Grandma's Buttercream Frosting

With equal parts butter and shortening, plus meringue powder for extra body, this simple buttercream frosting recipe works wonderfully for decorating cakes.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 10 mins
• Calories: 119 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup water
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 6 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup milk, or more as needed
• 4 teaspoons meringue powder

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place butter and shortening in a large mixing bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar.

Step 2

Mix water and meringue powder together in a small bowl. Beat into the frosting. Add milk, vanilla extract, salt, and cream of tartar; continue beating until light and fluffy. Add more milk if frosting is too thick.