Unlike traditional buttercream, this Fluffy Vanilla Frosting is silky smooth, much fluffier and far less sweet. The texture is closer to whipped cream, but unlike cream, this Frosting is stable for days. It pipes like a dream, as featured in Vanilla Cupcakes, and is straightforward to make.
Made without icing sugar / powdered sugar, this is actually an old fashioned frosting called “Ermine Frosting”. If you’ve never heard of it before, the ingredients and method will intrigue you!
SNAPSHOT: My Secret Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
Texture: Light and fluffy. Sits between buttercream and whipped cream, but more towards lightness of whipped cream. 100% smooth.
Sweetness and richness: Much less sweet than buttercream with 60% less sugar. In reality it is quite rich because it uses 225g/2 sticks of butter but it doesn’t taste rich because of the very fluffy, whipped cream-like texture.
Uses: Piped or spread onto cakes and cupcakes, or used in place of cream to dollop onto or on the side.
How it sets: At room temperature, it’s soft and fluffy but firm enough to be piped into tall swirls. In the fridge, it will set and become firmer, but not hard like butter. This frosting does not get a crust.
Storage: Keep covered in airtight container or cake dome. On counter on mild days up to about 22°C/71°F. Refrigerate on warmer days that makes butter melt.
Best served at: room temperature. If too cold, the frosting is firmer than ideal.
My secret Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
I call this my “secret” Vanilla Frosting because it’s not a widely known type of frosting and people are always flabbergasted when I tell them how it’s made using butter, milk, flour and sugar.
It’s my best all-rounder that’s a hit with everyone. Take a classic buttercream, in all its rich, sweet glory, and a lightly sweetened vanilla whipped cream, and this Vanilla Frosting sits squarely in the middle.
But unlike buttercream, it’s 100% silky smooth. And unlike whipped cream which deflates within hours, this Vanilla Frosting will hold a tall piped swirl for days and days.
This looks and pipes like buttercream, but it’s WAY less sweet and rich!
This frosting is actually an old fashioned frosting called Ermine Frosting. Also known as boiled-milk frosting, roux frosting and mock cream, none of these names sound particularly flash nor do they capture the magic of this frosting that has a cult following. Some declare it as the best frosting in the world!
About this Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
Though the proper name of this frosting is Ermine Frosting, I’m going to continue to call it Fluffy Vanilla Frosting because that’s exactly what it is – and it sounds a lot more flattering than the real name!😂
The method by which it is made will sound highly unusual: hot milk, flour and sugar is cooked on the stove until thickened into a thick custard texture, then once cool it becomes a thoroughly unappetising looking bowl of gluey-jelly which is then whipped into butter.
And this is when the ugly duckling transforms into a beautiful swan. Because suddenly, you’re staring into a bowl of what looks like whipped cream. Except….. you haven’t used cream at all. You touch it and know that it’s firm enough to pipe into sky-high swirls. You taste it, and it’s silky smooth. A cross between buttercream and whipped cream!
What you need for this Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
All you need is butter, flour, milk, sugar and vanilla. Flour?? I hear you query. YES. That is what thickens this into a frosting texture. I promise you will not detect even the faintest bit of flour once finished – not in texture and certainly not taste.
How to make my secret Less-Sweet Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
First, we make the roux. It’s just like how we start creamy-sauce savoury foods like Mac and Cheese – except it’s sweet, and we take it much further until it’s very thick.
Milk, sugar, flour – Stir the sugar and flour in a dry saucepan over medium heat – this just toasts the sugar lightly to bring out some flavour. Then slowly pour the warm milk in as you whisk (this avoids lumps)
Cook over medium heat until it thickens in a thick dolloping custard. The range of thickness possible is actually quite broad – I’ve made it way thicker and it still worked perfectly. In fact, the frosting holds its structure longer, and it pipes with sharper, more defined edges even though it is just as fluffy. Just don’t take it off when it’s still watery.
Scrape it into a bowl (“it” being a roux);
Cover roux with cling wrap, pressing onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming (or use paper if you’re plastic adverse) then very importantly, allow to fully cool otherwise it will melt the butter. It will become like a thick, pasty, thoroughly unappetising jelly and at this stage you will start doubting me. Have faith!
Cooling the roux / making ahead – I usually cool on counter for 20 minutes then refrigerate for 30 minutes or so to speed things up but don’t let it get fridge cold because otherwise it won’t mix together well with the room temp butter (because the temperatures are too different). You can also leave it overnight in the fridge but take it out about 1 hour prior to dechill it and bring to room temperature.
Now, we whip it up like any other frosting.
