Easy Lemon Frosting
This easy lemon frosting is quick to make and uses real lemon zest and lemon juice for a great fresh flavor! Use it to top favorite desserts like cakes, cookies, and more!
If you are digging this recipe, check out my recipe for easy peanut butter frosting too!
A great frosting can totally transform a homemade dessert. Smooth creamy buttercream-style frostings are easy for beginners to make successfully and this recipe is no exception!
The final frosting has a beautiful citrus flavor from fresh lemon juice and zest. It’s perfectly smooth and creamy so it’s easy to swirl onto a cake or pipe onto cupcakes.
Great Things About This Recipe
- Fresh flavor from the real lemon juice and zest!
- It’s easy to get just the right yellow color with optional yellow food dye–or totally skip it for a food-dye free option!
- So smooth and creamy for topping cupcakes, cakes, cookies and more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is a buttercream style frosting, so buy high-quality American butter (unsalted!) for the best flavor. You’ll also need powdered sugar (sift to remove lumps), vanilla extract, lemon juice, lemon zest (a single lemon will be enough for this recipe), and a little milk or cream.
How to Make Lemon Frosting
The process for making the frosting is quite simple! You will want an electric mixer (either a hand mixer or stand mixer) for beating the butter and sugar together and fluffing the buttercream.
After the butter and sugar are creamed together, the flavorings are mixed in and then small amounts of milk or cream are added to adjust the consistency of the frosting. A final whip on medium-high speed to fluff the frosting and it’s ready to use!
Easy Lemon Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar (10 ounces)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream
- Optional: yellow food coloring
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer with the beater attachments to beat the softened butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth.
- Turn mixer to low and gradually add the powdered sugar to the butter. Beat in each addition until combined.
- Add the vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest and beat to combine. Optional: add a drop or two of yellow food coloring for a brighter color.
- The buttercream will still be quite thick, so use small amounts (up to 1-2 tablespoons total) of heavy cream or milk (adding just a little at a time) to adjust the consistency of the buttercream.
- Once the frosting is smooth, bring the mixer up to medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes until it’s light and fluffy.
