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    Home » Recipes » Christmas

    Sour Cream Frosting

    April 7, 2025 by Amee Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Sour Cream Frosting is a delicious twist on a traditional buttercream! Perfect for cakes, cookies, brownies...you name it!

    Small white bowl filled with Sour Cream Frosting with cookies in the background.

    This post may contain affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I’ll never link to anything I don’t use and love! Click here for full disclosure and privacy policy.

    This Sour Cream Frosting has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy! This versatile frosting pairs beautifully with everything from rich chocolate to delicate fruit and floral flavors.

    If you enjoy this recipe, check out the posts for my Blueberry Buttercream, Buttermilk Frosting, and Sour Cream Cookies!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Other Recipes You May Like
    • Sour Cream Frosting
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    With some fridge and pantry staples, you'll be whipping up this frosting in no time! Measurements for each of the ingredients are included in the recipe card, below.

    Top view of Sour Cream Frosting ingredients on a white background.
    • Unsalted Butter - The base of your frosting! Unsalted butter so that you control the amount of salt in the recipe. You want the butter to be at room temperature.
    • Sour Cream - For flavor and richness. You want your sour cream to be at room temperature.
    • Powdered Sugar - For sweetness, and because it dissolves completely, giving your buttercream a smooth, creamy texture. I sift my powdered sugar to ensure there are no lumps in the frosting.
    • Vanilla Bean Paste - For flavor and lovely vanilla bean flecks in your frosting! If you prefer to substitute, you can use an equal measure of vanilla extract.
    • Salt - To balance and enhance the flavors of the frosting.
     
    Top view of bowl of Sour Cream Frosting.

    Instructions

    Here's what you need to do to make this delicious frosting, step by step! More detailed instructions are included in the recipe card, below.

    • Beat the butter until smooth. Add the sour cream and mix to combine.
    • Gradually add powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. Add the vanilla bean paste and salt and mix to combine. **See recipe card, below, for full instructions.**

    Variations

    This frosting, while completely delicious as written here, can be treated as a blank canvas for whatever flavor you're craving! Here are a few examples:

    • Add some spice - This frosting would be lovely with some cinnamon or cardamom!
    • Experiment with extracts - Change up the flavor by adding different extracts instead of (or in addition to) the vanilla bean paste! Almond extract would be a fantastic addition!
    • Get zesty - Add some lemon, lime, orange, or even grapefruit zest to the frosting for a citrus flair!
    Sour Cream Cookies stacked, the top cookie frosted with sour cream frosting.

    Storage

    If not using the frosting immediately, place it in an airtight container and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. You'll have to take the frosting out of the fridge to warm up for it to be a spreadable consistency.

    For longer storage, the frosting will keep for up to three months in an airtight container in the freezer. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then allow to warm at room temperature until it's a consistency you can work with. If necessary, the frosting can be re-whipped to a smooth consistency.

    Other Recipes You May Like

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Closeup of four Lemon Sugar Cookies on a white plate with white and yellow twine tied in a bow around them.
      Lemon Sugar Cookies
    • Three Buttermilk Cookies on a white plate, one with a bite missing.
      Buttermilk Cookies
    • Closeup of Brown Butter Sugar Cookie with bite missing, with more cookies stacked in the background.
      Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
    • Raspberry Cookies stacked on a white plate with fresh raspberries, one cookie with a bite missing.
      Raspberry Cookies
    Small white bowl filled with Sour Cream Frosting with cookies in the background.

    Sour Cream Frosting

    Amee
    This Sour Cream Frosting has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy! This versatile frosting pairs beautifully with everything from rich chocolate to delicate fruit and floral flavors.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 Tablespoons (1.5 cups)
    Calories 78 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you bake!

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • ¼ cup sour cream, at room temperature
    • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (see note)
    • pinch salt

    Instructions
     

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
      ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • Add the sour cream and mix to combine. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. Add the vanilla bean paste (see note) and salt and mix to combine.
      2 cups powdered sugar, sifted, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, ¼ cup sour cream, at room temperature, pinch salt
    • If not using the frosting immediately, place it in an airtight container and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. You'll have to take the frosting out of the fridge to warm up for it to be a spreadable consistency.
      For longer storage, the frosting will keep for up to three months in an airtight container in the freezer. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then allow to warm at room temperature until it's a consistency you can work with. If necessary, the frosting can be re-whipped to a smooth consistency.
      Enjoy!

    Notes

    Note on vanilla bean paste: I love the flavor of vanilla bean paste, and the beautiful flecks of vanilla bean it leaves in the frosting! If you don't have vanilla bean paste or prefer not to use it, you can use an equal measure of vanilla extract.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 1 TablespoonCalories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0.1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 1mgPotassium: 4mgSugar: 10gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.01mg

    Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate.

    Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear all about it! Leave a review below, then snap a pic and tag me on Instagram!
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    More Christmas Recipes from Scratch

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      Lemon White Chocolate Cookies
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      Lemon Blueberry Cookies
    • Three Sour Cream Cookies on a white fluted plate, one with a bite missing.
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    • Chocolate Marshmallows in a white mug of hot chocolate on a white saucer with a silver spoon in the foreground.
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    I'm the baking blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Live to Sweet. Here you'll find desserts made from scratch that are often unique, and always delicious! 

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