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You are here: Home / Recipes / Desserts / Frostings and Icing / Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Published April 25, 2022 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Caramel buttercream frosting on a paddle with text overlay.
Caramel buttercream frosting on a paddle with text overlay.

Creamy, sweet Caramel Buttercream Frosting is an easy-to-make from-scratch recipe. This homemade frosting tastes absolutely amazing on all of your favorite dessert creations – you will never want to go back to store-bought frosting again!

A paddle standing on a gray background with caramel buttercream frosting on it.

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This Caramel Buttercream Frosting is one of the oldest recipes on Delicious Little Bites, though it has been improved recently.

I first made it on a whim when I couldn’t find a salted caramel frosting at the grocery store. Adding caramel sauce to vanilla frosting worked out perfectly.

Since then, I’ve been through both baking and pastry classes in culinary arts school and have learned so much about creating different types of frostings. While the idea of this recipe is still the same as the original, it’s now much better in flavor and with easy to follow instructions.

Try pairing this sweet, creamy frosting with Mini Vanilla Cupcakes, Mini Coconut Cupcakes, or even Mini Chocolate Cupcakes all of which can be made standard size.

Why This Recipe Works

Making homemade frosting is actually really quick and easy. It can even be made ahead of time and frozen, if needed. 

It’s so much better tasting than store-bought frostings and doesn’t contain any unnecessary ingredients that shelf-stable foods often have added.

Frosting is very versatile. It’s not just perfect for all kinds of cakes and cupcakes, but is also delicious when used on cookies, brownies or even whoopie pies!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ingredients

Ingredients to make caramel buttercream frosting with text overlay.

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce: you can use any caramel sauce that you like. Stonewall Kitchen has amazing caramel sauce that comes in a variety of flavors, but you can even use Smucker’s Caramel sauce with great results.
  • 3 cups powdered sugar: you may need slightly more or less.

Prep!

Set the butter out about an hour before you begin to allow it enough time to come to room temperature.

Create!

Creamed butter in a silver bowl.

Add the butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on medium until smooth and creamy.

Caramel and butter in a silver bowl.

Add the vanilla extract and caramel sauce and continue to mix, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until well blended.

Caramel buttercream frosting in a silver bowl.

Gradually add the powdered sugar until the desired consistency is achieved. Typically frosting is smooth and creamy, yet firm so that it keeps its shape when piped.

Present!

A hand holding up a paddle with caramel buttercream frosting on it.

Use as desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • You can use any type of caramel sauce that you like. Salted caramel sauce and coffee caramel sauce work amazing in this recipe.
  • Store extra buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When properly stored, buttercream frosting can last up to one month in the refrigerator.

FAQ’s

What Can You Use Buttercream Frosting On?

Buttercream frosting is most often used on cakes and cupcakes, but you can also use it on brownies, cookies, in between cookies to make sandwiches, or in whoopie pies.

Can Buttercream Icing Be Frozen?

Yes. You can freeze buttercream icing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator before using.

More Recipes

Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Rich, creamy Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is the literal icing on the cake. This delicious chocolate frosting is so easy to make and so much tastier than store-bought cake frosting.
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Homemade chocolate buttercream frosting on the tip of a spatula over a white background
Lemon Buttercream Frosting
Lemon Buttercream Frosting is silky smooth with a sweet lemony flavor. Real lemon juice and lemon zest give this frosting the best flavor for all of your baking needs that call for a bright, fresh lemon taste.
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A cupcake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting piped onto it with the piping bag and a few more cupcakes in the background.
Mini Coconut Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Mini Coconut Cupcakes are sweet, moist 2-bite cupcakes that are topped with a creamy coconut buttercream frosting. Don’t let their size fool you! Every bite is bursting with tropical coconut flavor. 
Get The Recipe
Close up of a mini coconut cupcakes topped with sugar and gold stars on a white background with additional cupcakes blurred in the background

Love this Caramel Buttercream Frosting recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

A paddle standing on a gray background with caramel buttercream frosting on it.
Print

Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Creamy, sweet Caramel Buttercream Frosting is an easy-to-make from-scratch recipe. This homemade frosting tastes absolutely amazing on all of your favorite dessert creations - you will never want to go back to store-bought frosting again!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 12 cupcakes
Calories 205kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (may use slightly more or less)

Instructions

  • Add the butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
    8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Add the vanilla extract and caramel sauce and continue to mix, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until well blended.
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup caramel sauce
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar until the desired consistency is achieved. Typically frosting is smooth and creamy, yet firm so that it keeps its shape when piped.
    3 cups powdered sugar
  • Use as desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • You can use any type of caramel sauce you like. Salted caramel sauce and coffee caramel sauce work amazing in this recipe.
  • Store extra buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When properly stored, buttercream frosting can last up to one month in the refrigerator.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published on December 29, 2015. It was updated with an improved recipe, step-by-step instructions, new images, tips, techniques and FAQ’s in April 2022.

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Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes, Desserts, Frostings and Icing, Gluten Free, Recipes

Comments

  1. Mary Bostow says

    November 6, 2018 at 1:11 pm

    Your recipes always impress me. And again I see an incredible dessert. Looks very nice and I’m sure it’s very tasty. I’m sure my children will be delighted with this. I love it! Thanks.

    Reply
  2. kallee says

    November 6, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    What a decadent icing recipe. I would probably eat it right out of bowl.

    Reply
  3. kim says

    November 6, 2018 at 12:59 pm

    These does look perfect! Can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  4. Prajakta Sukhatme says

    November 6, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    Caramel is my all time favorite sweet treat. These cupcakes look so decadent. Great step by step detailed recipe!!

    Reply
  5. Allison - Celebrating Sweets says

    November 6, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    I bet I could eat this icing right off a spoon – I don’t even need cake. Ha!

    Reply
  6. Nena says

    October 18, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    They look so cute and yummy!

    Reply
  7. Evi says

    June 10, 2016 at 3:37 pm

    Oh my! These do look perfect!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 10, 2016 at 7:58 pm

      Thanks! They wee delish!

      Reply
  8. Montserrat says

    June 10, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Mmmmmm…. anything with caramel is so good! I think I’ll try this on chocolate cupcakes.

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 10, 2016 at 7:59 pm

      Ohhh that would be so good!!

      Reply
  9. Ashleigh says

    June 10, 2016 at 12:36 am

    Oh, this caramel cupcakes look wonderful, caramel is my favorite! I can’t wait to make these for my babes! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 10, 2016 at 7:59 pm

      Hope they love them too!

      Reply
  10. Debs says

    June 9, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    The cupcakes look so fabulous. Thank you for another great recipe.

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 10, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you for stopping by Deb 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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