Peppermint buttercream frosting recipe

This fluffy peppermint buttercream frosting is perfectly sweet and minty. Use it for topping holiday cupcakes or cakes, or as a filling for sandwich cookies.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my peppermint hot chocolate cupcakes recipe. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my icing and frosting recipes in one place.

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Why you should make this recipe

• Fast and easy – This simple peppermint buttercream frosting only takes a few minutes to make.
• Versatile – This frosting can be used on cakes, cupcakes, or filling for sandwich cookies.
• Make ahead – You can make buttercream ahead of time and refrigerate until needed.

Peppermint buttercream frosting

This seasonal flavor is perfect for all of your holiday treats. It is minty without being overpowering and perfectly sweet.

Mix up a batch of this frosting and use it for cupcakes, cakes or the filling for sandwich cookies. The buttercream can be made ahead, which is a bonus during this busy time of the year.

Ingredients

To make this simple American buttercream frosting, you’ll need a few pantry basics.

• Butter – Unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt. The salt content varies by brand, so the only way to know for sure how much salt is in your butter is to choose unsalted.
• Peppermint extract – Not to be confused with “mint extract”, which is a combination of peppermint and spearmint.
• Powdered sugar – Also called confectioners sugar or icing sugar.
• Sea salt – Just a pinch will balance out the sweetness in the frosting.
• Milk or cream – A tablespoon or two is all you’ll need to adjust the consistency to your preferences.

How to make

Making this easy peppermint buttercream recipe will take you about 10 minutes, from start to finish.

1. First, beat the room temperature butter until light and fluffy. Add the peppermint extract and beat for a minute or two to fully incorporate it.
2. Next, add half of the powdered (icing) sugar and beat until combined. Add remaining sugar and sea salt, then whip until buttercream is light and fluffy.
3. Scrape down the bowl and the wire whisk. Beat the buttercream again to make sure all of the butter and sugar are fully incorporated.
4. Use a plastic bench scraper or firm rubber spatula to scrape the bowl and remove the buttercream.

How to fill a piping bag without a mess

Trying to hold the pastry bag in one hand and fill it with the other can be difficult and messy. Here’s an easy trick to filling the piping bag with buttercream – without the mess!

Stand the bag up in a tall jar or container. Fold the bag down to form a collar, and keep pulling the bag down until the tip hovers just above the bottom of the jar.

Use a rubber spatula to fill the bag with peppermint buttercream frosting, pressing to frosting down into the tip of the bag as you are filling it.

Then, lift the folded part of the piping bag up and twist to push the frosting down. Use the plastic bench scraper to scrape the outside of the bag to push the frosting down as the bag empties.

Peppermint buttercream frosting Q&A

Variations and substitutions

• Swap the peppermint extract for vanilla extract to make vanilla buttercream frosting.
• Add bits of crushed candy cane to give it extra peppermint flavor and a crunchy texture.
• Add a few drops of gel food color to tint the frosting red, green or pink.

How to use this peppermint buttercream

Top my devil’s food cupcakes with this peppermint buttercream for a delicious holiday treat. You can use this frosting to top a batch of cupcakes, or a layer cake. It also makes an excellent filling for holiday sandwich cookies.

Helpful tools and equipment

A stand mixer is great for this recipe because the frosting does need to whip for a few minutes. You can turn the mixer on and walk away.

A handheld electric mixer will also get the job done. However, you do have to stand there and hold it. Not a hardship, but less convenient.

You’ll also need a sturdy rubber spatula or a flexible bench scraper for the bowl.

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