This mint frosting recipe is a simple buttercream frosting that is perfect for cupcakes and cakes! Using only 4 ingredients and one bowl, you can whip up a batch in 10 minutes so try this easy and delicious frosting today! Plus, you can easily add chocolate chips for mint chocolate chip frosting!
Mint Frosting is such a fun and unique frosting! With a delicious minty flavor you can also add green food coloring, making it a fun frosting for St. Patrick’s Day or Christmas!
Plus, since it’s an American buttercream frosting, it only uses 5 ingredients and one bowl, so you can whip up a batch in less than 10 minutes! It pairs perfectly with chocolate cake or as a fun filling for macarons. And, you can add chocolate chips for a mint chocolate chip twist on this easy frosting.
Ingredients
- Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter. If using unsalted, you can add a pinch of salt to help cut the sweetness.
- Powdered Sugar: If the powdered sugar is old or has visible lumps, be sure to sift it first.
- Mint Extract: you can use your favorite mint extract! I personally prefer peppermint for a delicious peppermint buttercream.
- Milk or Cream: This thins the frosting so either works fine.
- Green Food Coloring (optional): I personally prefer gel food coloring for a vibrant color.
- Chopped Chocolate (optional): You can use chocolate chunks, mini chocolate chips, or chopped up chocolate bars for a mint chocolate chip frosting.
How to Make Mint Buttercream Frosting
- Cream the softened butter for a good 3-5 minutes in a standing mixer or with a hand mixer in a large bowl. This makes it light, pale, and fluffy.
- Then, you add the powdered sugar and mix on low until it starts to incorporate.
- After it starts to turn to a crumbly mixture, turn to medium to medium high and mix for another 3-5 minutes.
- After you’re done mixing, add your extract, and milk or cream. If you want green frosting, also add one or two drops green food coloring. Remix for another minute and that’s it! It’s ready to pipe onto cake, cupcakes, or fill sandwich cookies.
Mint chocoalte chip frosting
For a fun variation, you can add chopped chocolate to make mint chocolate chip buttercream. After you’ve made the mint frosting, mix in one 3.5 oz bar of your favorite chocolate, roughly chopped, or ¾ cup mini chocolate chips.
Piping Mint Chocolate Chip Frosting
Because this buttercream is full of chocolate chunks, you’re not able to pipe the frosting as you would a normal buttercream frosting as the chocolate gets stuck in the piping tips.
This cookie dough frosting has same issue and a lot of readers piped the base frosting and added the chocolate after, which still gives the same flavor profile and looks great.
Tips for Making Mint Frosting
- A little mint extract goes a long way. ½ tsp gives it a pretty strong mint flavor. I think a ½ tsp is good for this recipe but you can even start with ¼ tsp and try it. If you think it needs more, add the other ¼ tsp.
- If your powdered sugar is old or has lumps, be sure to sift before adding to the butter.
- After adding the powdered sugar, be sure to start mixing on low so your powdered sugar doesn’t fly everywhere and make a mess. Once it’s incorporated you can turn the mixer higher.
- For the Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream, you can not pipe with a piping bag as the chocolate chunks clogs the piping tips. You can still spread the frosting with a knife, or add the chocolate chunks after piping, but my favorite is to use an ice cream scoop to scoop the frosting on chocolate cupcakes. So cute!
Uses for Mint Frosting
In addition to using on cakes and cupcakes, this is a delicious frosting for filling macarons or sandwich cookies and because it’s often tinted green, it’s a great frosting for St. Patrick’s Day or Christmas. Mint and chocolate go so well together, I personally love it with this easy chocolate cake and cupcake recipe.
When using with cupcakes or cake, you can drizzle on melted chocolate or sprinkle on more chopped up chocolate. And of course, adding a sprig of mint completes the mint theme!
Storing Mint Frosting
Like most buttercream frostings, this keeps well in the fridge or freezer. It’s so easy to make, it’s preferable to make the day you use it, but it will last up to a week in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Make sure it’s very tightly wrapped so it doesn’t take on any other flavors from your fridge or freezer. When you’re ready to use, defrost in the fridge and stir or remix with a mixer.
Looking for More Unique Frosting Recipes? Check These Out!
- Cake Batter Frosting
- Nutter Butter Frosting
- Cookie Dough Frosting
- Marshmallow Frosting
- Peanut Butter Frosting
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Mint Frosting
INGREDIENTS
Mint Frosting
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar 16 oz
- ½ tsp mint extract
- 1-2 tbsp milk or cream up to 1/4 cup
- 1-2 drops green food coloring optional
Mint Chocolate Chip Frosting
- ¾ cup chopped chocolate bar or mini chocolate chips one 3.5 oz chocolate bar
Instructions
Mint Frosting
- In the bowl of a standing mixer or using a hand-held mixer with a large bowl, beat the butter for 3-5 minutes until it is pale and very creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar and beat on low for 30-60 seconds until it incorporates and starts to look crumbly. Once it’s combined, turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Start mixing again on medium to medium high for another 3-5 minutes.
- Turn off the mixer and add your mint extract, milk or cream, and optional food coloring.
- Remix for another 30-60 seconds until it is fully combined.
Mint Chocolate Chip Frosting
- Once you’ve made your mint frosting, fold or mix in chocolate.
Notes
- A little mint extract goes a long way. ½ tsp gives it a pretty strong mint flavor. I think a ½ tsp is good for this recipe but you can even start with ¼ tsp and try it. If you think it needs more, add the other ¼ tsp.Â
- If your powdered sugar is old or has lumps, be sure to sift before adding to the butter.
- After adding the powdered sugar, be sure to start mixing on low so your powdered sugar doesn’t fly everywhere and make a mess. Once it’s incorporated you can turn the mixer higher.
- For a vibrant green color, use gel food coloring rather than liquid food coloring.Â
- For the Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream, you can not pipe with a piping bag as the chocolate chunks clogs the piping tips. You can still spread the frosting with a knife, or add the chocolate chunks after piping, but my favorite is to use an ice cream scoop to scoop the frosting on chocolate cupcakes. So cute!Â
- More Questions? Check out this American buttercream frosting recipe for more common American buttercream questions and answers such as how much a typical batch of frosting will cover, and how long frosted cakes and cupcakes can sit out.Â
Darlene says
Wonderful frosting great texture and the mint was just right. I have found a new frosting for cookies for st Patrick’s day. Thanks
Emmi says
What would using cream cheese be like in this recipe ?
Gail says
I love this frosting, it’s easy and delicious!
@gwsugarshack
Sophia says
so glad you like it!
Kelly says
How much frosting does this recipe yield?
Sophia says
about 3 cups
Carrie Robinson says
I bet this would be amazing to top brownies with! 🙂
Beth says
OMG! This is the best! We love mint flavored desserts! So tasty!
Irina says
I am bookmarking this green-colored mint frosting for Patrick’s day! Thank you for a great idea!
Alisha Rodrigues says
That color is so pretty .. I can imagine the minty flavor it has .. It would go well with chocolate cupcakes for sure ..
Jenn says
I think I’ve died and gone to dessert heaven! I’m a chocolate and mint freak, and this these cupcakes and this frosting are my idea of perfection. Making these this weekend! Yum!