Check out this recipe for how to make easy vanilla frosting without powdered sugar!
I couldn’t believe you could make frosting without powdered sugar! With a few simple ingredients, you can make this creamy frosting recipe is everyone’s favorite. It’s like whipped buttercream frosting—so light and fluffy.
I discovered this recipe for flour frosting when I made a cake but didn’t have powdered sugar. I was shocked that I could make vanilla frosting without powdered sugar—and it was so good! It’s the perfect light and fluffy buttercream frosting for your next cake!
I have made a lot of cakes in the past few months. My kids’ birthdays are pretty close. When we have a party, I usually like to make two different cakes with two different frostings. I also like to mix it up and make some kind of frosted cupcake or cake for the party.
When we have a birthday party, I make two cakes: one that the kids want me to decorate for them (like a princess cake or Minecraft cupcakes) and the other that is the opposite flavor so all my guests will be happy.
How To Make Icing Without Powdered Sugar:
This fluffy frosting is good on vanilla cupcakes but better on a chocolate cake. It reminds me of the filling of a ding dong – it’s a very whipped frosting recipe.
I had someone comment that this was the original recipe to frost a red velvet cake until they discovered it also tasted delicious with regular cream cheese frosting
Tips to make this easy recipe for the best frosting without confectioners sugar:
- It only has 1 cup of sugar, which is a lot less than you normally use when making the icing. Most vanilla buttercream frosting recipes need 8 cups of confectioners’ sugar.
- For this recipe, you will need a stand mixer (or electric mixer) and a medium-sized saucepan. I would not recommend using a hand mixer, but it’s possible—it’s just a lot of mixing!
- This recipe will cover one cake in a 9×13 pan and 24 cupcakes. I haven’t tried it on a layer cake using 8—or 9-inch cake pans, but I think it could work if you use thin layers.
- This is not a good recipe if you want to use a piping bag.
- This recipe has a lot of mixing time, so make sure you have plenty of time to keep stirring it to get the best vanilla frosting recipe.
- The spreadable consistency is more like a cross between a typical buttercream frosting and a whipped icing.
Fluffy Vanilla Icing – Delicious Frosting
- 1 cup milk (you could use any kind of milk 2%, whole milk, or heavy cream)
- 5 Tablespoons of flour (yeah, you think I am crazy 🙂 – but it works!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (pure vanilla extract if you have it)
- 1 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks) You need real butter!
- 1 cup of sugar (granulated sugar, white sugar)
Instructions for Homemade Icing Without Powdered Sugar
In a small saucepan, whisk together the flour and milk. Heat over medium heat and constantly stir. It will turn into a thick paste—so thick that you almost can’t stir it. (It’s almost like a peanut butter consistency.)
Remove the milk mixture from the heat and add the vanilla. Let it cool completely before you mix it with the butter and sugar mixture. (The best way to do this is to place it in the freezer.)
You will want a stand mixer for the next part. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed with the whisk attachment until the sugar dissolves. I will say that I have done this for about 8 minutes, and the sugar doesn’t seem to dissolve. But don’t worry – it will dissolve a little bit after you frost the cupcakes.
The mixture may start to look white and fluffy. If the sugar still hasn’t dissolved, and if the milk and flour mixture is cool, add it to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat it for a few more minutes and it should start to look fluffy – almost like cool whip. Taste it and you will be amazed! ( I have heard that the mixture may separate, and this is normal – just keep beating.
You will not believe how delicious and fluffy this frosting is! It makes about 5 cups of frosting.
I discovered this recipe when I made a cake, but I didn’t have powdered sugar. The first time I made this I was shocked that I could make vanilla frosting without powdered sugar…and it was so good! Try it and let me know what you think!
The next time I make this recipe, I would love to try to add a little cocoa powder to make a chocolate version of this recipe.
I discovered this recipe when I made a cake, but I didn’t have powdered sugar. The first time I made this I was shocked that I could make vanilla frosting without powdered sugar…and it was so good! Try it and let me know what you think!
Here are some of my favorite cake recipes and icing recipes:
- Chocolate cupcakes or cake recipe
- American Buttercream
- Swiss meringue buttercream
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Sweetened Condensed Milk Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Vanilla Frosting Without Powdered Sugar

Make this Vanilla Frosting Without Powdered Sugar the next time you make a cake or cupcakes. It's so light and fluffy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (you could use any kind of milk 2% or whole milk)
- 5 Tablespoons of flour (yeah you think I am crazy 🙂
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 cup of sugar (granulated sugar)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan whisk together the flour and milk. Heat over medium heat and constantly stir. It will start to thicken - so much you that you almost can't stir it.
- Remove the milk mixture from the heat and add the vanilla. Let it cool completely before you mix it with the butter and sugar mixture. (The best way to do this is to place it in the freezer.)
- You will want a stand mixer for the next part. In a bowl beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed with the whisk attachment until the sugar dissolves. I have done this for about 8 minutes and the sugar doesn't seem to dissolve. But don't worry - it will dissolve a little bit after you frost the cupcakes.
- The mixture may start to look white and fluffy. If the sugar still hasn't dissolved, and if the milk and flour mixture is cool, add it to the butter and sugar mixture.
- Beat it for a few more minutes and it should start to look fluffy - almost like cool whip. Taste it and you will be amazed! ( I have heard that the mixture may separate and this is normal - just keep beating 🙂
Sydney
Thursday 12th of December 2024
How long did the whisking of the flour and milk take?
Janell
Friday 13th of December 2024
It does take some time. It's been a while since I made this but I remember it felt like several minutes. I will make this again soon and update it.
Ashley
Monday 25th of November 2024
This worked! I got a little risky and actually dissolved the sugar in first with the butter. Took away the majority of the graininess before even mixing. Will definitely use again.
Joe
Tuesday 3rd of September 2024
Hi Jenell, this is a Game Changer!!
My girls are gluten free and cannot have cane sugar. I substituted with coconut milk, gluten free flour and maple sugar. And BAMM!!... So delicious.
Thankyou!
Janell
Friday 6th of September 2024
Im so happy that this worked for you!! It's a really good frosting and your ingredients sound delicious!
Failed it
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
So,let me first start by saying I have VERY little baking experience. I tried to make this without the stand mixer cause I don't have one and the flavour is good but there are still lumps of flour. I don't know the difference between the mixing attachments that came with the device and whisking attachments. Idk about anything other than I failed lol.
Janell
Wednesday 27th of December 2023
This can be a difficult recipe if you dont have a stand mixer to get the lumps out. Im so sorry it didnt work out for you :)
barbg
Sunday 1st of October 2023
Looks good, my grandma used to make this frosting a lot but she used Crisco shortening instead of butter. Then the frosting will not break on you because of the butter. I'm going to try it using splenda because I'm diabetic and I miss my frosting!
Janell
Friday 13th of October 2023
Good idea!