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.

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
- 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.
- Step 2: Add the vanilla extract and mix briefly to combine.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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

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.
PrintNeapolitan 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.
- 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
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
- 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.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the whipped butter and mix briefly to incorporate the flavor evenly.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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

