Coconut buttercream frosting recipe made with classic ingredients, with the addition of coconut cream & coconut emulsion! Lovely coconut flavor in a perfectly light & creamy buttercream frosting recipe perfect for just about any baked goods.
Coconut is a wonderful flavor that pairs well with so many things from pineapple to pecans, carrot cake, and lime. No matter the occasion or cake underneath, this coconut cream buttercream is sure to be a wonderful surprise to pair with it.
What is buttercream?
Buttercream frosting is a common frosting used in bakeries and at home where the main ingredients are butter and powdered sugar. Blended together and made thick enough to spread on cakes and pipe with frosting tips, buttercream is a favorite of many. This coconut version, however, is a wonderful spin on that traditional frosting. Using coconut cream and coconut extract we really pack a lot of flavor without changing the texture.
Coconut buttercream ingredients
-Butter: The base of the buttercream is ½ cup of softened butter but you could swap it out for shortening for a less rich but dairy-free alternative.
-Vanilla: To help give us a good base for our flavors to branch off of, add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
-Coconut extract: You will need to use 2 teaspoons of coconut extract or coconut emulsion to get a good strong flavor. Coconut extract can be used, but I highly recommend getting coconut emulsion as the flavor is so much better!
-Cream of coconut: You only need about 2 tablespoons of this but it will help to add amazing coconut flavor to the frosting.
-Powdered sugar: We will need 4 cups of powdered sugar to get a good smooth and sweet texture.
What is Cream of Coconut?
Cream of Coconut is a very sweet, thick syrup made from coconut milk. It’s often found in the mixed drink section of the grocery store, as it’s most often used in Pina Colada’s and other fun, fruity drinks.
Can I use Coconut Cream?
Unlike Cream of Coconut, Coconut Cream is NOT SWEETENED. It’s sold in cans that, when opened, you can see a top layer of cream that’s often separated. You can use this in the frosting, but know that you might have to add more powdered sugar. I also suggest using a whisk to quickly incorporate the 2 layers. Then just measure out the 2 TBSP and go from there!
How to make coconut buttercream
In a large bowl, cream together the butter until it is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add in the vanilla extract, coconut extract, and cream of coconut. Whip the mixture together for 2 minutes.
Add in the powdered sugar and then beat for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Add in ¼-½ cup of powdered sugar or 2 teaspoons more of the cream of coconut until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Use frosting as you’d like! It’s amazing on sugar cookies, cake recipes, even on graham crackers! Enjoy!
Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp coconut extract/ emulsion
- 2 TBSP cream of coconut
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Cream the butter until it is light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract, coconut extract & cream of coconut. Whip for 2 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar and continue to beat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 1/4-1/2 cup more powdered sugar or 2 tsp of cream of coconut until you’ve reached a consistency ideal for whatever baked goods you’re frosting. If you’re frosting cupcakes, a slightly thicker frosting is better because they hold their shape. However if you’re frosting a cake, I’d add more cream of coconut, so that you can spread the frosting well.
- Use frosting as you'd like! It's amazing on sugar cookies, simple cakes, even brownies!
Nutrition
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How long is coconut buttercream good for in the fridge?
This frosting can be made and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Do you have to refrigerate cakes with coconut buttercream on them?
No, you can store the cakes at room temperature for up to 3 days if desired. But the cake should be well covered and the room temperature shouldn’t be too warm or the frosting can melt.
Storing it in the fridge is easy. Simply place it in the fridge uncovered for about 30 minutes for the frosting to chill and then cover with plastic wrap and continue to chill until eaten. This will help to prevent the plastic wrap from ruining too much of your hard work if you piped nice designs.
More wonderful frosting recipes to try soon
- CREAM CHEESE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
- RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- BEST STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- MARSHMALLOW BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Need more coconut recipes? We’ve Got them!
- COCONUT CHEESECAKE BARS
- COCONUT MACADAMIA NUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
- COCONUT RICE
- CHOCOLATE CHIP COCONUT PIE
- GRILLED PINEAPPLE WITH COCONUT GLAZE
- SWEET COCONUT BREAD RECIPE
- COCONUT CHICKEN CURRY {VIDEO INCLUDED!}
- WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM {DAIRY-FREE}
This coconut buttercream recipe is one you won’t soon forget. Share it with friends on your holiday baked goods and you know everyone won’t stop raving about them!
Coconut buttercream frosting recipe made with classic ingredients, with the addition of coconut cream & coconut emulsion! Lovely coconut flavor in a perfectly light & creamy buttercream frosting recipe perfect for just about any baked goods.
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