The Secret to Perfect Honey Buttercream Frosting

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I’ve tackled honey buttercream frosting before and I have always been disappointed. I’m a honey-holic and I really want the honey flavor to shine. In the past, when I added powdered sugar to the frosting (needed to make the frosting stiff and pipe-able), the frosting would always reach an unpalatable level of sweetness. Today, I discovered the secret to making honey buttercream frosting! Honey buttercream frosting has finally met my honeyed desires and I’m considering adding it to my list of favorite frostings.

The Secret To Perfect Honey Buttercream Frosting

The secret to honey buttercream frosting is sour cream! Sour cream thickens the frosting without adding extra powdered sugar, cuts the sweetness, and adds a tangy zing. It’s a simple but powerful fix that I wish I had thought of years ago.

Below, you’ll find my honey buttercream frosting recipe. It goes with most any cupcake and is a particularly nice fit for any fall cupcakes.

Make sure that you have a 1M piping tip [paid link] so that you can pipe the perfect cupcake swirl.

You can make this frosting by hand, but it is so much easier with an electric stand mixer [paid link]. This mixer comes with a scraping paddle, but if you use a KitchenAid, I highly recommend a scraping paddle attachment [paid link]. With this tool, you won’t need to scrape the bowl while you mix.

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Honey Buttercream Frosting
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Honey Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Honey buttercream frosting with just the right mix of honey flavor and sweetness.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 12 Enough frosting to cover 12 cupcakes with a small swirl
Calories 176kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup full-fat sour cream cold

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat butter for three minutes with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.
  • Mix in powdered sugar a little bit at a time until fully combined.
  • Mix in honey and sour cream until combined.
  • Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Notes

If your home is warm, the frosting may quickly become runny. Refrigerate it to stiffen it up before piping.

Nutrition

Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Calcium: 8mg
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