Favorite Vanilla Buttercream Frosting {With Fairy Cupcake Tutorial}

I made my favorite buttercream frosting recipe for these themed Pirate Fairy cupcakes, whimsical cupcakes, inspired by the Disney movie, “The Pirate Fairy”. This easy frosting recipe is made with butter, milk, powdered sugar, meringue powder, and vanilla and almond extract. So good on all your favorite cake and cupcake recipes!
*This post is sponsored by Disney in their partnership with BlogHer. All opinions are my own.
The Best Buttercream Frosting Recipe

In anticipation of the new Disney Pirate Fairy movie release, my daughter and I created these themed cupcakes to share with her friends. My daughter, Lauren, loves everything to do with fairies and Disney. She even has a little spot in our garden for her garden fairy house and accessories.

There are so many fun ideas to inspire a fairy-themed party. I wanted to do something different than using fondant or plastic toppers to embellish our cupcakes. I found these ornate butterfly clips at my local craft store and knew they would make gorgeous fairy wings for our cupcake toppers!

How To Make Fairy Themed Cupcakes

I detached the wings from the body of the clip, luckily they came out easy without tearing the delicate feathers. Then I used a little hot glue to attach the wings to a white lollipop stick and voila!…a fun and simple cupcake topper. The plastic swords were then added to tie in the pirate theme and, of course, a sprinkling of fairy dust.

Pirate Fairy movie themed cupcakes with butterflies and plastic swords

Cupcake Decorating Ingredients

crafting materials to make Pirate Fairy themed cupcakes

Flower Petal Baking Cups
Butterfly Clips (or any small wings that you find at your local craft store or order butterfly clips on Amazon)
4.5″ lollipop sticks
Candy Fairy Dust
India Tree natural food dyes (if you are coloring your frosting)
Hot glue gun
Small plastic swords (available at most grocery stores)
1 box Golden Butter cake mix or your favorite homemade recipe
1 recipe for Favorite Buttercream Frosting

Decorating Instructions

Gently remove the wings from the butterfly clips. These just pulled right out of the sides, so I didn’t have to cut them.

DIY Butterfly Cupcake Toppers

Butterfly Cupcake Toppers, before assembly

Attach the wings to the top of the lollipop stick with a little hot glue.

Butterfly Cupcake Toppers

Set fairy wing sticks aside and assemble your cupcakes. Using your favorite butter cake recipe (or you can cheat and use Duncan Hines), bake cupcakes then allow them to cool completely. Now prepare the frosting and pipe on cupcakes using a large star tip.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

  • Butter, softened (12 tbsp)
  • Confectioners sugar, sifted
  • Real vanilla extract
  • Almond extract
  • Whole milk
  • Meringue powder

Recipe Steps

Blend butter in a large mixing bowl, in a stand mixer, on medium speed until nice and fluffy. Add vanilla, meringue powder, and almond extract and blend on low until incorporated. Now add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with milk on medium speed, I use my whisk attachment for this, and blend until smooth, creamy and spreadable.

Next, sprinkle cupcakes with candy “fairy” dust, because every fairy cupcake must have a bit of magic. 🙂

Favorite buttercream frosting recipe

Place the swords in the cupcakes and you’re all set!

Pirate Fairy movie themed cupcakes

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Orange Cupcakes with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Key Lime Cupcakes

Smores Cupcakes

Lavender Earl Grey Tea Cupcakes

Favorite buttercream frosting recipe

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

A delicious recipe for homemade buttercream frosting for your favorite cakes and cupcakes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 53kcal
Author: Amee

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 sticks butter softened
  • 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tsp real vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1 tbsp meringue powder
  • 3-4 tbsp whole milk more or less to get your desired creaminess

Instructions

  • Blend butter in a large mixing bowl, in a stand mixer, on medium speed until nice and fluffy
  • Add vanilla, meringue powder and almond extract and blend on low until incorporated
  • Now add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with milk on medium speed, I use my whisk attachment for this, and blend until smooth, creamy and spreadable.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Calcium: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @ameecooks or tag #ameecooks!
Amee Livingston
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