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Brown Butter Cake Frosting

Brown Butter Cake Frosting

  • Author: Nina Johnson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Frosting for 1 9-inch cake or 12 cupcakes 1x
  • Category: Frosting
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This brown butter cake frosting is rich, silky, and packed with warm nutty flavor that makes any dessert feel extra special. It is an easy recipe for topping cakes, cupcakes, and snack cakes, and it works beautifully for dessert ideas, baking ideas, holiday desserts, and homemade frosting recipes.


Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter

3 cups powdered sugar

2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt


Instructions

1. Add the butter to a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Stir often until it melts, foams, and the milk solids turn golden brown with a nutty aroma.

2. Pour the browned butter and all the browned bits into a heat-safe bowl. Let it cool for 20 to 30 minutes until no longer hot but still soft.

3. Transfer the cooled browned butter to a mixing bowl and beat briefly.

4. Add the powdered sugar gradually, mixing well after each addition.

5. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until the frosting is smooth, fluffy, and spreadable.

6. Adjust the texture as needed with a little more cream for a softer frosting or a little more powdered sugar for a thicker frosting.

7. Spread over a fully cooled cake, cupcakes, loaf cake, or bars.


Notes

Let the browned butter cool before mixing so the frosting does not turn runny.

Scrape in all the brown bits from the pan because they carry the best flavor.

Always frost completely cooled baked goods for the smoothest finish.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 24g
  • Sodium: 45mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 31mg

Keywords: brown butter cake frosting, easy frosting recipe, homemade frosting, cake frosting, cupcake frosting, dessert ideas, baking ideas, holiday desserts