Top your favorite treats with this easy to make caramel buttercream frosting. Just imagine all of the cakes, cupcakes, and cookies it could go on!

chocolate cupcakes topped with rosettes of light tan caramel buttercream ready to eat.

Sweet caramel goodness in a super delicious buttercream makes for a perfect frosting. This recipe whips up in minutes and is perfect for piping and decorating.

It holds its shape and tastes delicious! It is the perfect topping to any desserts that could benefit from a touch of caramel goodness.

Making a rich caramel frosting doesn’t have to be complicated. This recipe doesn’t require any candy thermometers or saucepans.

chocolate cupcakes with swirls of caramel buttercream and toasted coconut on top.

caramel buttercream on cupcakes with a caramel drizzle and pecan bits.

It is so quick and easy that you can start decorating your cake or cupcakes in just a matter of minutes. It is a fun twist on American buttercream, which is the least complicated version of frosting to make.

When I originally created this recipe, I used to top some carrot cake cupcakes. It was a yummy combination.

This time, I made some chocolate cupcakes and toasted some coconut to go on top. It was reminiscent of a German chocolate cake only quicker and with fluffier frosting!

It would also be amazing on vanilla cake or imagine it spread over a tasty apple cake. The possibilities really are endless, so bake up your favorite cake and make a batch today.

Getting Great Caramel Flavor Easily

Using a premade caramel sauce makes getting the flavor really easy. You can find nice rich, thick caramel sauce in the grocery store.

It is usually by the coffees or near the ice cream. However, feel free to use your own homemade caramel sauce if you have a favorite recipe.

pouring caramel into mixing bowl full of buttercream

mixer bowl full of easy caramel buttercream frosting.

The final result was lip smacking (and finger licking) good. The final color was just golden enough to give a hint of the caramel inside.

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It piped beautifully on the cupcakes and was perfect on its own. They were also great with a smattering of chopped pecans and a drizzle of caramel.

Tips for Getting the Best Buttercream

Because this recipe is a slight twist on a traditional American buttercream, it is almost foolproof. There are a few tips to get it perfect every time.

The first is to start with room temperature butter. It should be soft, but not wimpy.

You want your mixer to be able to make it super smooth with no chunks of hard butter. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl a couple of times to make sure no chunks of butter are hiding out.

That and making sure the powdered sugar that isn’t too clumpy will ensure smooth buttercream.

rosettes of caramel buttercream on carrot cupcakes next to piping bag of more frosting.

Use the paddle

Use your paddle attachment on your mixer to keep too much air from getting whipped into the frosting.

While you want it to be light and fluffy, using the whisk attachment can cause too many air bubbles which will affect the texture of your final product and will make it hard to get a smooth finish on your cake.

You can either use salted butter or add a pinch of salt or both. Taste it and adjust to your liking.

The salt adds balance with all the sweetness of caramel and powdered sugar. Plus, caramel and salt are a classic combination for a reason.

You can even add a little bit of extra salt if you want to make a salted caramel frosting. There is just something about rich caramel with a hit of salt.

Have fun! Frosting is supposed to be fun. So enjoy the process and have fun decorating!

Storage

American buttercream can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. Just make sure to keep it covered so it doesn’t form a crust.

For longer storage, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze for up to two months. Just bring the frosting to room temperature and whip before using.

4.77 from 68 ratings

Easy Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

This easy caramel buttercream frosting recipes uses caramel sauce to get big caramel flavor without needing a candy thermometer. You can use homemade caramel sauce or buy a jar at the grocery store. Either way you are sure to end up with a perfectly fluffy American-style buttercream that is perfect for using on layer cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more.

Prep: 10

Cook: 0

Total: 10

Ingredients

Instructions

Beat butter using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment until soft and fluffy.
1 cup butter
Add vanilla, caramel topping, and salt, mixing until combined.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅓ cup caramel topping, 1 pinch salt
Stir in powdered sugar on low speed.
4 cups powdered sugar
Add desired amount of cream. Beat on medium-high speed for at least 2 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
1 to 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
Adjust the final consistency by adding a little more cream or powdered sugar.

Notes

If you don’t have cream, you can use milk. Just add it a Tablespoon or two at a time until you get the right consistency.

For a salted caramel buttercream, just add salt to taste.

I like using a thick caramel sauce for this recipe. You can usually find it in jars with the ice cream toppings or in a squeeze bottle with the coffee flavorings.