At its core, American buttercream is just a combination of butter and powdered sugar whipped together until light and fluffy. I take that base and use multiple strawberry ingredients—strawberry preserves, freeze-dried strawberries, and strawberry extract to make a strawberry frosting bursting with berry flavor! For me, a strawberry frosting should not only smell like the berry itself; I want the essence of strawberries invading my mouth when I take a bite and this easy to make strawberry buttercream fits the bill! This strawberry frosting is so versatile. You can use it to pipe decorations, frost cupcakes or stack between layer cakes. Here is a guide on how to frost a layer cake like a pro!
How to Make Strawberry Frosting
The biggest draw in this recipe is the lack of shortening in it. Many American buttercream recipes add a generous amount of vegetable shortening, but I try to avoid it as much as possible. This is an all-butter based frosting, which means it has a great mouthfeel and it doesn’t cling to the inside of your mouth unpleasantly. To make it follow these steps:
Whip room temperature butter with sifted powdered sugar in a mixer until almost white in appearance. That substantial whipping allows the sugar to dissolve, eliminating the grittiness many American buttercreams are notorious for. My secret weapon is freeze-dried strawberries. You can find them at most grocery stores. Just grind them into a fine powder and add them to the frosting for concentrated berry flavor and color! I also use strawberry extract, but if you don’t have it or don’t want to use it, you can add an additional 1/4 cup of the freeze-dried strawberries to the mix. Just make sure you grind them first. Two other additions: vanilla extract and fresh lemon juice highlight the strawberry flavor in this frosting.
Tips for Troubleshooting Strawberry Frosting
The biggest issue most people have with this type of frosting is the potential for grittiness that the powdered sugar may leave in the finished product. Here are a few tips to make the perfect frosting:
Sift the powdered sugar before using to reduce the grittiness as it incorporates more air into the sugar.Use a high-quality sugar and avoid brands with beet sugar, which often has more additives in it. Stick to pure cane sugar.Toward the end of the whipping of the sugar and butter, rub a small amount of the frosting between your finger and thumb. If it still feels gritty, continue whipping the mixture for 5 minutes.
When it comes to increasing the strawberry flavor follow these dos and don’ts.
Only add the recommended amount of strawberry preserves. Increasing the amount of preserves can cause the frosting to become too soft to hold peaks and shapes when you pipe it.If you want more strawberry flavor, add an additional 1/4 cup of freeze-dried strawberry powder or another teaspoon of the strawberry extract.
How to Store Strawberry Frosting
This buttercream keeps well at room temperature for 2 days. Just store it covered on the countertop and in a cool area of your kitchen. You can also store the frosting in the fridge for 5 days or freeze it. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container and it can be frozen for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to use it, place the container of frosting in the fridge overnight and allow it to thaw. Then, scoop it into the bowl of a stand mixer and use the paddle attachment to blend out any large chunks of frosting that remain. Once used or piped, you can store your cupcakes, cakes, or desserts at room temperature for a couple of days.
Strawberry Frosting Snapshot
Why you should make it:
Taste: bright, fruity, and almost floral. Sweet. Texture: very fluffy, light, with a pillowy mouthfeelPiping: top tier among frostings for piping. Thick enough to be used as a border between layers or to pipe stiff rosesWorks best on: layer cakes, cupcakes, as a frosting for cookies, and on sheet cakesMake-ahead: The frosting can last in the fridge for 5 days or you can freeze it for 2 months.
What you may want to consider:
Not as rich as a meringue buttercreamCan remain gritty if not whipped properlyThe butter content makes this unsuitable for extremely hot and humid outdoor environments.
More Delicious Frosting Recipes
7-Minute Frosting Whipped Cream Frosting Ermine Frosting Easy Vanilla Buttercream Swiss Meringue Cream Cheese Frosting
Rub a small amount of the mixture between your index finger and thumb. If the frosting feels gritty, continue whipping for another 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and whip once more.
