Whipped Sour Cream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients!)

Name: Whipped Sour Cream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients!)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter; ⅓ cup full-fat sour cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 4 ½ cups powdered sugar

By Marley Goldin

on March 9, 2026

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This sour cream frosting is light and airy, with a super-subtle tang that balances it beautifully for just the right amount of sweetness and a uniquely silky whipped texture. Perfect for the baker who finds classic buttercream overly sweet but doesn't want the acidity of a cream cheese frosting.

This sour cream frosting is light and airy, with the perfect amount of tang to offset the otherwise very sweet icing, making it uniquely delicious.

Whipping up an easy homemade frosting is hands-down my favorite way to elevate a store-bought or made-from-mix cake and make it my own (while you’re at it, see my hacks for How to Elevate Boxed Cake Mix!). This is one of my favorite alternatives to a classic buttercream which I often find too sweet and greasy.

Because as a busy mom who doesn’t want to settle for subpar desserts, I love a quick and easy recipe like this one that can easily elevate your bakes with minimal effort. This sour cream icing takes just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to make!

Two-tiered cupcake display with vanilla cupcakes with a generous amount of sour cream frosting piped on each. — I love making frosting with sour cream not only for the texture and flavor, but also because it makes for a truer white color that is vibrant and striking on its own but can also easily and readily be transformed into a vibrant color with food coloring.

Sour Cream Frosting Ingredients

This frosting is made up of both butter and sour cream. I recommend full fat sour cream here. I usually go with unsalted butter but if you like salty sweets, you can absolutely use salted butter.

Make sure the butter is softened. (See How to Quickly and Easily Soften Butter for help). Preferably, your sour cream will be at room temperature.

Vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste work interchangeably here.

Everything you need to make Sour Cream Frosting including butter, sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. — You only need 4 ingredients to make decadent homemade frosting: butter, sour cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar!

Buttercream with Sour Cream Tips and Tricks

How to Make Sour Cream Frosting

Add the softened butter, sour cream, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl and use a hand (my preference) or stand mixer on high to combine. Whip until the ingredients are well-combined and airy. It should look almost fluffy.

Then, add some powdered sugar. I usually start by adding 1 cup, whip that in, and then continue to add powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, mixing in between, assessing the consistency. I’m usually happy with the texture after adding 4- 4½ cups of sugar.

If you accidentally add too much powdered sugar and make it too thick, you can always thin it out with some cream or milk.

Sour cream, butter, and vanilla extract whipped together to show the process of making sour cream frosting. — Whip together the butter, sour cream, and vanilla until it’s well-combined and aerated.

Freshly made 4-ingredient sour cream frosting in a large mixing bowl. — Add the powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, whipping in between, until you’re happy with the consistency.

How to Serve and Store Sour Cream Icing

This sour cream frosting completes cupcakes, cakes, cookies, brownies, and so much more! It really is versatile and pairs wonderfully with any dessert.

It can be spread or piped easily and is nice and stable.

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, frosting with sour cream will last for about 5-7 days.

You can leave it at room temperature for about 2 hours. So, if you’re making this ahead of time, make sure you refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve!

You can also freeze this frosting for up to 6 months in a freezer safe bag. Just allow it to thaw naturally in the fridge overnight or for a few hours at room temperature before you spread or pipe it.

Vanilla cupcake with light and airy frosting made with sour cream with a bite taken out of it. — The sour cream in the frosting gives it an extra light and airy texture and avoids that sometimes greasy, coat-your-teeth mouthfeel you can get from classic buttercream.

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