A Guide to Which Frosting Has the Least Amount of Sugar?

November 5, 2025 •

4 min read

Traditional American buttercream can have a very high sugar content, sometimes more than two cups of powdered sugar for a single batch. For those seeking healthier dessert options, understanding which frosting has the least amount of sugar is a key step toward reducing refined sugar intake without sacrificing flavor.

Quick Summary

Ermine frosting, meringue-based buttercreams, and Greek yogurt frosting are all naturally less sweet than traditional American buttercream. Homemade options allow for controlling sugar levels using natural sweeteners like monk fruit, stevia, or maple syrup for healthier results.

Key Points

Ermine Frosting is a Top Contender: Made with a cooked flour and milk base, it requires significantly less sugar than American buttercream for a silky, fluffy finish.
Greek Yogurt Frosting is Light and Tangy: Using Greek yogurt with maple syrup or a powdered sugar alternative creates a low-sugar, tangy frosting best for lighter desserts and kept chilled.
Meringue-Based Buttercreams are Less Sweet: Swiss and Italian buttercreams, made with whipped egg whites, offer a stable, elegant frosting with a mild, less sugary flavor compared to American versions.
Alternative Sweeteners Offer Control: Replacing or supplementing powdered sugar with monk fruit, stevia, or allulose allows for precise control over the sweetness level in homemade recipes.
Vegan Frosting Provides a Dairy-Free Option: For a creamy, low-sugar vegan alternative, soaked cashew or almond flour bases can be used with a natural liquid sweetener.
Homemade is the Healthiest Choice: The best way to guarantee the least amount of sugar is to make your own frosting from scratch, tailoring it to your dietary needs and preferences.

Why Choose a Low-Sugar Frosting?

Excessive sugar intake is linked to various health concerns, including weight gain and blood sugar fluctuations. Choosing a frosting with less sugar is a conscious step towards a healthier diet, and it also allows the subtle flavors of the cake or cupcakes to shine through. The overpowering sweetness of traditional frostings can often mask the true taste of the dessert itself.

The Contenders for Least Sugar

When looking for low-sugar frosting options, several types stand out for their naturally lower sugar content or their ability to be made with minimal or alternative sweeteners.

Ermine Frosting

Also known as boiled milk or cooked flour frosting, ermine frosting is often cited as one of the least sweet traditional options. It is made by cooking flour and milk into a thick, pudding-like roux, then whipping this mixture with softened butter and a relatively small amount of granulated sugar. The flour acts as a thickener, allowing for a silky, light texture with much less sugar than American buttercream.

Pros:

Significantly less sweet than American buttercream.
Silky and fluffy texture.
More stable than whipped cream.

Cons:

Requires cooking a roux, which adds a step to the process.
Not ideal for intricate piping.

Greek Yogurt Frosting

For an even lighter, tangy option, Greek yogurt frosting is an excellent choice. This version is often sweetened with a small amount of maple syrup, honey, or a powdered sugar substitute, rather than refined sugar. The high protein and probiotics in the Greek yogurt make it a healthier alternative, though it is less stable than butter-based frostings and is best kept refrigerated. For a thicker consistency, some recipes suggest straining the yogurt or adding a small amount of gelatin.

Meringue-Based Buttercreams

Swiss and Italian meringue buttercreams are known for being much less sweet and richer tasting than their American counterpart. These frostings involve whipping egg whites with a cooked sugar syrup (Italian) or over a double boiler (Swiss) to form a fluffy meringue. This meringue is then beaten with softened butter. The resulting frosting has a luxurious, silky texture that is very stable for piping and decorating, but without the cloying sweetness.

Vegan and Cream Cheese Options

Vegan Frosting: For a plant-based, low-sugar option, some vegan frostings use a base of soaked cashews or almond flour blended with maple syrup or a sugar substitute. These can offer a creamy texture without the high sugar content.
Less-Sweet Cream Cheese Frosting: Recipes can be adapted to drastically reduce the amount of powdered sugar traditionally used by increasing the ratio of cream cheese and incorporating alternative sweeteners.

