Lime Buttercream
This lime buttercream tastes just like summer! It has the perfect balance of sweet and tart & is packed w/ bright citrus flavor!
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 970kcal
Ingredients
Lime Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 226g
- zest of 1 small lime - about 2 tsp 4g
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 4g
- 1/4 tsp fine salt 1g
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 454g or a 1 lb. box
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice 15g
Tools & Decorations
Instructions
Lime Buttercream:
- Beat 1 cup of unsalted butter on a medium speed for 1 minute with a hand mixer until smooth.
- Add in the zest of 1 small lime, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp salt. Mix on a low speed until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Mix in 3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp of fresh lime juice on a low speed. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Once fully mixed, if the frosting seems too thick, add additional lime juice (1 tsp at a time). If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar (quarter of a cup at a time).
- If your frosting looks broken, add in more room-temperature butter, 1 Tbsp at a time until it comes back together.
- Stir the frosting by hand with a rubber spatula once it's made for a minute or two to make the frosting super smooth.
- Either cover the frosting flush with plastic wrap to prevent crusting or place it in a piping bag fitted with your favorite frosting tip. This buttercream can sit at room temperature for a day, be stored in the fridge for up to a month in an airtight container, or be stored in the freezer for 3 months.
Video
Notes
Yield
This recipe makes about 3 cups of frosting. If needed, this recipe can be halved, doubled, or tripled. A triple batch will fit/can be made in a 5 qt Kitchen Aid Mixing bowl. I usually make 1 batch to frost a dozen cupcakes with large swirls. I make 2 batches to fill and frost a seven- or eight-inch layer cake.Tips for Making the Best Lime Buttercream
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature before making your frosting.
- If your powdered sugar contains cornstarch (most brands in the US do) there's no need to sift the powdered sugar.
- Use fresh lime juice and zest! It will give this frosting the best flavor.
- If you are making frosting for a cake, mix the buttercream on the lowest speed at the end of the process for a couple of minutes to get out any extra air that might have been incorporated during the mixing process.
Making This Lime Buttercream in Advance and Storage Tips
- Make this frosting ahead of time or save any leftover frosting! It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.
- This frosting can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months! Just be sure to give it a good stir once it thaws to make it nice and smooth again.
- A frosted cake can last in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for a month. The buttercream locks in the moisture and keeps the cake fresh and delicious!
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 970kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 77g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 203mg | Sodium: 206mg | Sugar: 72g