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….
Hi,
I made this and it tasted good but my frosting has a grainy look. what step could I have gone wrong in? And how can I prevent grainy frosting?
I’m so impressed! I made this to reduce the sugar in my daughter’s first birthday smash cake and it worked a treat! It was easier to make than I thought but still tasty without being sickly sweet! Thanks Nagi!
What would you use in the roux in the place of flour when gluten free? GF flour or corn flour?
This was the strangest frosting I’ve ever made, but it turned out delicious! I have been searching for a less-sweet frosting to pair with my banana cake. I want the banana flavor to shine through and my usual buttercream was so sweet, it was overpowering the banana flavor. This frosting was perfect! It’s deliciously sweet on it’s own ( I could eat it by the spoonful). It’s a very strange process and I questioned her recipe, just like she said I would. I’m glad I practiced the recipe because I think next time I will wisk it on the stove longer so it gets stiffer. I also think I could have cooled it longer, and my butter was a little too soft. My frosting turned out whipped and it stayed stiff, but I think it could have been even more so with these adjustments. It took food gel like a gem. It’s VERY creamy and delicious, so grainy, sugar taste, just smooth. I could not taste the flour at all. I’d like to play around with the flavoring, too. Maybe use lemon juice instead of vanilla or orange juice to get a different flavor overall. I will definitely be making again!
Well this has really upped my frosting game. As you say, not sickly, not grainy, super light. Utterly loving it. Thank you so much for sharing
This is the best buttercream icing ever. Silky smooth and definitely not sickly sweet.
This is an amazing frosting I was making a cake that I add Butterfinger candy bars to the frosting so I wanted a less sweet frosting!! This is so good fluffy and FUN to make!! It will definitely be one I make again!!
I’m not a baker whatsoever & I can’t believe I nailed this recipe on my first try. As someone who 99% of the time scrapes off cupcake frosting because it’s sickeningly over sweet, this was the PERFECT frosting. The sweetness isn’t overpowering & the buttery fluffiness is seriously addicting!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!
The best cupcakes and frosting anyone could ever make 😀😀
This is the absolute best frosting I’ve ever had. I can’t stand American buttercream because it’s insanely sweet, and this one tastes closer to whipped cream. I even used it successfully on a wedding cake. The key is the temperature of the butter. It MUST be softened (don’t microwave it, it doesn’t work well – to speed up the process, cut the butter into small cubes and allow it to reach room temp) but not melted at all.
I reduce the sugar to about 2/3 of the original amount and the roux thickens a lot faster, and gets to about the same consistency overall. It pipes beautifully. Just make sure to keep your cake/cupcakes refrigerated to prevent it from getting too warm and to extend the life of the dessert.
I’ve doubled and tripled this recipe in a standard KitchenAid mixer without any issues, but when in doubt, I just split the roux up before or after it cools and make two separate batches of frosting to avoid overflow.
Can you use brown sugar?
Best FROSTING EVER! My kiddos love this on butter cake & request it while home from college. My fav since I was Little girl❤️
Hi Nagi,
love this recipe! I was wondering if it could be modified for a coffee flavour??
Cheers
Very easy recipe with just a few ingredients. Loved this, just right amount of sweetness
I was so intrigued when I recently learned about ermine frosting, and knew I had to try this recipe based on the reviews. WOW. It was absolutely perfect- I’ve made it three times in two weeks!!
I even made it vegan by using Silk’s NextMilk and Becel baking sticks. I tried the chocolate and vanilla versions. The chocolate is absolutely divine. A family member commented on it, after his face lit up upon taking a bite: “What is this velvety silk frosting??? Why is it so tolerably sweet that I can actually eat it all???” Haha!
Hi Nagi,
What do you think, can I use riceflour instead of all purpose flour? I need a glutenfrei frosting. Thank you!
I made the vanilla cupcakes and less sweet fluffy frosting yesterday. Where have you been?! Because I was working with two rambunctious little girls, I forgot to put in the vanilla and oil and they were still FABULOUS! The frosting changed my life. And only 12 cupcakes so I don’t waste them. I am Team RecipeTinEats For LIFE, girl!
All I can say is wow!!! I usually just buy store bought frosting and I am so glad I tried this recipe. I added the cocoa powder and it turned out amazing. Just the hint of chocolate and sweetness. I wanted to eat it by the spoonfuls but I saved it for the vanilla cake that I made for my husbands birthday.😋 I also love knowing what the ingredients are and can feel a little better about eating it. Hands down the best frosting I’ve ever had. Thank you!
I can’t thank you enough for this frosting recipe! It’s the best ever! I was wondering if it would work ok on cookies? 😋😊
This frosting is the best! Not too sweet, fluffy, and it stays put!
There are a lot of steps involved in making it, but the instructions and video were spot on, and everything went as described. The result is a soft, fluffy, not too sweet, delight. I have been looking for this frosting for the last year. Happily my search is over!