Browned Butter Frosting

5 from 2 votes

This Browned Butter Frosting recipe is smooth, rich, and nutty in flavor. It’s an elevated, bakery-quality twist on classic buttercream that adds addicting flavor to so many cakes and cookies.

Makes about 2 cups.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Baking

Cuisine: American

Keyword: frosting

Servings: cups

Calories: 1492kcal

Author: Tara Teaspoon

Ingredients

10 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes
4 cups confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons evaporated milk or milk*
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fine sea salt to taste, optional

Instructions

In a small saucepan, slowly melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until butter is golden brown and bits are caramelized, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. (Optional: For stiff frosting, place butter in a bowl over an ice bath to cool it to room temperature. It should only take a minute or two.)
Scrape the butter and browned bits into the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Add evaporated milk, and vanilla and mix with a hand mixer to combine. Scrape sides and add more evaporated milk a few teaspoons at a time to create the desired consistency.
Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for a day, or in the fridge up to a week. To soften, bring to room temperature and add more milk if it is too stiff.

Notes

* Evaporated milk has a light caramel flavor and a thick consistency. I think it makes the best addition to the frosting. Use regular milk only in a pinch.

*Nutritional analysis is for 1 cup of frosting.

How much frosting will I need?

While there is no single "universal" amount, try these estimates: For a 9-by-13-inch sheet cake, you will typically need 2 to 3 cups of frosting. For 24 cupcakes, plan for 3 to 4 cups, though this will vary depending on how much frosting you like on a cupcake! A standard 2-layer cake (8-inch or 9-inch) also need approximately 3 to 4 cups of frosting to cover the middle and the exterior. For 2 dozen cookies, 2 to 3 cups of frosting is usually great. It is always wise to make a little extra to ensure you don't run out while decorating.

Nutrition