Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Buttercream
Decorating By Jackie Updated 26 May 2016 , 8:00pm by gfbaby
I just sat and read this whole thread. For those who already know quite a bit about buttercream, I thought you might like the notes I made. (For example, I already know about foam rollers, Viva, scrapers, cornstarch, and meringue powder. What I was looking for are some tips to tweak what I already do.)
Land O Lakes butter- whiter than other brands
In small amounts add:
Flour- for less greasiness
Lemon juice- for less sweetness
Corn syrup- for better/smoother texture
Vinegar- for less cracking
By small amounts, I mean the general consensus is somewhere between 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons. While some use a cup or more, most use measuring spoons of those ingredients.
Hopefully this will help someone who doesn't have the time or inclination to read the entire thread.
I just sat and read this whole thread. For those who already know quite a bit about buttercream, I thought you might like the notes I made. (For example, I already know about foam rollers, Viva, scrapers, cornstarch, and meringue powder. What I was looking for are some tips to tweak what I already do.)
Land O Lakes butter- whiter than other brands
In small amounts add:
Flour- for less greasiness
Lemon juice- for less sweetness
Corn syrup- for better/smoother texture
Vinegar- for less cracking
By small amounts, I mean the general consensus is somewhere between 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons. While some use a cup or more, most use measuring spoons of those ingredients.
Hopefully this will help someone who doesn't have the time or inclination to read the entire thread.
Cheatize you are a star!!!!
I was one of those who doesn't have time/or the inclination to read the entire thread.
Hopefully I'm in the right forum - this is my first post. I bought the 28lb But-R-Creme tub white icing for the Wilton cake decorating course I'm taking. It requires alot of icing & just don't have time to make it all the time. My question is that is there anyway to make the base icing thicker either by putting more shortening or powder sugar? I need a stiff consistency to make decorations like roses and the way the icing is right now it is too soft for this. Icing tastes great though Thanks.
Can some one please help me out, I need a buttercream receipt but not to sweeeet? I live in England and we dont have shortening here.
Ok I have read almost all of the post. Some people are saying something about Upside down trick? Does anyone have the link to to this, I could not find it. Also some people say put flower, or corn syrup in the butter cream frosting. Does it really make a difference? adding putting vinegar?
Thanks
ok I am fairly new to cake decorating, so can someone please explain:
1. why you would want buttercream to crust?
2. How to do a crumb coat correctly?
3. How to use paper towels to smooth out the icing
Thanks everyone. Making a cake for this weekend and would love some answers quick if anyone can so I can do this cake a little better then the last.
Sweethappy
I too live in England, we do have shortening - just by a different name - we call it vegetable fat most common name is Trex, Flora do one too, white flora I think! It took me ages to find this out for myself about a year ago, hope it helps you
Hi! I am new to cake central and would really love to read this article...where can I find it when you are done..or are you done already?
Hi Jackie - you said in your original post "I am putting together an article, the title will be "Everything you ever wanted to know about buttercream"
Can you give me a link to that article? I would really appreciate it! This one post is 31+pages long and for a newbie that's 100% intimidating!
All I can say is that I struggled with getting buttercream smooth for several years, even after using the VIVA method I was not always satisfied.
Then I was introduced to Sharon Zambito's DVd. I use her recipe for buttercream, as well as her tehnique for icing the cake. And I get superb results every time now.. But I do cover 99% of my cakes with fondant.
This is such an awesome site!!! I see that there's over 30 pages on this topic, but in the interest of time, I was hoping somebody could point me in the right direction. I use Wilton's recipe with the merangue powder, crisco, 10x and milk. It does crust rather nicely, and I'm still working on patience between icing it and waiting to do the viva paper towel method, but I'm getting there. My questions really are:
1. I know high ratio is the way to go, but I would have to order it. Since I am just a beginner, I am getting the crisco from the store. I am using the Walmart brand shortening, but does it make a difference if I use the regular or the all vegetable?
2. I am having a super hard time writing.... Partly because I have only written on a cake twice I believe now, but it is not helping that my icing seems like it deteriorates. I don't know if it is because it gets too warm or what, but it seems like by the time I frost it and get to the writing/decorating with the buttercream, it looks all piece-y, kind of deteriorated like when you chew a piece of gum too long. Any suggestions on what I'm doing???
Thank you so much, and if I ever discover any awesome secrets, I will definitely be sharing them here!!!
Ok I have a question for anyone who can help me with this. I have only been decorating cakes for a few months now, and just recently I have started having a hard time getting my BC perfectly smooth with the VIVA method. The first few cakes I did turned out great, but now it seems when I get to the paper towel step (after my BC has already crusted) that the BC crusts too much maybe, it looks like it gets cracks in it, maybe like "elephant skin" almost. Help?!?! The only thing I can think of that I am doing differently is before, I would let my BC crust for about 30 min, then smooth with the VIVA. Now, I might let the BC crust for 2 hours before I smooth with the VIVA. Could this be making the difference?
