Description
This Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting is a quick, easy recipe that transforms any dessert into something special. It’s perfect for topping cupcakes, layer cakes, brownies, or cookies when you want bakery-style results at home. With rich buttery flavor, real salted caramel, and a silky, pipeable texture, this frosting is ideal for dessert ideas, birthday cakes, and sweet food ideas any time you need an easy recipe for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup salted caramel sauce, room temperature
2 tablespoons heavy cream, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste
Instructions
1. Beat the softened butter in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer until it is pale, creamy, and fluffy.
2. Add the room-temperature salted caramel sauce and beat again until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined.
3. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar, allowing each addition to mix in fully before adding more.
4. Pour in the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, then beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is light, silky, and whipped.
5. Sprinkle in the fine sea salt, beat again, and taste; adjust the salt or caramel if needed.
6. If the frosting is too thick, add small splashes of cream and beat until it reaches your desired spreading or piping consistency.
7. Use immediately to frost cupcakes, cakes, or brownies, or store as directed.
Notes
For the best texture, make sure both the butter and salted caramel sauce are at cool room temperature—using caramel that is too warm can cause the frosting to become loose and difficult to pipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe (about 3-4 tablespoons)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 39
- Sodium: 140
- Fat: 17
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 41
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 55
Keywords: salted caramel buttercream frosting, cupcake frosting, caramel icing, easy buttercream, dessert ideas, cake frosting, easy recipe, food ideas