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!
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Brown Butter Frosting
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
Nutrition
Brown Butter Frosting
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Salted or unsalted butter?
Unsalted, although I’ve been known for using whatever I have on hand. Thanks for the question, though, I’ll update that.