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Best Gluten Free Buttercream Frosting

By Christine January 2, 2019 Updated April 13, 2021 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
delicious gluten free buttercream frosting in a glass bowl

If you're looking for the most delicious, sweetest and easy-to-make frosting, perfect for all your cookies, cakes and even brownies... look no further!

This gluten free buttercream frosting is the absolutely best.

frosting on a metal spatula in a glass bowl

Think homemade frosting is difficult or requires some advanced baking certification to make? At one time, I did too!

But it's actually soooo easy to make, it's basically mixing and more mixing. That's it.

And once you've got it mixed, add different colors to make any color to fit your mood.

Tips on Making the Best Gluten Free Buttercream Frosting

Room temperature ingredients

This first step is the easiest, but also the most important. The butter needs to be soft enough to be easily dented, but not runny or melted. Powdered sugar needs to be be room temperature.

frosting ingredients on a white countertop

Mixing techniques

Mixing this frosting is where the most work comes in - well, it's the most work for the mixer! Start with a deep bowl and mix the butter until fully blended.

butter mixed in a glassbowl on a countertop

Then start by adding 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar at a time. It will look very powdery and not like frosting at all, but just keep mixing.

Note: if powdered sugar is still flying out of the bowl, try draping a paper towel over the bowl and continue mixing. It will lessen as you go.

mixing frosting in a glass bowl

After the first cup is mixed, add the second cup of sifted powdered sugar. Again, it will be very crumbly.

frosting mixing in a glass bowl on a countertop

After about 5 minutes of mixing time, you'll end up with a fully incorporated frosting.

fully mixed frosting on the beaters in a glass bowl

Add the vanilla extract and then some milk and watch as it turns into something amazing.

adding milk to frosting in a glass bowl to make it fluffy

Storage

If you are using it right away: just drape a wet paper towel over the bowl.

If using it later on: Scrape it into a plastic container and store it in the refrigerator until needed.

A note about coloring the frosting...

Beautiful shades of pinks, violets and blues are easy to achieve with this buttercream frosting. I recommend using a gel based food coloring like Wilton colors. They don't impact the consistency as food coloring can and the color is easier to control. Start with just a small dot of color and mix it into the frosting. Wait a few minutes to check the color before adding more. (The color will intensify.)

Tools Needed to Make Gluten Free Buttercream Frosting

Hand held mixer - for mixing up the frosting

Spatula - a rubber one that has a firm handle

Sifter - this hand crank version is one of the best investments you'll make!

 

frosting on a metal spatula in a glass bowl

Best Gluten Free Buttercream Frosting

For the very best, versatile gluten free buttercream frosting, this is your recipe! Use it to frost any baked good!
4.75 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: buttercream frosting, frosting recipe, gluten free frosting
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 890kcal
Author: Christine

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp. milk divided

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until fully mixed.
  • Sift 1 cup of the powdered sugar into the butter mix and mix until fully incorporated.
  • Sift another cup of powdered sugar into the bowl and mix again. Mixture will be crumbly, but keep mixing.
  • Once all sugar is incorporated, add vanilla extract and 2 Tbsp. milk. Mix. 
  • Check consistency and if needed, add another Tbsp. of milk and mix again.
  • Use as desired.

Notes

  • Use a deep bowl to prevent powdered sugar from dusting up over the bowl. Use a paper towel to block any remaining powdered sugar.
  • For thinner consistency, add more milk. A bit thicker, use less.
  • Food coloring can be added to create different colors, however, it can make the frosting too thin. Look for coloring that is gel-based like Wilton food coloring.
 
Did you make this recipe?Tag @zest_for_baking and use the hashtag #zestforbaking!

Nutrition

Calories: 890kcal | Carbohydrates: 121g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 33mg | Sugar: 119g | Vitamin A: 1460IU | Calcium: 41mg

 

 

 

Filed Under: Cake, Desserts, Frostings

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Comments

  1. fyfalina

    May 25, 2020 at 10:43 am

    can i use coconut sugar instead of normal powdered sugar?

    Reply
    • Christine

      May 25, 2020 at 11:43 am

      Hi Fyfalina,

      Not with just coconut sugar out of the bag - you'd have to blend it until it's very fine. Keep in mind that it will have that light beige tint to it as well - it won't be a white buttercream.

      Hope that helps!

      Christine

      Reply
  2. Jessica

    April 06, 2022 at 9:42 am

    How much does this cover? Could it do 24 cupcakes or should I double it?

    Reply
    • Christine

      April 06, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Jessica,

      Great question - so it depends how you frost the cupcakes - a smear on top, then yep, this will cover 24 cupcakes. But a swirl from a piping bag - definitely double the recipe!

      Christine

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker living in sunny Texas! Zest for Baking is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

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Since 2013, Christine has been creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

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