Name: Candy Cane Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Stand mixer; Measuring Cups and Spoons; Mixing Bowls; Silicone Spatula; 1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened; 3 cup powdered sugar; 3-5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons peppermint extract; 2 cup crushed peppermint candy

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Keep this Candy Cane Frosting recipe handy this holiday season to add a little bit of extra cheer to your brownies, cookies, and cakes!

candy cane frosting on brownies stacked on a white plate

Make Brownies With Candy Cane Frosting
Do You Need To Refrigerate Buttercream Frosting?
How To Make The Best Buttercream Frosting
How To Thicken Buttercream Frosting
Does Buttercream Frosting Need to be Refrigerated?
How Long Does Buttercream Frosting Last?
What Can I Use Buttercream Candy Cane Frosting For?
Supplies Used To Make Frosting
Can You Freeze Candy Cane Buttercream Frosting?

This Candy Cane Frosting is a sweet, minty and smooth buttercream frosting.

Use it to top sugar cookies, cakes, brownies and more.

It adds a little extra flavor and holiday cheer to any dessert.

Make Brownies With Candy Cane Frosting

One of my favorite things to make is brownies with candy cane frosting. All you need to do is make your favorite brownies (box or from scratch!), let them cool, and top with this tasty frosting. You can do the same with any cakes or cookies too.

Candy Cane Frosting is so easy to make too. All you need is a few ingredients and to mix the buttercream frosting with a hand mixer. The directions below do call for a stand mixer but you can achieve the same results with a hand mixer.

Do You Need To Refrigerate Buttercream Frosting?

A lot of people wonder can buttercream frosting be left out. The answer is yes...and no. Some varieties of buttercream frosting contain egg yolks and they should always be refrigerated.

This peppermint frosting with candy canes and other varieties of buttercream frosting without egg do not need to be refrigerated. However, buttercream frosting does last significantly longer when refrigerated, up to two weeks.

You should also take care to keep the frosting out of the heat as it will melt.

How To Make The Best Buttercream Frosting

It is so easy to make this delicious candy cane buttercream frosting! Just beat together the butter, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream and peppermint extract.

You'll want continue beating this peppermint frosting recipe until it's light and creamy and stiff peaks have formed.

Once the peppermint frosting has reached the desired consistency, stir in crushed candy canes.

How To Thicken Buttercream Frosting

There are various ways to thicken buttercream frosting. It will naturally thicken when chilled, so if it's close to the consistency you want, you can just pop it into the fridge.

You can also add additional powdered sugar to thicken the frosting while mixing it, to reach the desired consistency.

Does Buttercream Frosting Need to be Refrigerated?

Buttercream frosting does not necessarily need to be refrigerated but it does last longer when refrigerated and it will melt if left in the heat.

When making small batch buttercream frosting, if using it immediately there's no need to refrigerate.

How Long Does Buttercream Frosting Last?

In the refrigerated, buttercream frosting can last up to 2 weeks. In the freezer, you can store buttercream frosting for up to two months.

What Can I Use Buttercream Candy Cane Frosting For?

Buttercream frosting can be used in so many ways! This Candy Cane Frosting is ideal sugar cookie buttercream frosting. Sweet and minty delight wrapped up in one!

You can also make frosted peppermint brownies (yum!) or use buttercream frosting for cookies.

Supplies Used To Make Frosting

Stand mixer | This stand mixer is used for SO many things. From our Instant Pot French Bread to cookies, to mixing up a cake for the holidays...our KitchenAid mixer gets a workout.
Peppermint extract| Extracts are such an easy way to mix up the flavors used for cakes, cookies, and more.
Peppermint candy| This crushed peppermint candy saves time from having to crush up pieces of peppermint or candy canes. Game changer.

Can You Freeze Candy Cane Buttercream Frosting?

Yes, you can freeze buttercream frosting. It will last in the freezer for up to two months. I love to make Christmas cookie frosting in one big batch around Thanksgiving to have it on hand throughout the season.

If you prefer buttercream frosting for brownies or other desserts, it's also helpful to keep some in the freezer for all occassions.

You could also use this peppermint frosting on our fabulously festive Red, White and Blue 4th of July Cake. Just reserve the crushed peppermint candy and add in food coloring to make a peppermint flavored frosting. Alternatively, you could mix things up and use almond extract instead of the peppermint. Yum!