Brown Sugar Frosting

piping brown sugar buttercream onto a cupcake

Course: Frosting

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 209kcal

Author: Becky Hardin - Easy Dessert Recipes

This Cinnamon Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting is full of fall flavors and makes a creamy frosting with a little crunch from the brown sugar. It’s the best topping for all your fall-flavored cakes, like pumpkin, spice, apple, and snickerdoodle!

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Equipment

Kitchen Scale (optional)
Stand Mixer

Ingredients

1 cup salted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
¾ cups brown sugar 160 grams
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 12 grams
4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams, sifted
2-4 tablespoons whole milk 28-57 grams, room temperature
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams

Instructions

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar on high speed until creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Mix in the vanilla extract.
1 cup salted butter, ¾ cups brown sugar, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Scrape down the sides, then add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated. Scrape the sides again, then increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
4 cups powdered sugar
Add 2 tablespoons of milk and beat well. Add additional milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency.
2-4 tablespoons whole milk
Stir in the ground cinnamon.
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Notes

This recipe yields about 2½ cups (40 tablespoons) of frosting.
Use light brown sugar for a lighter-tasting frosting and dark brown sugar for a richer, more molasses-y frosting.
Try swapping some or all of the vanilla extract for almond, amaretto, maple, or bourbon extract!
In place of the whole milk, you can use heavy cream or half-and-half.
You can omit the cinnamon for a more plain-flavored frosting.
Add other spices to change the flavor, such as pumpkin pie or apple pie spice!
Add ½-1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate brown sugar frosting.
Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts for a nutty frosting.
Add shredded coconut flakes for a sweeter, coconutty frosting.
Do not use shortening in place of the butter. It will not have a good flavor.
Sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature for the smoothest frosting.
Do not rush the creaming process or you will end up with a gritty frosting!

Storage: Store brown sugar frosting in a Ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition