Sugar Cookie Frosting

Name: Sugar Cookie Frosting
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (softened); 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 3 Tbsp cream or milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; food coloring

By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 12/13/18Updated: 3/25/22

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The best sugar cookie icing you will ever eat. The frosting tastes as good as the cookie, maybe even better! Either way, it is the only sugar cookie icing recipe you will ever need.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I eat cake and sugar cookies so I can eat frosting. For me, the frosting is the best part. I am a firm believer that the frosting should taste as good or better than the cake or cookie and this frosting does! And this frosting tastes as good as it looks!

I began making sugar cookies when I was about 12 and I was designated the official family sugar cookie maker. This recipe for sugar cookie frosting is the one I’ve been using since I first started making decorated sugar cookies. Nothing beats a delicious buttercream frosting.

Ingredients Needed

Butter. Only use real butter and buy a good quality butter. I use salted butter. If using unsalted butter, add in a pinch of salt. Butter should be softened or room temperature.

Powdered Sugar. Make sure your sugar is fresh and doesn’t have a bunch of lumps. If it is lumpy but it through a fine mesh strainer first.

Milk or Whipping cream
Pure Vanilla Extract. You can substitute with any flavor extract you like such as almond, peppermint, orange, lemon etc.
Food Coloring. Optional. Divide frosting into smaller bowls to make multiple colors.

Cream the butter well before adding in sugar.

Add in your powdered sugar gradually, don’t just dump it all in. If your powdered sugar is really lumpy, sift it first through a fine mesh strainer.
Pour in vanilla extract and enough milk to make a nice spreading consistency.
Use on cooled cookies.

Tips from Leigh Anne

If using liquid food coloring, add in your food coloring before adding in all your liquid, you may need a little less liquid.
Do not over beat your frosting as it will put too much air into the frosting.
Use your sugar cookie frosting at room temperature. If you have stored it in the fridge, allow it to come to room temperature first
If frosting is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar and if it is too thick, add some more milk, just a little at a time.

Pair This With

This sugar cookie frosting is perfect on these Chocolate Sugar Cookies by adding in some cocoa powder.
I love using almond extract for these small batch sugar cookies.
My favorite cookie to use it on are these Decorated Sugar Cookies

Frequently Asked Questions

Does icing need to be refrigerated?

Icing can be stored at room temperature for up to three days. If you want it to last longer, it can be refrigerated for up to a week.

Can I freeze frosted sugar cookies?

You can freeze iced cookies. Allow the frosting to totally set up first. Place cookies in an airtight container. If you are stacking them, place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the layers. They can be frozen for up to three months.

Can I pipe sugar cookie icing onto cookies?

This recipe is for a buttercream frosting which is meant to be spread with a knife on the cookie. If you want a frosting that is more pipeable use the one found in this recipe.

Check out some of our other favorite cookie recipes:

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4.77 from 17 votes