
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!

Don't worry if you've been loving the cooked versions though. I already have big plans using the creamy caramel sweetened condensed milk frosting this fall and the fudgy sweetened condensed milk icing is so easy that it is sure to reappear next time the chocolate cravings hit!
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
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.
To add a yellow tint, add a drop or two of yellow food coloring gel. Start slow and add until you get just enough. The color will likely get a shade darker as it sits.
They now have squeeze pouches of sweetened condensed milk, making it easier to use just a bit. If you have to open a can and you're not sure how to use the rest, the leftovers make an out of this world coffee creamer.
If you normally find frosting too sweet, you can play with adding a bit more lemon juice to cut the sugar. Add about a teaspoon more lemon juice and reduce the sweetened condensed milk by a Tablespoon. Adjust until you get your desired flavor and consistency.
You can store leftover frosting in the refrigerator for a week or two or in the freezer for up to three months. Just bring it back to room temperature and mix well before using.
If you were looking for a lemon frosting recipe that uses sweetened condensed milk, but no powdered sugar, you are in luck! My lemonade Russian buttercream is just the thing for you!
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!
Yield: 24 servings

Lemon Sweetened Condensed Milk Buttercream
This 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!
prep time: 10 Mcook time: total time: 10 M
ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 4-5 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- optional: finely grated zest of a lemon
instructions:
How to cook Lemon Sweetened Condensed Milk Buttercream
- Beat butter until light and creamy.
- Slowly add powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon extract until combined.
- Add sweetened condensed milk a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Adjust with a bit more sweetened condensed milk or powdered sugar until you have your desired thickness.
- Stir in fresh lemon zest and frost cooled cake.
Calories
151.81
151.81
Fat (grams)
7.99
7.99
Sat. Fat (grams)
5.06
5.06
Carbs (grams)
20.63
20.63
Fiber (grams)
0.11
0.11
Net carbs
20.52
20.52
Sugar (grams)
19.99
19.99
Protein (grams)
0.41
0.41
Sodium (milligrams)
65.96
65.96
Cholesterol (grams)
21.55
21.55
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2020

Oh Carlee, you had me at Lemon but then go and add the sweetened condensed milk and I am like "Whoa"...BEST Buttercream frosting ever!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely up there! Thanks, Andrea!
DeleteHaha! I still lick the spatula too :). It's one of the perks of being a baker! LOVING the sound of this frosting!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the best parts! Besides, you have to make sure it's good before you feed it to others!
DeleteYum! Even though I'm a cake gal, I do appreciate a good frosting. Now I'm thinking of all of the cake possibilities to go with.
ReplyDeleteNow you got me thinking too. Blackberry (or blueberry) cake with lemon frosting. That would be fun to try too.
DeleteOooooh, a berry cake would be fun!!
DeleteThis frosting sounds great! I love lemon so I can't wait to try it!
DeleteI also think making a coffee flavored version of this frosting for brownies or chocolate cake. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful Lemon Frosting recipe. I was kind of waiting for it. That cake was just sitting there waiting for some wonderful frosting!
ReplyDeleteHa! Sorry to make you wait!
DeleteThat sounds like a perfectly buttery creamy frosting! With the goodness of lemon! Yummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deepika! It was so smooth and delicious!
DeleteYum!! Thanks for linking up at Friday Frenzy Link Party!! XOXO :) PINNED!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly!
DeleteI was going to say I've never made a sweetened condensed frosting recipe, but I do make brownies with one! But need to try your lemon version, too!
ReplyDeleteI think it adds that little something extra. I'll have to check out your brownies!
DeleteI'll have to try the frosting! It looks so good!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it!
DeleteOh my Carlee,
ReplyDeleteI can almost taste it, this looks so good. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
It is worth making, that is for sure! The lemon zest really gives it that little citrus kick.
DeleteLemon frosting! Yes please!
ReplyDeleteI know, right?!
DeleteLooks oh so yummy!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteOMG!!! This is not good for me because I am on diet but I want it desperately!!! Thank you for sharing at Sweet Inspiration Link Party :)
ReplyDeletewww.artdecorationcrafting.gr
Save it for your next cheat day and do it up right!
DeletePerfect for your lovely homemade cake!! I love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Laura!
DeleteAnd just like that, you have me craving lemon!
ReplyDeleteLemon baked goods are quickly moving up my list of favorites!
DeleteLove the idea of a lemon buttercream frosting! What a great frosting to top cookies with too. Looks great with your cake!
ReplyDeleteIt would be so good on cookies!
Deletewe love anything lemon but this frosting sounds outstanding cant wait to add that to my next cake baking day!
ReplyDeleteThis buttercream is the stuff dreams are made of. Simply perfect, I bet it's AMAZING on anything you put it on!
ReplyDeleteI love lemon flavored desserts. Especially during hot Summer days. This cake looks fantastic. It's perfect with afternoon tea or coffee.
ReplyDeleteI love making frosting with condensed milk too but it's usually too sweet. The kids love it though. This sounds so delicious. love anything lemon
ReplyDeleteI LOVE condensed milk but never used it in frosting. It sounds sooo delicious and looks so creamy and fluffy. I’m going to give it a try soon. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of condensed milk and have used in many ways but never crossed my mind to add it to buttercream. Cannot wait to try it on some cupcakes I have planned for tomorrow
ReplyDeleteOMG I an not even telling my husband you can make frosting with condensed milk. He loves it!! However, I will surprise him and put this on his birthday cake.
ReplyDeleteNever used condensed milk for frosting. I can't wait to try this recipe on my hubby's birthday.
ReplyDeleteIt adds that little extra something. I hope you both love it!
DeleteI have to make a lemon meringue flavoured cake which will be covered in fondant. This frosting sounds great! Thinking of layering cake with alternating layers of your frosting and lemon curd. Do you think it will work? Thank you for sharing your recipe!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds amazing! I can't see why that wouldn't work. You'll have to let me know how it goes!
DeleteExtract, juice and zest, hmm... So, theoretically, I should be able to make an orange version of this, right? Definitely gonna try, cuz that sounds like it would be absolutely delish on a devil's food cake.
ReplyDeleteGo for it and tell me all about it! That sounds amazing!
DeleteThis sounds amazing.....can't wait to try! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it!
DeleteI'm on a cream cheese buttercream frosting kick. This sounds great for my next cake (with cream cheese of course). I've decided to make a different cake each month until we're out from under this black cloud.
ReplyDeleteYour frosting sounds so good but then I like anything lemon and condensed milk. I am in my 60's and I still lick the beaters as well,I am in New Zealand and have no Idea what powdered sugar would be here can you help
ReplyDelete