Place butter into a mixing bowl. Use a mixer set on medium to beat it until the butter is light and fluffy. You want the butter to look smooth and fluffy.
Add clear vanilla and a small amount of Wilton Christmas red gel food coloring.
Slowly mix in approximately 2.5 cups of powdered sugar and use your mixer on low speed until the ingredients come together. Don't increase the speed of your mixer until the powder sugar is mixed in well. If not you will have powdered sugar all over the place.
Taste test the icing to determine if you need to add more powdered sugar. Once the ingredients have come together, slowly add in remaining powder sugar and beat using medium-high with your mixer.
If your icing is still too thin, add a small amount of powdered sugar and continue mixing. Is your icing too thick? Slowly add in a tsp of milk until you get the desired consistency.
Chill your buttercream icing in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
Keyword homemade buttercream icing, how to make buttercream icing, how to make homemade buttercream icing