Skip to main content

Vanilla Agave Buttercream

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Home Decor Bowl and Pottery
Photo by Chelsea Kyle

This is my favorite frosting. It’s a real buttercream, rich and creamy, but not too sweet. It’s great on any cake or cupcake.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 2 cups (frosts one 9-inch layer cake)

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 tablespoons light agave nectar
1 cup nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons whole milk
Pinch of sea salt

Preparation

  1. Cream the butter with an electric mixer until light in color. Slowly add the agave nectar and beat until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the dry milk and beat again. Add the vanilla extract and the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until completely blended. Add the salt, turn the mixer to high speed, and beat about 2 minutes, or until very fluffy. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Reprinted with permission from Baking with Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener by Ania Catalano. Copyright © 2008 by Ania Catalano; photography © 2008 by Lara Hata. Published by Celestial Arts, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. Ania Catalano is a graduate of the Natural Gourmet School of Cooking in New York and the owner of the Gourmet Whole Foods Catering and Cooking School in Milford, Connecticut.
Read More
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like Greek lemon potatoes and gochujang chicken stir-fry.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
You don’t need melted chocolate to make a good brownie