This creamy brown sugar frosting is extremely smooth, creamy, and has absolutely no grainy texture! It is easy to make and requires just 6 simple ingredients, resulting in a caramel-y rich flavor that is perfect on these moist maple cupcakes, simple banana cake recipe, and so many more desserts!
Before creating this recipe, I had no idea you could use brown sugar in frosting. Like, wouldn't it be too grainy? After several test batches, I learned a trick: brown sugar syrup.
The key to a silky smooth brown sugar buttercream is to create a brown sugar syrup. Most of my homemade frosting recipes do not require a stovetop, but this one does.
Why? Because without melting the brown sugar first, your frosting would be grainy and sand-like in texture (which is not delicious!)
Why You'll Love This Buttercream
- Rich caramel flavor. The best way to describe the flavor of this frosting is that of a caramel buttercream, but deeper and richer in flavor.
- Smooth & creamy. With the melted brown sugar, this american buttercream is silky smooth, making it easily pipeable onto cupcakes or spreadable on cake layers.
- Just 6 ingredients. Even with making a simple syrup, this recipe only requires 6 everyday pantry ingredients.
- Less than 1 hour to make! From start to finish, you'll have homemade frosting ready in just 45 minutes.
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As a home baker I am a huge fan of frosting recipes! I love creating new and unique flavors that can compliment so many other desserts.
Some of my favorites includes this easy maple buttercream and whipped honey frosting.
Ingredients For Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting
- Brown Sugar: You can use either light or dark brown sugar.
- Butter: I used unsalted butter, which is what I use in all of my frosting recipes.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: This helps to create a light and silky smooth consistency. If you have to, you can substitute it with heavy cream or milk.
- Salt: This ingredient is optional, but I like to add just ¼ teaspoon of salt to go along with the caramel flavors.
See the recipe card for the full ingredients list and the exact amounts.
How To Make The Best Brown Sugar Frosting
Step 1: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the brown sugar and water until combined. Continue to whisk the sugar occasionally as it begins to melt.
Step 2: Once there are no more grains, remove from the heat, pour into a glass bowl and cool completely.
Place it in the refrigerator to cool down quicker (my prefer method).
Step 3: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy.
Step 4: Add the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream, salt, and the completely cooled brown sugar syrup and mix on low speed until combined.
Step 5: Then increase the speed to high and beat for another 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: Place the frosting into a piping bag to frost your cupcakes or spread over the top of your cake layers.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: If you plan on using this frosting within 24 hours, you can keep it stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If not, keep it stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Just pull it out at least 60 minutes before you want to use it so it's not cold.
Freezing: To freeze, place it in an airtight container. You can keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator over night. Then rewhip it to help stabilize again.
Professional Home Baking Tips
- Room Temperature Butter: The butter needs to be at room temperature in order to create the perfect consistency of buttercream frosting. If you start with cold butter, you'll have a difficult time getting the frosting to come together.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: You must melt down the brown sugar first before adding it to the frosting. If you don't, the consistency will be grainy and sand-like in texture, which to me is unpleasant.
- Scaling The Recipe: The recipe as written makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes. If you want to frost a three layer 6-inch cake, then 1.5x the recipe. Or, if you want to frost a three layer 8-inch cake, 2x the recipe.
- Baked Desserts: Make sure any dessert you use this frosting on is completely cooled before frosting. If not, the frosting will melt right off.
Ways To Use This Frosting
- Cupcakes: Besides these homemade maple cupcakes, this frosting would taste great on moist pumpkin cupcakes, my favorite salted caramel cupcakes, or even these espresso coffee cupcakes.
- Cakes: I think if you wanted to change up your carrot cake games, this frosting would pair well with a classic carrot cake! Also, the warm spices of this cinnamon toast crunch cake would also pair nicely with the brown sugar flavor.
📖 Recipe
Creamy Brown Sugar Frosting (No Grain!)
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Whisk
- Electric Stand Mixer
- Rubber Spatula
- Piping Bag
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the brown sugar and water until combined. Continue to whisk the sugar occasionally as it begins to melt. This should take 5-10 minutes for the brown sugar to fully dissolve.
- Once there are no more grains, remove from the heat, pour into a glass bowl or jar, and cool completely. Place it in the refrigerator to cool down quicker (my prefer method).
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream, salt, and the completely cooled brown sugar syrup and mix on low speed until combined (about 30 seconds). Then increase the speed to high and beat for another 1-2 minutes (frosting should be light and creamy).If the frosting is too thick, add the extra tablespoon of heavy whipping cream (I prefer using 3 tablespoons total for my preferred buttercream consistency).
- Use it to frost your favorite cupcakes and cake recipes!
I was honestly so surprised how good this frosting tasted! You can really taste the brown sugar flavor!