Vanilla Maple Espresso Buttercream

Sep 2, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Extract Easy

Cupcakes piped with vanilla maple espresso buttercream

This buttercream is smooth, fluffy, and easy to spread or pipe. Espresso adds flavor and texture. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works.

Prep 15 min

Cook —

Total 15 min

Servings 24

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.0 cup (227.0 g)unsalted butter, softened
4.0 cups (454.0 g)confectioners' sugar
2.0 tsp (10.0 ml)heavy cream
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
1 ½ tsp (7.5 ml)VanillaGoods vanilla extract
¼ cup (78.0 g)pure maple syrup, preferably dark robust

Flavor Accent

1 ½ tsp (4.5 g)instant espresso powder

Make it at home

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Instructions

Beat the softened butter on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth and slightly lighter in color.
Add the confectioners' sugar in three additions on low speed, mixing each addition in before adding the next. Start slowly so the sugar stays in the bowl.
Add the vanilla, salt, maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon of the cream. Beat on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the instant espresso powder until evenly dispersed. The buttercream should look smooth and fluffy and hold soft ridges from the beater.
Beat in the remaining cream only if needed, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the frosting is spreadable or pipeable. For piping, stop while the frosting still holds a clean peak.

Tips

Vanilla bean paste swaps 1:1 for the extract and adds visible vanilla seeds; for a whole bean, use the seeds of 1 bean in place of 2 teaspoons of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla maple espresso buttercream?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep. It makes 3 cups.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Vanilla bean paste swaps 1:1 for the extract and adds visible vanilla seeds; for a whole bean, use the seeds of 1 bean in place of 2 teaspoons of extract.

This buttercream is smooth, fluffy, and easy to spread or pipe. Espresso adds flavor and texture. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

152 Calories / serving

7.8g Fat

21.2g Carbs

0.1g Protein

20.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~3648 cal · 187g fat · 509g carbs · 2g protein · 492g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 152 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 29 min·1.7 mi·~3400 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 21 min·1.1 mi·~2100 steps
Moderate cycling 15 min·3.0 mi
Swimming laps 21 min
Jogging 15 min·1.3 mi·~2400 steps
Stair climbing 14 min·~1250 steps
Dancing 25 min
Bodyweight circuit training 15 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 35 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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