How to make ombre-colored buttercream frosting for cupcakes!
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One of my favorite things to do with my baking is to experiment and seek out simple ways to make my homemade treats stunning. Now, sometimes I do like to challenge myself with intricate recipes, but overall I much prefer to find simple and fun ways to make fancy treats.
I have found that one of the most simple, fun, and easy solutions to upgrade homemade cupcakes is with my easy Ombre Buttercream Frosting for Cupcakes! This frosting is incredibly easy to make, and the process is the same as any other buttercream frosting recipe.
The only difference is that my recipe here uses a couple of food colorings to make a few different color variations out of one batch of buttercream frosting. I just put each color variation in its own piping bag, and I’m all set to decorate the ombre style!
You can even make ombre frosting using just one food color, as long as you can make different shades of frosting with it. For my frosting, I chose to use pink and purple food coloring, but you can use whatever colors you want.
The point is just to have 2 or more shades of colored buttercream frosting of a similar color. You know how ombre works. I personally think it turns out best with at least 3 color variations to really get the full ombre effect.
The options are endless with a simple and customizable recipe like this! Ready to try it out? Let’s get started! Here’s how to make Ombre Buttercream Frosting for Cupcakes!
Buttercream Frosting Equipment
First, let’s talk about my ombre frosting tools. Luckily, there’s no special equipment needed to create this charming ombre effect. I use a simple ombre method that just requires using multiple piping bags and tips. Here’s my equipment list for ombre buttercream frosting:
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring spoons
- KitchenAid mixer
- Spatulas
- Piping bags
- Piping bag ties
- Jumbo piping tips
Ombre Frosting Ingredients
Ok, now let me go over my ombre frosting ingredient list. There’s actually not a lot needed here at all. Just 4 typical vanilla buttercream frosting ingredients, along with a few food colorings that will be used to create the ombre effect. Here are the ingredients for my ombre buttercream frosting:
- 1 cup butter– room temperature
- 3 tbsp Milk
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- Food Coloring: pink and purple
How to Make Ombre Buttercream Frosting for Cupcakes
Now let’s whip up some magical ombre effects! This ombre frosting process is really easy to follow along with and won’t take more than 15 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for bakers of any level of experience! Here’s how to make ombre buttercream frosting for cupcakes:
Making Ombre Buttercream Frosting:
- First, measure out all of the buttercream frosting ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons.
- Then, beat the room temp butter by itself in a stand mixer for 5 minutes, or until it is double in size and creamy.
- Next, pour in the milk and vanilla, and beat the ingredients together for a minute.
- Then, add in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, mixing well between each addition.
- I like to keep my mixer on a low speed for this step, otherwise the kitchen gets covered in powdered sugar.
- After mixing in all the powdered sugar, run the mixer on high speed for 8 minutes.
- Then, grab the metal piping tips.
- Cut the tips of 3 piping bags for the piping tips to slide through.
- Prepare the bags with the tips by sliding the piping tips through the holes from the inside of the bags.
- Next, grab the pink and purple food coloring.
- Add a drop of pink food coloring into the frosting and beat it until the color is completely mixed in.
- Then, scoop ⅓ of the pink buttercream into one of the prepared piping bags. Close the bag with a piping bag tie.
- Next, add a drop of purple coloring into the pink frosting and beat it again until the purple is completely mixed in.
- Scoop ½ of the light purple buttercream into a separate prepared piping bag. Secure the bag with a bag tie.
- Both frosting bags should have the same amount of frosting.
- Then, add another drop of purple coloring into the remaining frosting.
- Beat the frosting again until a deep purple color is completely mixed in.
- Finally, scoop the remaining deep purple buttercream into the last prepared piping bag and secure it with a tie. Pipe on cupcakes and enjoy!
To create an ombre effect on cupcakes:
- First, split cooled cupcakes into 3 separate groups.
- Start by piping the lightest buttercream frosting on the first group of cupcakes.
- Next, pipe the middle color frosting on the 2nd group of cupcakes.
- Then, frost the remaining cupcakes with the darkest frosting.
- Finally, arrange the frosted cupcakes on a serving plate or tray ombre style.
- Start with the lightest colored frosted cupcakes on one side, the mid-color frosted cupcakes in the middle, and the darkest frosted cupcakes to finish the other side.
Buttercream Frosting Piping Tips
- Let cupcakes or pastries cool completely before frosting, glazing, or icing! If the pastry is still warm the frosting will not stick, it will melt and slide right off.
- To thin out the frosting, just gradually mix in a little more milk until you get the desired consistency.
- If you need to thicken the frosting, just mix in a little more powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency.
Buttercream Frosting Storage
To store ombre buttercream frostings: transfer the frostings to separate airtight containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags. Store the frostings in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, I like to double-bag the frostings to save a lot of space. Always label the date on the outside to keep up with freshness. Let the frostings come to room temperature and whip before using again.
More frostings recipes
Fabulous Frostings, Toppings, and Fillings
Want to give this recipe a try like right now? Then go check out my simple recipe for Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Ombre Buttercream Frosting! Or stick around and browse through more of my blissful buttercream frostings, easy fillings, and simply delightful glazes:
More Buttercream Frostings:
- Lemon Buttercream Frosting
- Homemade Buttercream Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Meringue Frosting
- Homemade Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
- Easy Bundt Cake Frosting
- Store-bought Buttercream Frosting Hacks
- Eggnog Frosting
Easy Icings, Fillings, and Glazes:
- Vanilla Cake Glaze
- Caramel Glaze
- Chocolate Glaze for Bundt Cakes
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Ganache
- White Chocolate Ganache
- Toffee Glaze
- Easy Bundt Cake Glaze
- Eggnog Glaze for Bundt Cakes
- Cake Syrup
- Royal Icing
- Cream Cheese Filling for Bundt Cakes (and other pastries)
Ombre Buttercream Frosting for Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter Room Temperature
- 3 tbsp Milk
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- Food Coloring pink and purple
Instructions
- First, measure out all of the buttercream frosting ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons.
- Then, beat the room temp butter by itself in a stand mixer for 5 minutes, or until it is double in size and creamy.
- Next, pour in the milk and vanilla, and beat the ingredients together for a minute.
- Then, add in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, mixing well between each addition.I like to keep my mixer on a low speed for this step, otherwise, the kitchen gets covered in powdered sugar.
- After mixing in all the powdered sugar, run the mixer on high speed for 8 minutes.
- Then, grab the metal piping tips.
- Cut the tips of 3 piping bags for the piping tips to slide through.
- Prepare the bags with the tips by sliding the piping tips through the holes from the inside of the bags.
- Next, grab the pink and purple food coloring.
- Add a drop of pink food coloring into the frosting and beat it until the color is completely mixed in.
- Then, scoop ⅓ of the pink buttercream into one of the prepared piping bags. Close the bag with a piping bag tie.
- Next, add a drop of purple coloring into the pink frosting and beat it again until the purple is completely mixed in.
- Scoop ½ of the light purple buttercream into a separate prepared piping bag. Secure the bag with a bag tie.
- Both frosting bags should have the same amount of frosting.
- Then, add another drop of purple coloring into the remaining frosting.
- Beat the frosting again until a deep purple color is completely mixed in.
- Finally, scoop the remaining deep purple buttercream into the last prepared piping bag and secure it with a tie. Pipe on cupcakes and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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