5. Beat butter until creamy – just for a couple of minutes. We don’t need it to become aerated because we will be whipping the combined mixture like you do whipped cream and at this stage it will fluff up more;
6. Add dollops of the roux, beating as you go. Take about 1 minute to add all the roux in, this will ensure your Frosting stays smooth;
7. Beat, beat, beat – Add vanilla and a pinch of salt for flavour, then beat for another 2 to 3 minutes, just like you’re whipping up a big bowl of cream; and
8. Voila! Your Fluffy Vanilla Frosting is done!
How to use this Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
Spreading and piping
Spread it onto cakes (like Vanilla Cake) and cupcakes Vanilla Cupcakes or Chocolate Cupcakes).
Or transfer to a piping bag and pipe sky-high swirls, as pictured throughout this post (Wilton 2D tip).
In fact, this frosting was the traditional frosting used for Red Velvet Cake! It was only in modern times that cream cheese frosting became the frosting of choice for Red Velvet.
You can pipe sky-high mounds of this frosting onto cupcakes, and you won’t find it sickly sweet like with buttercream!
Flavours and colouring
Treat it like your everyday buttercream – this frosting can be tinted and flavoured with concentrated flavouring.
To make it Chocolate flavoured, just whip in 1/4 cup cocoa powder at end. Melted chocolate doesn’t work as well because it weighs it down.
Note: I haven’t tried using fresh citrus like lemon, lime and orange to ensure it doesn’t split.
Storage
The butter in this frosting will require refrigeration if the temperature is warm enough for the butter to start softening – this causes the frosting to droop. I find that up to about 23°/73°F, this frosting is fine out on the counter.
If you are forced to refrigerate, make sure you take cakes out 1 1/2 hours prior to serving and cupcakes out 1 hour prior so they come to room temperature. The frosting firms up in the fridge (because the butter goes hard) which is not very pleasant to eat! You need the frosting to come to room temperature so it’s creamy and soft again. It will soften faster than fridge-cold butter because the fridge-cold frosting is not as hard as butter.
So, now you know my secret frosting recipe. 🙂 I’ve been making it for years, relishing in how people who ordinarily shy-away from sky high mounds of frosting have dived into it after I assured them that it’s way less sweet and rich than typical frostings.
Tell me what you think if you try it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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My Secret Less-Sweet, Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp flour , plain/all purpose
- 1 cup white sugar , regular/granulated (can reduce to 1/2 cup, Note 1)
- 1 cup milk, warmed using any method , full fat best (but even 0% fat works)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 225g / 1 cup unsalted butter , softened but not too soft! (Note 3)
Chocolate Frosting option:
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened (Dutch processed best, if you can)
Instructions
Thickening Roux:
- Place flour and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
- While whisking constantly, slowly pour the milk in (this ensure it’s lump free).
- As the milk gets hotter, it will start to thicken – stir constantly so the base doesn’t catch.
- Cook until the mixture thickens in a thick, dolloping custard – see video for texture. TIP: Thicker texture = thicker frosting texture but won't make the frosting dense, it's still fluffy and spreadable but it just makes it "sturdier" with sharper edges when piped.
- Remove from heat and scrape into a bowl. Cover with cling wrap, pressing down onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
- Cool completely (I leave on counter for 20 min or so then refrigerate 30 min to speed up but don't let it get chilled, best at room temp to beat into butter). You can leave in fridge overnight but take it out 1 hour prior to using (to dechill – otherwise it won't mix well with softened butter).
Making the Fluffy Frosting:
- Place butter in a bowl and use either a handheld beater or stand mixer (with whisk attachment) to beat for 3 minutes until it's smooth and changes from yellow to very pale yellow, almost white.
- Now start whipping in the Thickening Roux. On speed 5 (medium), start adding the thick roux one heaped tablespoon at a time. Take about 1 minute to add it all.
- Once all added, add vanilla and salt, then whip for 2 to 3 minutes until you can see that it is still enough to hold peaks. Then it's ready to use!
Chocolate flavoured option:
- Beat in the cocoa powder at the end, just until mixed through.
Frosting cakes and cupcakes:
- Use it like any other frosting on cakes and cupcakes – either spread it on with a knife or put in a piping bag. You can pipe sky-high mounds and it will hold its form, as pictured on Vanilla Cupcakes in this post.
- See notes for storage / make ahead.
Recipe Notes:
- This frosting is best used straight after making.
- On cooler days (22C/71F or so), frosted cakes, cupcakes etc can stay out on the counter.
- On warmer days, it will need to be refrigerated – the butter is what will make the frosting droop. Take out of fridge 1 – 1.5 hrs before serving to bring so the frosting can soften (it firms up in the fridge due to the butter).
- The flour milk roux can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight, but then take it out of the fridge 1 hour prior to take the chill out of it, you want it at room temperature.
- Freezing – up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the fridge
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
When he literally DIVES in to inhale a cupcake and gets a big splodge of frosting on his nose that is JUST out of licking range….
