By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 20, 2025
This vanilla frosting recipe is the best ever! With a well-deserved title, this icing recipe is perfect for any cake, cupcake, or baked good you want to frost. My go-to recipe any time I bake something, it’s great to make ahead and have on hand to add that extra layer of deliciousness to your favorite goodies.
5-Star Reviews
“After standing there with my little hand mixer for 20 min, I wasn’t sure if this frosting was going to be worth it. But omg it was WORTH it. So fluffy and rich. Definitely beat it for as long as the recipe says.” -Gabs
Easy Vanilla Frosting
Looking for the best frosting to top off your favorite vanilla cake or cupcake recipe? Then you’re going to love this homemade recipe!
If you’re looking for an easy icing recipe with simple ingredients, bookmark this post! Light in flavor to complement your favorite baked good and super easy to make, you’ll find this fail-proof recipe ideal for cakes, cupcakes, banana bread, and even cookies. Double the recipe if you are frosting an entire layer cake, including the sides. Whatever you don’t use can be stored in the fridge.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup milk* 227 grams
- ▢ 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 30 grams
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter** 113 grams, room temperature (1 stick) – see note
- ▢ ½ cup vegetable shortening** 92 grams, such as Crisco (½ stick) – see note
- ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams (see note)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 21 grams
Video
Instructions
- Whisk milk and flour together and cook in a stovetop pan on med-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. 1 cup milk*, 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- If small lumps have formed, pour through a mesh strainer into a small(ish) bowl, using a rubber spatula to press the thickened milk through the strainer.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate until cold. To eliminate condensation forming inside the lid, place a paper towel just under the lid but not touching the milk mixture. To speed up the cooling, place the mixture in the freezer for ½-1 hour.
Mix the ingredients in the following order, taking care to beat well:
- Combine ½ cup butter and ½ cup shortening. Using a hand or stand mixer, cream for 4 minutes on high speed. ½ cup unsalted butter**, ½ cup vegetable shortening**
- Add 1 cup of sugar. Beat 4 minutes on high speed. 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add cooled milk, flour mixture, and vanilla extract. Beat 4 minutes on high speed 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- Add 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat 4 minutes on high speed 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Frosting is ready to use, or refrigerate until you need it.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Hand Mixer (optional)
- Stand Mixer (optional)
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Vanilla Frosting Step by Step
Combine the Milk and Flour : Whisk milk and flour together and cook in a stovetop pan on med-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. If small lumps have formed, use a rubber spatula and pour through a mesh strainer into a small(ish) bowl.
Refrigerate the Milk Mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate until cold. To eliminate condensation forming inside the lid, place a paper towel just under the lid but not touching the milk mixture. To speed up the cooling, place the mixture in the freezer for ½-1 hour.
Use a Stand Mixer: Use a stand mixer to mix the butter and shortening, and cream on high speed for 4 minutes. Add the sugar and beat for 4 minutes. Stir in the cooled milk/flour mixture and vanilla extract and beat for another 4 minutes. Beat for four minutes every time you add an ingredient. It will help incorporate lots of air into the frosting, so it remains light and fluffy.
How to Store
Store vanilla frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and place in the mixer to re-blend once thawed. This frosting recipe can easily be made up to a week ahead of time.
Serving Suggestions
This super easy vanilla frosting recipe works great on all kinds of baked goods. It’s the best frosting! Try it on these Chocolate Cupcakes or my Carrot Cake Cupcakes . It will also taste awesome on this Funfetti Cake .
more easy frosting recipes
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Best Vanilla Frosting
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Hand Mixer (optional)
- Stand Mixer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk* 227 grams
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 30 grams
- ½ cup unsalted butter** 113 grams, room temperature (1 stick) - see note
- ½ cup vegetable shortening** 92 grams, such as Crisco (½ stick) - see note
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams (see note)
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 21 grams
Instructions
- Whisk milk and flour together and cook in a stovetop pan on med-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. 1 cup milk*, 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- If small lumps have formed, pour through a mesh strainer into a small(ish) bowl, using a rubber spatula to press the thickened milk through the strainer.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate until cold. To eliminate condensation forming inside the lid, place a paper towel just under the lid but not touching the milk mixture. To speed up the cooling, place the mixture in the freezer for ½-1 hour.
Mix the ingredients in the following order, taking care to beat well:
- Combine ½ cup butter and ½ cup shortening. Using a hand or stand mixer, cream for 4 minutes on high speed. ½ cup unsalted butter**, ½ cup vegetable shortening**
- Add 1 cup of sugar. Beat 4 minutes on high speed. 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add cooled milk, flour mixture, and vanilla extract. Beat 4 minutes on high speed 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- Add 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat 4 minutes on high speed 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Frosting is ready to use, or refrigerate until you need it.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
