Brown Butter Frosting

Brown Butter Frosting has a delicious unique flavor you can only get from browning that butter. It’s easy, and this recipe only needs 3 ingredients. But just wait until you taste it. Delicious!

Brown Butter Frosting

We all have our favorites, and for recipes that have cinnamon and/or nutmeg, this frosting recipe is my go-to.

Don’t limit yourself there, though. This frosting is delicious on so many flavors, like chocolate, lemon, and vanilla, to mention a few.

It’s easy to make, so brownie points for that, but more importantly, it’s delicious.

Buttery cake spread with tiny bits adding flavor.

Making Brown Butter Frosting

In a small sauce pan, heat the butter up on medium heat to melt.

Once melted, stir often to kick up the little specs of brown spec that form on the bottom.

As the butter turns to a roasty toasty brown, that’s your signal to take it off the heat.

Let the butter cool down to room temperature.

Brown Butter Frosting

Once the browned butter is room temperature, beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.

The last ingredient is water or milk.

You can also use half and half, or heavy cream.

For sake of explanation, though, let’s call it milk.

The purpose of the milk is to thin the consistency out so it’s not too thick; easier to spread.

This recipe is great for spreading on a cake, especially a 13 x 9.”

Zucchini Dessert Bars topped with a buttery cake spread.

If you use this recipe on a smaller cake, such as my Zucchini Dessert Bars, (pictured above) it would be best to reduce the recipe by half.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with a little bit of cake with your frosting, which isn’t a bad thing.

Can I pipe with this frosting recipe?

This recipe is a softer creamier frosting, so it doesn’t hold it’s shape for piping.

However, by adding just a 1/2 cup shortening, you’ll be able to pipe away.

Add the shortening to the butter and sugar, then check for consistency before adding milk.

Brown Butter Frosting

This Brown Butter Pecan Cupcakes recipe, (pictured above), is where I first used this frosting.

If you’ve tried this recipe, you already know it has the shortening in the frosting.

It piped onto the cupcakes beautifully.

Check out the pictures there, the frosting looks unique and interesting with all the dark little bits in it, and it’s so delicious.

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5 from 2 votes

Brown Butter Frosting

A simple yet delicious frosting made with only 3 ingredients perfect for a 9" x 13" cake.
Cook Time10 minutes
Cool time:20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 13 x 9, 3 ingredients, quick and easy
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 102kcal
Author: Sweet Ordeal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 6 cups confectioners sugar
  • 4 - 6 Tbsp. water or milk
  • 1/2 cup shortening (use only if piping) see Notes

Instructions

  • Heat the butter in a small sauce pan on medium until butter begins to brown. Stir often. Cook the butter until it turns a toasty brown color. Remove from heat. Allow to return to room temperature.
  • In large bowl, beat sugar and butter until thoroughly mixed and fluffy. Add water or milk for thinner consistency. Enjoy!
  • OPTIONAL: add 1/2 cup shortening to butter and sugar if piping. See Notes.

Notes

This recipe makes enough for 24 cupcakes or a 9" x 13" baking dish. It should be enough for an 8" layer cake if you don't use a lot in the middle.
If planning on piping on, add 1/2 cup shortening. If spreading on, leave shortening out.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 3mg | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.003mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetordeal or tag #sweetordeal!

Brown Butter Frosting

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Buttery cake spread ready to go.Brown Butter FrostingCopyright © Sweet Ordeal. All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, make sure to re-write the recipe in your own words and only list ingredients making sure to link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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