Caramel Buttercream Frosting
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Learn how to make Caramel Buttercream Frosting, the most popular frosting recipe from my bakery! This sweet and creamy frosting is perfect for topping cakes, cupcakes, brownies and more!
If you’re looking for more caramel recipes, be sure to check out How to Make True Caramel, Salted Caramel Cake, or Salted Caramel No Churn Ice Cream.
This Caramel Buttercream Frosting was the most popular buttercream frosting recipe at my bake shop. We used this on my Salted Caramel Cake, a cupcake version, and people asked for this on everything!
This homemade frosting recipe is going to be your new go to! This Caramel Buttercream Frosting is perfect on top of a simple vanilla cake, chocolate cake, even my Caramel Pumpkin Spice Snack Cake! Also, try it on top of brownies — it’s so good!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Smooth and Creamy: This Caramel Buttercream Frosting is so smooth and creamy. The addition of silky caramel sauce gives this homemade frosting recipe such an amazing texture!
- 3 Ingredients: This buttercream frosting only has 3 ingredients, making it quick and easy!
- Crowd Pleaser: If you have caramel loves in your house, they will be obsessed with this Caramel Buttercream. It’s always a crowd pleaser, no matter how you use it!
Ingredients
- Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter, you can use your favorite. You can also use unsalted butter if you prefer, but taste it to ensure it’s not too sweet. Add a pinch of salt as needed.
- Powdered Sugar: Make sure to sift powdered sugar for the most smooth and creamy buttercream frosting.
- Caramel Sauce: The key to this homemade frosting recipe is my homemade caramel sauce. Making this true caramel is essential to get the best flavor. And if you are trying to recreate this at home because you were a fan at my bake shop, then don’t skip this step! While store bought caramel sauce will work, it will not taste as good.
Tools Needed
- Scale: Always use a digital food scale for the best results.
- Mixer: I use my stand mixer for ease, but if you prefer to use a hand mixer you can also do that. If using a hand mixer, only add in the powdered sugar a little at a time to avoid splattering.
- Spatula: You’ll need a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl when mixing.
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Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Be sure to have the caramel sauce made ahead of time and allow it to cool to room temperature before making the frosting.
Step 2
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, powdered sugar, and caramel sauce.
Step 3
Mix on low until combined, then speed the mixer up to high and whip for 3 to 5 minutes or until it's light and fluffy. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl partway through mixing to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Then it's ready to use!
Baker’s Tips
- Weighing your ingredients will ensure the best results.
- This homemade frosting recipe is only so good because I make my own True Caramel Sauce! Make sure to make this ahead of time so it has time to cool before beginning the frosting.Make sure to use softened butter, this is key for making buttercream frosting. I like to leave butter out on the counter to soften naturally before using (do not melt!).
- I use salted butter, but if you prefer to use unsalted you can. Just taste it to ensure you like it, and if it’s too sweet, add 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to your liking.
- If you want more of a salted caramel frosting, just add a little salt (1/2 teaspoon or so) and taste until you get your desired saltiness.
- Be sure to whip this until it's super smooth and creamy. Depending on your mixer and how soft your butter is that can be anywhere from 3 minutes or even longer like 7 or 10 minutes!
- Be sure to store extra frosting in an airtight container in the fridge.
How to Use
You can use this Caramel Buttercream on cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, or anywhere else that you’d use a homemade frosting recipe. This recipe will be enough buttercream frosting for the following:
- 6-inch layer cake (2 or 3 layers)
- 9-inch snack cake (1 single layer, round or square)
- 1 batch of brownies
- 1 batch of cookies
How to Make Caramel Swirls
If you're frosting a cake and want to make beautiful caramel swirls, it's so easy! I show you exactly how to do this if you watch the video below. But, I'm going to explain this here as well. Once you have the cake frosted to your liking (I just do a rustic frosting). Then drop small dollops of caramel sauce all over the top of the cake. Using the back of a spoon, just swirl the caramel dollops around to create swirls. That's it!
FAQ’s
Yes, just taste the frosting to ensure it’s not too sweet. This is already a sweet frosting, so the salted butter is key (in my opinion). You can always add a bit of salt to taste as well.
Store extra frosting in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for about a week, you can just whip it back up to use.
Craving More?
Caramel Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
- Scale
- Stand Mixer (or hand mixer)
Ingredients
- 226 grams salted butter softened
- 454 grams powdered sugar sifted
- 57 grams caramel sauce
Instructions
- Be sure to have the caramel sauce made ahead of time and allow it to cool to room temperature before making the frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, powdered sugar, and caramel sauce.
- Mix on low until combined, then speed the mixer up to high and whip for 3 to 5 minutes or until it's light and fluffy. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl partway through mixing to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Then it's ready to use!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The Bake Shop
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One of my most popular frosting recipes from my bake shop! I hope you enjoy it too!