Butterscotch icing is easy to make and is a perfect with butter cake, chocolate cake, banana cake and more. It comes together in just a few minutes and you can spread it while it is warm for the perfect smooth finish.

Smooth brown sugar penuche icing on top of a piece of banana cake.

This butterscotch icing has all the flavor you would want in a butter brown sugar confection. Spread it over a cake or some yummy pumpkin or apple bars for an out of this world treat.

I LOVE frosting. As far as I am concerned, most of the time cake is mostly just an excuse for frosting.

This penuche icing is no different. It adds that pop of sweetness along with rich brown sugar notes that make it amazing.

The best part is it uses just six simple ingredients. If you are an avid baker, you almost certainly have everything on hand already.

So it likely won’t even require a trip to the grocery store. And you don’t have to wait for your butter to soften, because you are going to melt it anyway.

Icing ingredients including butter, brown sugar, milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar ready to get made into penuche icing.

Saucepan with warm butter, milk, and brown sugar mixture.

The Recipe

If first got this recipe back in 2015. One of my coworker’s, Diane, sent it over along with a fun recipe for banana cake.

It instantly became a favorite recipe in my family. And because it was shared only a month into the existence of this website, it quickly became one of the first recipes that other people were making and reporting back.

Mixer bowl with brown sugar mixture combined with vanilla and powdered sugar to make an icing.

Pouring warm brown sugar icing over cold banana cake.

It is always fun to hear that you enjoyed a recipe that you found here. That is, of course, the reason why I keep on posting them.

Email Me The Link

I'll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!

In a way, it feels like we are cooking together. And I have the best time cooking with you!

Carlee’s Tips and Tricks

The beauty of this frosting is how easily it comes together. So, I don’t have a ton of tips.

When heating the butter and brown sugar, you don’t want it to boil. This step is just to ensure there is no grainy texture from the brown sugar in the finished icing. So, stop once the sugar is dissolved.

I like to pour the icing over the cake while it is still a little bit warm. That way it spreads easily and forms a smooth, almost shiny finish.

Smooth butterscotch icing spread over cake in 9x13-inch pan.

Lifting out first slice of brown sugar frosting topped banana cake out of the pan.

If you want it to thicken a bit, just keep whipping it until it has come to room temperature. You can always add a little bit more powdered sugar if you want an even thicker consistency.

Just be careful not to make it too sweet. Taste it and add a little more salt to balance it out if you need too.

I mean, really. Just give me a spoon… and a glass of milk… I’m ready to dive in!

4.70 from 20 ratings

Brown Sugar Penuche Frosting

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

Smooth, sweet and creamy, this caramel-y butterscotch frosting is easy to make and is a perfect topper to butter cake, chocolate cake, banana cake and more!

Prep: 10

Cook: 5

Total: 15

Equipment

KitchenAid 5-Qt. Stand Mixer

Ingredients

Instructions

In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup butter.
Add 1 cup light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ cup whole milk and cook over medium low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved, about two minutes.
Remove from heat and add 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract.
Transfer to your mixer bowl. Beat on medium, adding a little bit of the 2 cups powdered sugar at a time. Whip until mostly cooled and then adjust the consistency by adding more sugar or milk until you reach your desired thickness.