Lemon Sweetened Condensed Milk Buttercream

Lemon condensed milk frosting is the perfect combination of rich, fluffy, and bright. It has a lovely lemon flavor without being too much, and the sweetened condensed milk adds that little something special you can’t quite put your finger on!

The bright flavor of lemon mixed with the rich goodness of sweetened condensed milk.  This frosting is one for the history books.  It is super simple to put together and oh so delicious. 

It is perfect on lemon velvet cake, white cakes, butter cakes, graham crackers, sugar cookies, and more! Whip some up today and tell me what your favorite thing to spread it on is.

I’m sorry. I really am. I made this frosting and then held out on sharing the recipe until today. I was tempted to run to the computer and share it with you the moment I took the first lick of the spatula.

    No, I’m not 10.

    Yes, I still lick the spatula.

    Well, I at least try to sneak a taste before Little Dude dives in to finish it off!

I’m also a little sorry (not sorry!) for being a bit of a broken record and sharing so many sweetened condensed milk frosting recipes. Maybe it’s a summer fling, and I’ll move on once school is back in session, but don’t count on it!

While the cooked versions I have been sharing this summer have been delicious, I wanted something fluffier for my lemon frosting. After all, it was my longing for lemon frosting that drove me to make the lemon velvet cake, so the frosting had to be just right.

So I went back to my first attempt at sweetened condensed milk frosting and tweaked the sweetened condensed milk buttercream. I knew it would give me that perfect balance of fluffy and rich, and the lemon was so great in it. It was definitely love at first lick!

However, if you are looking for a lemon frosting recipe that uses sweetened condensed milk but no powdered sugar, you are still in luck! My lemonade Russian buttercream is just the thing for you.

Or try lemon cream cheese frosting if you want something citrusy and soft. It is perfect for a 9×13-inch cake and only takes 3 ingredients to make.

 In the meantime, let’s soak up these last little bits of summer and enjoy this fresh citrus pop of flavor. There will be plenty of time to drool over chocolate and caramel later

Tips, Tricks and FAQs

Does this buttercream set well or form a crust?

The powdered sugar in this recipe helps the frosting to form a light crust. To set it faster or harder, chill it for a bit.

Is this frosting yellow?

The recipe on its own will be a very pale yellow from the butter and lemon zest. For a more vibrant lemony yellow, add a drop or two of yellow food coloring gel. Start slow and add until you get just enough. The color will deepen slightly as it sits.

What should I do with the rest of the sweetened condensed milk?

They now have squeeze bottles of sweetened condensed milk, making it easier to use just a bit. If you have to open and can and you’re not sure how to use the rest, the leftovers make an out of this world coffee creamer. Otherwise, you can always make more frosting!

Can I make this frosting less sweet?

If you normally find buttercream too sweet, you can play with adding a bit more lemon juice to tame it a bit. Add about a teaspoon more lemon juice and reduce the sweetened condensed milk but a Tablespoon. Adjust until you get your desired flavor and consistency.

How do I store buttercream frosting?

You can store leftover buttercream in the refrigerator for a week or two. Or put it in the freezer for up to three months. Just bring it back to room temperature and mix well before using.

If you are a frosting fanatic like me, check out my Frosting 101. It goes through the different types of frosting and links to all sorts of delicious recipes!