Making homemade frosting and icings can be a game-changer for your baked goods. Who knew that something so simple like this Orange Buttercream Frosting could be such a boon to your baking?
With only five ingredients, this Orange Buttercream Frosting recipe mixes up quickly and easily, perfect for layer cake, cupcakes, or a favorite sheet cake recipe, like Chocolate Orange Cake.
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I grew up frosting cakes with canned icing, but once I learned how to make my own frosting, there was no looking back. Since then I’ve played with yummy ways to top cakes, including my Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing and my Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
This Orange Buttercream Frosting is one of my new favorite recipes. It pairs perfectly with my Chocolate Orange Cake, a fun quarter sheet cake that tastes just like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange!
Why Make This
It’s easy. Seriously, other than washing a bowl later, there’s no work to making a homemade Orange Buttercream Frosting. It comes together in just minutes!
It’s better than the can! This is such a tasty way to top your cakes. So good! Orange Buttercream Frosting is the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and creamy. It is amazing layered between brownies and a chocolate glaze. Yum!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Orange Buttercream Frosting:
butter – I like to use dairy butter, softened to room temperature, but you can use margarine or a plant-based butter as well. The flavors won’t be the same, but it will certainly work.
powdered sugar – Powdered, or confectioners sugar is the best since it melts so well into the butter and fresh orange juice. Don’t skimp! In fact, have a little extra on hand so you can adjust the texture to suit your recipe.
an orange – I love the flavor that fresh orange zest and juice brings to this buttercream. If you absolutely don’t have an orange, you can bottled juice and dried zest or you can use ½ teaspoon orange extract and milk or water to make this. Definitely go for the fresh orange if you can!
vanilla extract – A little vanilla brings that Creamsicle/Orange Julius flavor to the party. Remember that making your own vanilla is cheap and easy.
salt – I use salted butter, but I’ve learned that adding a bit of salt to the frosting really helps balances all that sugar and fat. If you use unsalted butter, be sure to add a little more, about ⅛ teaspoon to the recipe.
Variations: It’s possible that you want orange frosting, like orange-colored frosting. You can achieve that by adding a bit of orange food coloring when you add the orange juice. Gel food coloring will give you the most vivid hues.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make Orange Buttercream Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.
- Add the sugar, orange zest, and salt. Beat until the mixture starts to be a bit crumbly.
- Add the orange juice and vanilla extract.
- Beat until well combined and fluffy. Adjust with more sugar or juice, depending on what consistency you’re looking for.
TLDR? Watch the Five Ingredient Orange Buttercream web story.
FAQs
For a vivid orange hue, add a few drops of gel food coloring until you get the color you desire.
The best butter for frosting is softened, dairy butter. It can be salted or unsalted, but you’ll need to add more salt if you use unsalted.
Just as butter hardens when refrigerated, so will your buttercream frosting. Bringing it to room temperature will soften it up.
More Homemade Frostings
Tell us what you think!
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Orange Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- hand mixer
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
Orange Buttercream
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 4 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 orange , zested and juiced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the sugar, orange zest, and salt. Beat until the mixture starts to be a bit crumbly.¾ cup butter, 4 ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 orange, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Add enough orange juice (about 2 to 3 tablespoons) until you have a smooth texture. Beat until well combined and fluffy.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Adjust with more sugar or juice, depending on what consistency you’re looking for.
George Moy
I like your recipe on making orange buttercream frosting that is that it has the taste not just the look of orange, but I like to know;since I bought a bottle of orange extract some time ago I wanted to know,can you use it in the frosting rather than the zest from the orange?because I don’t want to discard it since this is pure orange extract,not artificial.