All-Star Cupcake Frosting Recipes

All cupcake frostings were not created equal. Some are sweet, some with a tang; some have fruits, others are garnished with nuts. Making cupcake frostings in itself is an art – you have to take into consideration how it looks, its consistency, and most especially how it tastes. No wonder a lot of people have experimented on cupcake frostings over the years. The tastes that you can incorporate in frostings are as diverse as the combination of different ingredients to suit your preferences.

Cupcake frostings range from the most basic – such as the basic vanilla or chocolate frosting – to the exotic. Each has its own group of loyal supporters, and each can be delicious in their own right. The main criteria for choosing these cupcake recipes featured below are its taste and how easy it is to prepare. It was not easy to play favorites among cupcake frostings, but for us, these emerged as clear winners:

Cream Cheese Frosting For Cupcakes

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 3/4 cup confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost cupcakes. This should be enough to frost 24 cupcakes.

You can use other flavors of extract like lemon, maple, almond, etc to make a frosting that will go with the cupcakes you make. (When substituting another flavor of extract, start with a quarter teaspoon and mix then add more as needed to ensure the extract isn’t to overpowering.) Be creative and most of all, have fun while you make cupcakes! Cupcakes are meant to be fun and meant to be shared. Share a cupcake, make a memory and have fun!

Buttercream Cupcake Frosting

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (you can use brown vanilla extract, but the color of the frosting will be somewhat compromised)
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners’ (powdered) sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
  • 2 tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, cream shortening and butter with an electric mixer. Add vanilla and continue mixing. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed after each addition. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been added, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. This recipe makes about 3 cups of buttercream frosting.

For best results, keep icing refrigerated when not in use. Refrigerate in an airtight container. This icing can be stored for up to 2 weeks. It will be necessary to rewhip before using.

Lemon Cream Cheese Cupcake Frosting

Many people find it hard to believe that cream cheese and cupcakes are compatible mates. Trying out this recipe will hopefully convince you otherwise.

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 30 grams (or 1 ounce) of softened butter
  • 80 grams (or 3 ounces) of softened cream cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups of confectioner’s (powdered) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon rind (grated)

Start by sifting the sugar. Then, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat together until smooth. Make sure that there are no lumps that could destroy the consistency of the frosting when you pipe it onto the cupcakes.

Quick, easy, and delicious!

Chocolate Ganache Frosting For Cupcakes

Who doesn’t love a rich, luscious, dark chocolate frosting? It is chocolate indulgence at its very best. This cupcake frosting is best used on cupcakes that taste just right – a cupcake that is already too rich might overwhelm the ganache frosting.

All you need for this recipe are:

  • half a cup of heavy whipping cream (thickened cream)
  • 200 grams (or 7 ounces) of dark bittersweet chocolate

Before cooking, break the chocolate into small pieces and place it inside a mixing bowl. Set aside and heat the cream over low heat. When it has come to a boil, turn off the heat and carefully pour the cream over the chocolate. Stir continuously until the chocolate pieces have completely melted. Let it sit in room temperature for a while until it has sufficiently cooled, and has achieved a thicker consistency.

Dig in, spread it over your cakes, and voila! A rich chocolate cupcake dream that will satisfy your chocolate craving.

Cinnamon Coffee Frosting

I must admit that perhaps this was where personal bias came into play. I love cinnamon, I love coffee, and I love cupcakes. Three C’s that make a perfect morning. Why not combine all three into one perfect pastry? Bless whoever came up with this – its sweet aroma and it exquisitely crafted taste would send any cupcake lover into cupcake nirvana.

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 1 teaspoon of granules of instant coffee (choose decaf if someone in your home is averse to caffeine)
  • half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of softened butter
  • 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/3 cup of milk

    To prepare it, first mash the coffee granules in a small bowl with the back of a spoon. When it is already powdery, add the salt and the cinnamon. In a separate, larger bowl, combine the softened butter, vanilla, and the coffee, salt, and cinnamon mixture. Add milk and sugar alternately while stirring continuously to achieve your desired consistency.

    Caramel Cupcake Frosting

    For this recipe, you will need:

    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup butter
    • 1/4 cup 2% milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 1/2 to 2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar

    Combine brown sugar, butter and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a bowil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool to lukewarm.

    Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes. This should be enough to frost 24 cupcakes.

    This frosting goes great with chocolate cupcakes, spice cupcakes, carrotcake cupcakes or even a carrot maple cupcake. Yumm!!

    What is your favorite cupcake to make? I am sure one of these frostings will go great with whatever cupcake you decide to make!!

    Tip To Frosting Cupcakes

    To quickly frost cupcakes, dip the tops of the cupcakes in the frosting and twist slightly and lift. The frosting needs to be soft and spreadable. If the frosting is to stiff, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until it is a consistency you are happy with.