting
Almond Frosting is a popular and classic frosting that goes with a lot of different things. Remember the flavor profile is reminiscent of cherry, so it goes well with light, fruity, vanilla flavors. Here are a few ways I like to use mine:
- cupcakes- try it on myRaspberry Cupcakes (instead of using the raspberry frosting).
- cakes- my Raspberry Almond Cake uses it or try it on my White Forest Cake.
- on top of dessert bars like brownies or blondies, like my Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies
- to fill macarons or other types of sandwich cookies.
- to top shortbread and sugar cookies
- My favorite way to use leftover buttercream frosting is spread it over graham crackers! My mom used to make us frosting sandwiches as a treat all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What does Almond Buttercream Frosting taste like?
Almond Buttercream Frosting is a delicate balance between floral, fruity, and nutty flavors. It is subtly sweet and reminiscent of cherry with notes of vanilla and sugar.
More Frosting Recipes You Might Like:
- Raspberry Buttercream
- Nutella Buttercream
- Not So Sweet Vanilla Buttercream
- Not So Sweet Chocolate Buttercream
- No Fail Italian Meringue – marshmallow topping
- To see all of my yummy frosting recipes, check these out!
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Almond Buttercream Frosting
Elizabeth Swoish
This light and fluffy Almond Buttercream Frosting whips up in just 15 minutes! With 6 ingredients, including pure almond extract, this buttercream frosting makes for a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth topping perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and more.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Servings 12 (1/4 cup each)
Calories 168 kcal
EQUIPMENT
stand mixer or hand mixer
Silicone Spatula
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- 1 teaspoon almond extract - pure
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream - plus more to reach desired consistency
INSTRUCTIONS
Choose your stand mixer/hand mixer attachment. The paddle for a smooth and creamy frosting. The whisk for a light and airy frosting.
On medium-high speed beat the room temperature unsalted butter, salt, almond extract, and vanilla extract for 3 to 5 minutes. It should be light in color and smooth.
Add half the powdered sugar, beat on low speed until it is fully absorbed within the buttercream frosting, about 1 minute. Do this again with the remaining powdered sugar.
Beat the buttercream frosting on low speed while slowly pouring in the cold heavy whipping cream. Continue to beat until it has been fully incorporated.
Assess the color, consistency, and texture. * more information below in notes*
Prepare Almond Buttercream Frosting for decorating.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
Storing Information
- Keep frosting in an airtight glass container, piping bag, or reusable bag.
- In the refrigerator for5 to 7 days.
- In the freezer up to 3 months.
- Let the frosting sit at room temperature before whipping and using.
How to Achieve A Bright White Frosting:
- Added a very small amount of violet food coloring (I lightly coat the end of a toothpick). The violet cancels out yellow to make an even whiter and brighter buttercream.
Troubleshooting the Consistency:
- Too thin, add more powdered sugar (2 tablespoons at a time).
- Too thick, add more heavy whipping cream (1 tablespoon at a time).
Troubleshooting the Texture:
- Too airy, fold it by hand with a silicone spatula to knock out some of the air.
- Too heavy, whip the buttercream on high to aerate for another few minutes or so.
Frosting Scaling Guide
NOTE: Easily double or triple this in the recipe card above by choosing 2x or 3x. It will do the math for you.
- 1 layer cake:half batch
- 6 cupcakes:half batch
- 6 inch layer cake:one batch
- 8×8 dessert:one batch
- 12 cupcakes:one batch
- Filling 12 cookie sandwiches:one batch
- Filling 48 macarons:one batch
- 8 inch layer cake:two batches
- 13×9 dessert:two batches
- 24 cupcakes:two batches
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Tried this recipe?Feel free to share a rating and comment below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media, or use the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth – I would love to see what you’ve made!
By Elizabeth Swoish on August 18th, 2023
About Elizabeth Swoish
Elizabeth Swoish is the founder and CEO of Entirely Elizabeth. She is a self-taught foodie and mocktail enthusiast with a business degree in data analysis. Read Elizabeth's food journey or connect on your favorite social media channels.
1 thought on “Almond Buttercream Frosting”
This was perfect. I made a batch of cupcakes last weekend and tried this frosting and I loved how it turned out! I’ll definitely make this again!Reply