Hi, all ~
I've got a question re: what else, buttercream frosting. I have seen 2 different thoughts on adding salt to frosting. One is the salt will cut the sweetness of the frosting and the other is that adding salt will enhance the sweetness of the frosting. What is true? I would think it would enhance the sweetness, as when you add salt in cooking, it enhances and brings out the flavors of the food you're adding it to.
Thanks for your answers!
Julie

Well, I don't know exactly about the BC question, but I do add salt to watermelon to bring out the sweetness in it. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

I use the plain popcorn salt in mine and it definitely CUTS the sweetness in it when I use it

I use it in bcf because it does cut the sweetness down a bit. Too much will make it bitter. It does enhance the sweetness in baking so I guess it does both. This much I know, when I have forgotten to put it in my frosting, I can really tell....too sweet!

the recipe that i use for icing i got from a family friend that use to do cakes. she always added salt to hers to cut down the sweetness and i have tried it with and without and it does cut it back a little. everyone that tries my icing says that it isnt too sweet at all. hope this helps you a little.

I think that it enhances the sweetness in baking because there isn't an overwhelming amount of sweetness. In icing, I believe it cuts the sweetness of the powdered sugar if you use enough salt. I think I read that enough salt (but not too, too much) tricks your taste buds from only picking up on all the sugar taste. Instead of your taste buds only identifying the sugar taste, it divides its senses between the sugar and salt. ---I think this is along the lines of what I read. It does make sense, though.

ditto what kae said. I think it cuts the sweetness when we talking bc because of the high sugar content. But I am no Alton Brown.

Adding salt does help cut the sweetness but it also enhances the vanilla flavoring!

Couldn't it also enhance the butter flavor too? I guessing so.

Salt will cut the sweetness in your icing, but try adding it to your water so you don't end up with spots in your icing.