Root Beer Buttercream Frosting Recipe: A Delicious Twist on an Old-Fashioned Favorite

Rich, creamy Root Beer Buttercream Frosting for cupcakes & cakes—easy to make, packed with nostalgic root beer float flavor.

Craving a frosting that captures the nostalgic flavor of a root beer float? This Root Beer Buttercream Frosting is exactly what you need. With its creamy texture and rich root beer flavor, it’s a perfect addition to cupcakes, cakes, or any dessert you want to elevate with a sweet, retro twist.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

On a whim, while chatting with Charlotte The Great about her younger days, she reminisced about working at the “Float Counter” in a small-town pharmacy, serving soldiers Peanut Butter and Pickle sandwiches alongside Root Beer Floats. Inspired by her stories, we decided to bake root beer cupcakes and topped them with the smoothest, most delicious Root Beer Buttercream Frosting.

The result? Moist root beer cupcakes with just the right amount of flavor, crowned with a frosting that was literally “the icing on the cake.” It was the perfect combination—bringing back memories of those classic root beer floats without overwhelming the palate.

Fun Fact: The Origin of the Root Beer Float

Did you know? The root beer float was created on August 19, 1893, by J. Wisner, the owner of Cripple Creek Brewing in Colorado. He was inspired by the snowy peaks of Cow Mountain, which reminded him of ice cream floating in soda.

The Perfect Root Beer Buttercream Frosting

This frosting is everything you love about root beer floats, minus the fizz and bubbles. The rich flavor of root beer concentrate blends beautifully with the creaminess of the buttercream, making it an irresistible topping for any dessert.

Recipe Details

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: None
• Total time: 10 minutes
• Servings: Frosts 12–15 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks (1 cup) of butter (use real butter, not margarine)
• 5 cups of powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract — Buy it here
• 1 tablespoon of root beer concentrate — Get it here

Instructions:

1. Cream the butter in a mixer until it’s smooth and fluffy.
2. Slowly add the powdered sugar. The mixture will start off crumbly and dry.
3. Gradually add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and root beer concentrate while continuing to mix.
4. Mix until the frosting is fluffy and smooth.

Expert Tips:

• For a fun twist: Use an ice cream scoop to dollop the frosting onto cupcakes—it looks like a scoop of ice cream!
• Decorate: Add chocolate sprinkles and mini cookies for flair and fun.

FAQs:

Q: Can I use margarine instead of butter?
A: No. For best texture and flavor, use real butter.

Q: Can I store this frosting?
A: Yes! Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Bring to room temperature and re-whip before using.

Try This Recipe Today!

Ready to create your own delicious Root Beer Buttercream Frosting? Grab the ingredients and start whipping up this nostalgic treat. For more recipes, check out my cookbook: The How-To Cookbook for Teens.

What is American Buttercream?

This Root Beer Buttercream is an American Buttercream—simple, sweet, and fluffy. Other types of buttercream include:

• Meringue-based Buttercream
• French Buttercream
• Custard-based Buttercream
• Rolled Buttercream

American Buttercream uses a 2:1 sugar-to-fat ratio. Use high-quality butter like Plugra or Land O’Lakes Unsalted for best results.

More Frosting Recipes to Try:

• Easy Strawberry Frosting
• Margarita Frosting
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Frosting
• Pineapple Frosting
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting
• Orange Dreamsicle Frosting
• Pink Champagne Buttercream

Frosting Tutorials:

• How to Do a Basket Weave
• How to Fill a Cake
• How to Crumb Coat a Cake