Buttercream That Isn't Too Sweet?

Baking By trulyjulie Updated 19 Apr 2008 , 3:00pm by trulyjulie

trulyjulie Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
trulyjulie Posted 15 Apr 2008 , 3:17pm
post #1 of 8

Is there anything I can add to a buttercream recipe to make it not so sweet? I've tried several recipes even one that used cake mix and powdered coffee creamer but they are all sickly sweet tasting to me. I do like chocolate buttercream which I make just by adding that bitter hershey's powder to the recipe plus more water if I need to thin it. Is there anything like that to add for vanilla frosting? TIA

7 replies
busymom9431 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
busymom9431 Posted 15 Apr 2008 , 3:36pm
post #2 of 8

You can try to add a LITTLE bit of salt and it seems to cut down on the sweetness of the icing. I don't know how much, it depends on your recipe. HTH

likitiki Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
likitiki Posted 15 Apr 2008 , 3:46pm
post #3 of 8

popcorn salt works really well since it has such a fine grain. HTH

trulyjulie Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
trulyjulie Posted 16 Apr 2008 , 1:05pm
post #4 of 8

Thanks. All the recipes I've used do call for salt, should I use extra? I was wondering if there was anything bitter like the unsweetened cocoa. It would be fine if it were a different flavor than vanilla. But all I could think of that would be bitter and not gross was chocolate and coffee. I was hoping for something that wouldn't impart a ton of color.

HerBoudoir Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
HerBoudoir Posted 16 Apr 2008 , 9:29pm
post #5 of 8

Try a swiss meringue buttercream - they're a little more work but far less sweet than a standard american buttercream.

trulyjulie Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
trulyjulie Posted 18 Apr 2008 , 2:52am
post #6 of 8

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

JanH Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
trulyjulie Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
trulyjulie Posted 19 Apr 2008 , 3:00pm
post #8 of 8

Thanks JanH,
Here's a dumb question...does this kind of buttercream crust?

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%