This post is sponsored by Danish Creamery. All opinions are my own and I only share products I personally love. Thanks for supporting the brands that make this site possible! If you like to bake keto (or just healthier) treats, this is an important skill to know: How to make sugar free buttercream frosting! It doesn’t take much to make professional-looking keto buttercream frosting, either… just a few simple, quality ingredients, just one large mixing bowl, and an easy technique. Once you learn this recipe, you’ll be able to add an instant fancy upgrade to all your favorite sugar-free desserts!
What Is Buttercream?
Buttercream is a common type of frosting that uses creamed butter, powdered sugar, and flavoring agents to create a thick and fluffy topping for desserts. While some variations of buttercream use a meringue base with whipped egg whites, American-style buttercream needs no eggs whatsoever. Traditional buttercream recipes are high in carbohydrates because of their sugar content. With the right powdered sweetener, though, it’s easy to make a keto version that tastes like the original!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for sugar free buttercream, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter – The best butter makes the best buttercream — none other will do! This one creates a rich flavor and mouthfeel. Make sure it’s softened at room temperature before you begin.Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – A powdered sweetener keeps the frosting smooth. Besti tastes just like sugar (adding sweetness with no aftertaste), and blends like powdered sugar (so frosting stays grit-free), with 0 net carbs. If you want to use another powdered sweetener, check the sweetener conversion calculator, but many other powdered sugar substitutes don’t dissolve fully.Vanilla Extract – Use a high-quality vanilla for the best flavor.Sea Salt – Balances the flavor to keep frosting from tasting overly sweet. You can’t use salted butter to take its place, as you won’t be able to control how much salt is added.Heavy Cream – Thins out the frosting to reach the right creamy consistency. You can substitute any kind of keto milk here, so if you’re just slightly sensitive to dairy and can tolerate butter but not cream, coconut or almond milk can work instead of the cream.
How To Make Sugar Free Buttercream Frosting
This section shows how to make keto buttercream with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Cream butter and sugar. Using a hand mixer, whip butter and sweetener together in a large bowl, until fluffy and pale yellow. (You can also do this in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.)Add remaining ingredients. Add cream, vanilla, and salt, and continue to beat the mixture at low speed.Whip. Adjust the electric mixer to high speed (or medium-high speed is okay too) and beat frosting for 2-3 minutes, or until fluffy and creamy. If needed, beat in an additional tablespoon of cream at a time until frosting reaches desired consistency.
Tips For The Best Keto Buttercream Frosting
It only takes a few ingredients, but buttercream also needs the right technique! Make it perfect every time with these tips.
Use room temperature ingredients. If butter is too cold, for example, the frosting will be lumpy.Don’t over-beat. Once ingredients are fully incorporated, stop whipping! Over-whipping creates air bubbles and alters the texture.Chill (or don’t). Use room-temperature icing to pipe or spread onto cooled cakes. If you’re in a warm climate, keep final frosted desserts in the refrigerator until serving to avoid melted buttercream.Check for doneness. Press a spatula into your frosting and pull straight up. If it forms a soft curl at the end, it’s the correct thickness.
Sugar Free Buttercream Frosting Recipe Variations
This recipe creates a sugar-free vanilla buttercream frosting that makes the perfect topper for just about any dessert (or just plain on a spoon). If you’re looking for other flavors, try these swaps!
Keto chocolate buttercream frosting – Mix 1/4 cup of cocoa powder with sweetener before adding butter. Taste and add an additional tablespoon at a time as needed.Lemon buttercream frosting – Add zest and juice from 1 lemon at the same time as adding vanilla extract.Strawberry buttercream frosting – Use a blender or food processor to blend up to 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Add to the recipe at the same time as powdered Besti.
Can I make keto buttercream frosting without heavy cream?
Yes, you can replace heavy cream with coconut milk or almond milk, but it will change the final flavor. Start with just a tablespoon, then add more as needed.
Buttercream vs. cream cheese frosting: What’s the difference?
Cream cheese frosting uses a combination of butter and cream cheese to create a fluffy topping, while buttercream relies on butter as the main fat source.
Storage Instructions
Short term: Vanilla frosting on recipes (like cupcakes) can keep at room temperature for up to 2 days (Besti sweetener is a natural preservative, for the short-term).Medium term: If you haven’t used it on a recipe yet, store frosting in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 1-2 weeks.Long term: For storing for longer, you can freeze buttercream! Place in a freezer bag, push out extra air, and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then soften to room temperature before using.
Ways To Use Sugar Free Buttercream
If you have a keto dessert recipe that needs frosting, it will work beautifully with buttercream! Try these:
Cakes – Use sugar free buttercream icing for cake recipes like keto birthday cake, chocolate cake, strawberry lemonade cake… or even a vanilla mug cake!Cupcakes – Pipe buttercream onto keto chocolate cupcakes or keto vanilla cupcakes for a dazzling finish.Cookies – Use it to top sugar cookies, or as a filling for keto macarons and keto oreos.Sugar-Free Sprinkles – The perfect garnish!
More Sugar Free Frosting Recipes
Why stop at buttercream? Use your frosting making skills on these other keto frosting recipes:
Keto Chocolate FrostingKeto Cream Cheese FrostingSugar-Free Vanilla Cupcakes – With a recipe inside for raspberry buttercream!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! Entire recipe makes about 2 1/4 cups, or enough frosting for 12 cupcakes if using 3 tablespoons each. For a cake, double the recipe. The ingredients on the recipe card are for keto vanilla buttercream. For other flavor variations (chocolate, lemon, and strawberry!), see the blog post.
