Your new go-to frosting for cupcakes, cakes, and more.

French buttercream is a creamy, light icing used to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and other similar desserts.

What Is French Buttercream?

Creamy French buttercream frosting in a bowl with chocolate cupcakes to the right of it.

Marta Rivera

The end result is a very smooth, airy buttercream with an excellent mouthfeel.

How To Make French Buttercream

My version of French buttercream is made with egg yolks.

These are whipped until they are very fluffy and almost pale yellow in appearance.

French meringue buttercream piled high in a small bowl.

Marta Rivera

This also cooks the eggs, making them safe to consume.

The egg and sugar mixture is whipped until the outside of the bowl is cool to the touch.

How To Flavor French Buttercream

French buttercream can be flavored in a number of ways.

The best French buttercream piped in a small bowl and chocolate cupcakes to the left.

Marta Rivera

This way, you don’t risk breaking the buttercream with excessive whipping.

you’re able to also freeze French buttercream.

The buttercream will require warming before it can regain its fluffy consistency.

French meringue buttercream piled high in a small bowl.

Marta Rivera

you might then pop it onto your stand mixer to whip until fluffy.

Ive anticipated a few issues you may have if this is your first time making the recipe.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you solve any unexpected frosting crisis.

Adding water to a bowl of sugar to make a French buttercream frosting recipe.

Marta Rivera

Or, a 9x13-inch, single-layer sheet cake.

The sugar needs to reach 240F (115C).

This should take no longer than 6 minutes.

Pouring sugar mixture into whipped eggs in a stand mixer to make a French buttercream frosting recipe.

Marta Rivera

While the sugar comes to temperature, get to work on the egg yolks.

Add egg yolks and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.

Once the sugar has reached 240F (115C),add it to the whipping egg yolks.

Whisking egg yolks and sugar syrup to make a French buttercream frosting recipe.

Marta Rivera

If it’s no longer warm, you’re able to begin adding the butter.

Allow each portion of butter to fully incorporate into the egg-sugar mixture before adding the next piece.

The buttercream will go from very voluminous to deflated midway through adding butter.

Whisking egg yolks and sugar syrup in a stand mixer to make a French buttercream frosting recipe.

Marta Rivera

The volume will be restored once all of the butter has been added.

This step should take no longer than 6 minutes.

After the butter has been added, scrape down the bowl and add the vanilla extract.

Adding butter to mixer to show how to make French buttercream frosting.

Marta Rivera

Turn the mixer back up to medium-high speed and whip the buttercream for 3 additional minutes.

The buttercream should be an ivory color and will appear airy and fluffy.

A large bowl of French meringue buttercream next to chocolate cupcakes and a whisk.

Marta Rivera