Thanks in advance for any help with this....I'm puzzled!
One day while making butter cream, I was out of milk and substituted soy milk. I did not like the results. The butter cream did not hold together well, and after refrigerating and attempting to use the left overs, the butter cream broke down. It was very watery.
I use half and half when ever I can, and Corn Syrup to thin. Like someone mentioned before, I always start out adding smaller amounts. It's easier to add liquid, then it is to remove it from butter cream icing.
This Buttercream Icing is good for icing and cake decorating , you can use it as a filling, to pipe figurines or roses, and for borders too.
* You will need:
1 cupscups butter (2 bars)
2 cupscups shortening (Crisco is a very good one)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp butter flavor
2 pound sugar powder ( C & H is a very good one)
1 tbs meringue powdermeringue powder ( to created a smoother texture)
2 tbs water (more or less depending of the humidity)
* Procedure
1. In a Mixer, cream butter, shortening and salt together.
2. Add all the three flavors (butter, vanilla, almond) and mix well.
3. Add 1/2 of the sugar powder, 1 tbs water and the meringue powder, mix well.
4. Add sugar a little bit at the time until you get your desired consistency, add more water if needed.
To keep this icing moist, keep it covered and refrigerated if you are not going to used immediately.
This Buttercream Icing is good for icing and cake decorating , you can use it as a filling, to pipe figurines or roses, and for borders too.
* You will need:
1 cupscups butter (2 bars)
2 cupscups shortening (Crisco is a very good one)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp butter flavor
2 pound sugar powder ( C & H is a very good one)
1 tbs meringue powdermeringue powder ( to created a smoother texture)
2 tbs water (more or less depending of the humidity)
* Procedure
1. In a Mixer, cream butter, shortening and salt together.
2. Add all the three flavors (butter, vanilla, almond) and mix well.
3. Add 1/2 of the sugar powder, 1 tbs water and the meringue powder, mix well.
4. Add sugar a little bit at the time until you get your desired consistency, add more water if needed.
To keep this icing moist, keep it covered and refrigerated if you are not going to used immediately.
This Buttercream Icing is good for icing and cake decorating , you can use it as a filling, to pipe figurines or roses, and for borders too.
* You will need:
1 cupscups butter (2 bars)
2 cupscups shortening (Crisco is a very good one)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp butter flavor
2 pound sugar powder ( C & H is a very good one)
1 tbs meringue powdermeringue powder ( to created a smoother texture)
2 tbs water (more or less depending of the humidity)
* Procedure
1. In a Mixer, cream butter, shortening and salt together.
2. Add all the three flavors (butter, vanilla, almond) and mix well.
3. Add 1/2 of the sugar powder, 1 tbs water and the meringue powder, mix well.
4. Add sugar a little bit at the time until you get your desired consistency, add more water if needed.
To keep this icing moist, keep it covered and refrigerated if you are not going to used immediately.
Hi everyone,
I have read the entire post and have a question...
Can you substitute hi ratio shortening such as Sweetex for Crisco? Will it make a difference in taste, texture, etc. And if you can substitute, are the measurements the same?
Thanks
Hi, I'm from Australia and can't find smooth paper towel anywhere. We have the Viva brand but they all seem to have patterns. I love the effect of smoothing with paper towel but would love to get a flat finish with no pattern. Is there anything I can use instead of paper towel? Or is there anyone on here from Australia who can tell me where to find smooth paper towel?
i think a good buttercream recipe is very important. i am still confused on using crisco vs. not using crisco and what is the best method to store it. Im new to decorating and so everything about buttercream is so important.
ginger001
MariaLovesCakes, I'm fairly new at cake decorating, but the instructor in my first class told us that to get a really white BC, you need to use clear flavorings (vanilla, butter, almond) and it's best to use just Crisco shortening, no butter, and you'll get a true white BC. That's what I've been doing, and it really is white.
Does anyone happen to have a good crumbcoat buttercream recipe? Something to go well with the fondant.
Does anyone have a good crumbcoat buttercream recipe? something to go well with the fondant.
All I want to know is how to make the buttercream they make in the supermarket, because I don't like the at-home recipies, they are either too thin or too sugary and the flavor is not as creamy, it hardens up...I just want to be able to make a cake that tastes and feels professional.
I make a very simple buttercream using real unsalted sweet cream butter,powdered sugar and HEavy Whipping Cream. I use the Viva Paper towel method for smoothing as well as a hot metal smoothing tool. To get it hot I run it under streaming hot water.
I find this to be a very helpful tip when it comes to buttercream, the climate you live in. I am in AZ, and you have to be very careful, I make mine stiffer during the summer, due to the hot temperatures, and during the winter I thin it some.
I like to know how to write or make black swirls on a fondant cake with buttercream...will the black bleed unto the fondant?
I may have missed it somewhere along the line but any ideas on where I can get my hands on 6x powdered sugar here in Canada?
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