Neapolitan Rose Cake Recipe

Introduction

The Neapolitan Rose Cake frosting is a luscious, creamy buttercream perfect for creating elegant rose designs on cakes. With a rich vanilla flavor and silky texture, it’s ideal for impressing guests or celebrating special occasions.

A three-layer cake with each layer decorated with large, thick rosette swirls of frosting. The bottom layer is dark brown, looking like chocolate frosting with a rich, smooth texture. The middle layer is a soft pink with fluffy, creamy swirls. The top layer is white and creamy, also with thick, delicate rose-shaped swirls. The cake sits on a white marbled surface and is placed on a clear glass cake plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 32 ounces confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk, up to ½ cup
  • Pinch kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Beat the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Add the vanilla extract and mix briefly to combine.
  3. Step 3: With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, and salt, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl frequently to ensure everything is well incorporated.
  4. Step 4: Once combined, whip the frosting on medium-high to high speed for at least 3 minutes (up to 7 minutes) to achieve a smooth, fluffy texture.
  5. Step 5: If the frosting is too thick to spread easily, gradually add additional milk a little at a time while beating until the desired consistency is reached.

Tips & Variations

  • For a different flavor, substitute vanilla extract with almond or lemon extract.
  • Use gel food coloring to tint the frosting without altering its texture for beautiful rose colors.
  • If your buttercream is too soft, chill it briefly in the refrigerator and then re-whip before decorating.

Storage

Store any leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Before using, bring it to room temperature and re-whip briefly to restore its creamy texture. You can also freeze it for up to three months; thaw overnight in the fridge before re-whipping.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of a three-layer cake with each layer decorated with thick, swirled frosting that looks like roses. The bottom layer is dark brown, the middle layer is pink, and the top layer is creamy white. Each frosting rose is tightly placed side by side, covering the entire layer. The cake sits on a clear glass stand on a white marbled surface. A woman's hand lightly touches the top right edge of the cake. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

While unsalted butter is recommended to control the salt level, you can use salted butter if that’s what you have. Just omit or reduce the extra kosher salt in the recipe.

How do I fix frosting that is too runny?

If your frosting is too thin, add more sifted confectioners’ sugar a little at a time while beating until you reach the right consistency.

Print

Neapolitan Rose Cake Recipe

This Neapolitan Rose Cake frosting recipe yields a smooth, creamy vanilla buttercream perfect for decorating cakes with beautiful rose patterns. Made with unsalted butter, pure vanilla extract, confectioners’ sugar, and milk, this frosting is light, fluffy, and easy to spread or pipe for elegant cake designs.

  • Author: Naya
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Enough frosting to ice a 9-inch two-layer cake
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Frosting Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 32 ounces confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk, up to ½ cup
  • Pinch kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Beat Butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the softened unsalted butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This aerates the butter and makes for a smooth base.
  2. Add Vanilla Extract: Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the whipped butter and mix briefly to incorporate the flavor evenly.
  3. Add Sugar, Milk, and Salt: Turn the mixer speed to low and slowly add the sifted 32 ounces of confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoons of whole milk (adding up to ½ cup if needed), and a pinch of kosher salt. Frequently scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
  4. Whip Frosting: Once all ingredients are combined, increase the mixer speed to medium-high or high and whip the frosting for at least 3 minutes to achieve a fluffy and creamy texture. The author whipped for 7 minutes to reach optimal consistency.
  5. Adjust Consistency: If the frosting is too thick to spread or pipe, gradually add more milk, a teaspoon at a time, beating well after each addition until the desired spreading consistency is reached.

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy whipping and smooth frosting.
  • Sifting the confectioners’ sugar prevents lumps and ensures a smoother texture.
  • Add milk gradually to control frosting consistency precisely; too much can make frosting runny.
  • Whip longer for extra light and fluffy texture suitable for piping detailed rose designs.
  • Use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment for best aeration and consistency.

Keywords: Vanilla buttercream, rose cake frosting, cake frosting recipe, buttercream frosting, cake decorating, easy vanilla frosting

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