Grapefruit Buttercream Frosting Recipe – And How to Survive a Minnesota Winter
This sweet and tart grapefruit buttercream frosting is made with a grapefruit juice reduction. Perfect on top of your favorite vanilla or citrus-flavored cupcake.
Grapefruit is my favorite wintertime fruit. Starting in December or January, the produce sections of Minnesota supermarkets are filled with these southern beauties. And we buy them in large quantities.
Since I can’t get enough of grapefruit this time of the year, I wanted to experiment with this delicious grapefruit buttercream recipe from Katie at the Kitchen Door. I was not disappointed. At all. This frosting is sweet, citrussy, tangy – everything I hoped it would be.
Give it a go yourself. And if you’re interested, check out this tender white cake recipe from King Arthur Flour. Also above average.
Surviving Winter in Minnesota
I’ve spent all but three years of my life living in Minnesota. And I love it – don’t get me wrong.
But winters can get long.
This time of the year is probably the hardest. The high temperature the other day was 2F/-16C. It gets dark really early. Driving on ice and snow is treacherous. The threat of falling on ice is high. And winter can last for months and months. Five plus, to be exact.
If you’re not careful, a Minnesota winter can get the best of you. Which is why it’s important to push yourself, get out of the house, spend time with your favorite people, and generally face winter head-on.
Start with this delicious and tart grapefruit buttercream, and have fun exploring the flavors of the season.

Grapefruit Buttercream Frosting
Using plain grapefruit juice won't give this frosting a very strong grapefruit flavor. For a more concentrated flavor, make a grapefruit reduction by simmering the grapefruit juice over medium heat for about 45 minutes. The juice becomes syrupy, and you can add it to the frosting to achieve a delicious grapefruit flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 pound powdered sugar (about 3 to 4 cups)
- 1 1/2 cups grapefruit juice
Instructions
- Begin by reducing the grapefruit juice. Place juice in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Allow to simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until juice thickens and becomes syrupy. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, cream, and powdered sugar with an electric mixer. Continue whipping, and slowly add grapefruit syrup, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach desired flavor. I added about 3 tablespoons to mine, which resulted in a wonderfully tangy and fruity flavor.
Love the recipe — I made a grapefruit cake one winter, and this frosting would have been the perfect addition. YUM!
I also love the list for surviving a MN winter… so true 🙂
Also, own and wear good boots. 🙂 (Every time we go back to the midwest in winter we rediscover that living in CA = whoops, we no longer own boots. Problematic.) Tangy citrus definitely helps combat the winter blues too! I don’t think I’ve ever had a grapefruit frosting–super interesting.
Oh I love this post! That frosting looks so fun, and your “survival guide” is perfect. I’m with Eileen above though…just invest in a good coat and boots now and save yourself the trouble.
I made this with a jelly roll and grapefruit zest. Here in TX, we get ruby red grapefruit from the valley, so sweet. Thanks