Customizing Your Frosting with Alternative Sweeteners

Beyond specific frosting types, you can also reduce sugar in almost any recipe by using alternative sweeteners. This is particularly effective in American buttercream, where the powdered sugar can be partially or fully replaced. Common alternatives include:

Monk Fruit: A zero-calorie sweetener derived from monk fruit, it's a popular option with a clean taste. Powdered monk fruit is available and can be used as a 1:1 substitute for powdered sugar.
Stevia: Derived from the stevia plant, this is another zero-calorie option, though it is much sweeter than sugar and should be used sparingly.
Erythritol/Allulose: Sugar alcohols that offer a granular or powdered option for sweetness with fewer calories. Some people report a cooling aftertaste with erythritol.

Comparison of Low-Sugar Frosting Options


Frosting Type	Sugar Level	Sweetness	Consistency	Best For
Ermine	Low	Mild, vanilla-forward	Light, silky, fluffy	Richer cakes (e.g., red velvet)
Greek Yogurt	Very Low	Tangy, lightly sweet	Soft, pudding-like	Fruit-based or lighter desserts
Meringue-Based	Low	Mild, sophisticated	Smooth, stable, buttery	Elegant layer cakes, cupcakes
Vegan Cashew	Very Low	Earthy, rich	Thick, creamy	Dairy-free desserts, gluten-free
American Buttercream (Modified)	Medium to Low	Adjustable	Thick, sweet	All-purpose decorating

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the best low-sugar frosting depends on your taste preferences and what you're making. For a classic, fluffy texture with less sweetness, ermine frosting is a great place to start. If you want something tangy and refrigerated, Greek yogurt frosting is the way to go. For those who need a stable, pipeable option without the intense sugar rush, meringue buttercreams are an excellent choice.

Ultimately, homemade frostings offer the most control over sugar content. By experimenting with alternative sweeteners and less sweet base ingredients, you can create delicious desserts that are better for your health. For more detailed recipes, resources from experts in alternative baking can be a great starting point, such as this guide from Bigger Bolder Baking on various sugar substitutes: Baking Without Sugar & Baking With Sugar Substitutes.

Conclusion

When it comes to answering the question of which frosting has the least amount of sugar, the clear winner is homemade frosting, where you have complete control over the ingredients. Within that category, ermine frosting, Greek yogurt frosting, and meringue-based options offer naturally lower sugar content than traditional American buttercream. By choosing wisely and incorporating sugar alternatives, you can enjoy delicious, beautifully frosted desserts without the overwhelming sweetness and high sugar load.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ermine frosting, also known as cooked flour frosting, is a non-meringue-based buttercream made from a flour-and-milk roux, which is then whipped with butter and a small amount of sugar. It is valued for its silky texture and moderate sweetness.

Yes, meringue-based buttercreams like Swiss or Italian meringue are significantly less sweet than American buttercream. They are made by whipping egg whites with sugar to form a meringue, which creates a stable, less sugary base.

Yes, powdered monk fruit sweetener can be used as a 1:1 replacement for powdered sugar in many recipes, allowing you to create a low or zero-sugar frosting.

To thicken Greek yogurt frosting, you can strain the yogurt for several hours or overnight to remove excess whey. Some recipes also suggest adding a small amount of cornstarch or gelatin to help it set.

The main difference is the base and sugar content. American buttercream uses a very high ratio of powdered sugar and butter, while ermine frosting uses a cooked flour and milk base, resulting in a less sweet and lighter consistency.

Yes, since sugar adds structure to frosting, reducing it can affect consistency. For this reason, recipes for low-sugar frostings like ermine or meringue-based buttercreams rely on other ingredients for structure, such as a flour-based roux or whipped egg whites.

Not necessarily. While some vegan frostings use natural sweeteners like maple syrup, others might be made with large amounts of powdered sugar. The sugar content depends on the specific recipe and ingredients used.