This frosting is amazing! I am GF, so just swapped the flour for corn flour. I was kind of concerned that there wouldn’t be enough but as I added the roux to the frosting it fluffed up beautifully. It was absolutely delicious 🤤 and the perfect amount of sweetness. Thank you so much for the recipe! I don’t think I will ever go back to regular bitter cream. ❤️
You are my hero Nagi😍. This is the MOST divine frosting EVER!!!
Easy, convenient & absolute perfection. You have outdone yourself. Thank you so much for your brilliance. I have no desire to search any other site but yours. 👌♥️
This is exactly what I wanted. Its so very fluffy and stable but its egg free and only lightly sweet. May become my new go-to frosting!
Delicious taste ! Although I wasn’t thinking and used brown sugar which affected the stability of my piping!
Absolutely perfect. I was looking for a frosting that was not sickishly sweet. This was so easy to make. I did use a coconut shortening instead of butter. I am retired and living in the Philippines and needed a frosting that would tolerate 85 degrees F and was less sweet. I make chocolate Valentine cupcakes and put a spoon of frosting with a cherry on top. The frosting went on like whipped cream and stayed in place even with a cherry on top.
I have made this before and had rave reviews. I am in the process of making a birthday cake but the party has to be cancelled. Can I decorate the cake and with the frosting and freeze it for 7-10 days?
Holy cow! This is the best icing I have ever tasted. It’s so much better than buttercream. The recipe was easy to follow and I was happy with how it turned out. I will never go back, this will be my go to instead of buttercream.
Thank you for this recipe! I was making a vanilla cake and wanted a frosting that wasn’t overtly sweet like most recipes and store bought are. It tastes great. Sweet without being overpowering. Saving this to my bookmarks!
Loved the creamy texture of this icing and that it wasn’t so sweet. Will add some chocolate now and try that.
It went brilliantly with the vanilla cake recipe!!
Getting ready for some cupcakes with the grandbabies.
I am absolutely amazed at how this came together! It is light and airy, not to sweet, and pipes beautifully. And this from a wanna-be baker (that’d be me!). I’ll definitely make this my go-to frosting. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
This recipe is actually awesome. I did a search for buttercream icing that isn’t so sweet and this came up. I made it today, followed the recipe exactly. It was great. It will be my go to icing in the future. Thanks you for posting it!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and love it! It is my go-to. The consistency, versatility and flavor are what keep me using it!
I have a question. I would like to do everything possible ahead of time. My daughter‘s birthday party is in three days. I was thinking that maybe I could make the roux ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it. My thought was, I could take it out ahead of time like you do after refrigerating it for the shorter amount of time and then whip it together with the other ingredients. Trying to save as much time as possible!
This recipe is absolutely amazing!! I made my daughter’s birthday cake and wanted to use a less sweet frosting and this is the winner! My husband even approved of it and he doesn’t like icing. It’s so silky and light, but the perfect amount of sweetness. I paired it with a dense almond flavor cake. Soo good!
Made this and it was lovely. Would recommend and I’ll be definitely making it again
I do not make many cakes but was looking for a less sweet option to traditional buttercream. This recipe was easy to follow and turned out great.
I was looking all over for an “Easy” cake recipe with ingredients I had on hand, to make for my boyfriend’s birthday, that wasn’t from a box. I looked at several recipes, mostly involving cake flour and egg whites. The 18pk of eggs I just bought was $10 so I really wanted a recipe using whole eggs, and not a cloyingly sweet frosting.
I was scared because I’ve never really made a CAKE before from scratch. And yet, this recipe turned out exactly as advertised.
The cake is stout – one cupcake liner fell out as I was pouring the batter in so I baked it straight (not floured or greased, but a nonstick pan) – when cool, it came out without breaking apart.
The frosting (your “not-too-sweet vanilla buttercream”) turned out fluffy and also exactly as advertised. It is mildly sweet and has a light, whipped texture. It was easy to pipe, and came out looking good, despite my lack of piping skills or equipment.
I had to leave a review because the high 4.8 rating over hundreds of reviews was what prompted me to attempt this recipe over the others I saw. Your instructions and your recipes were both perfect. Thank you!!!
Tried this for the first time, it’s simply AMAZING!! So light and fluffy and pipes likes a dream. Will be my go to for frosting from now on. Thank you so much!!
I love this recipe, it’s so good. Was wondering if there is an option if turning it into a salted caramel buttercream frosting?
I’ve made this recipe at least half a dozen times now. It’s my go to frosting! The roux requires a bit more effort than your standard buttercream but it is so worth it. The frosting is thick, light and perfectly (not sickly) sweet.
Has anyone used this recipe to do a crumb coat and if so did you chill the coated cake then pipe on the frosting? Asking as the notes advise not using a cold cake. And can the frosting hold its shape on the sides of the cake?