Ok...I have a feeling I'm not alone but I find that making homemade buttercream adds an infinite amount of work to cake decorating. For years I made my own (the Wilton recipe just adjusted somewhat). I frequented a cake decorating store in my area where they had this premade white whipped buttercream in a 23 lb. tub and I BOUGHT some. I did a blind tate test with some friends and customers and no one could tell the difference...and several actually picked the premade one over mine! "Well pooey" I thought, "I'm buying this stuff...besides it's cheaper." It performs perfectly, it does crust enough to where I can pat it down but never ever cracks. It tastes wonderful and frankly I've never tasted any I liked better and I've been to a lot of weddings and parties. I understand the qualities of an Italian buttercream and those that take a lot of heating, cooling etc and I am willing to make those if requested, but seriously...I don't think I'd do cakes if I had to make each batch of buttercream from hand. Am I totally tacky or are there others. I know ther are others because my cake decorating store sells more of that stuff than anything else! Hee hee...just checking. If anyone wants to PM me for what I use...feel free. Just seeing if I'm alone or not.

dude, I'm right there with you! I really don't ever use buttercream (I use whipped frosting almost exclusively), but as I'm getting more requests I just buy the thing. I'm not a big fan on overly sweet frostings (I consider nearly all buttercream overly sweet), so they all taste the same to me.

I have bought buttercream before. I have a few cakes due at the same time and they were both pretty good size so I bought by "bucket o buttercream" at Sams and it worked beautifully. Just added a bit more flavor and I was off to decorating. Now some would never hear of that, and I respect their opinion but it sure was nice not spending all that time mixing that stuff up and then cleaning after that. I say when you feel it is alright to do it, then go for it!!! I will do it again if I need to... right now I am okay with making...

You're not any tackier than loads of bakeries and home bakers. Someone came into our store the other day and asked to buy a bucket of our buttercream.

I am with you on this! Not until recently did I decide that I just might have to start buying my buttercream icing from a local cake supply store. Not sure if I am 100% sold, but I am going to purchase a small tub to test it out and if it's good I just might have to start using the pre-made stuff! I do hate the mess that it makes and can't stand to clean up!

I just got my first "purchased bc" and can't wait to try it. I bought vanilla and chocolate and it crust. A friend of mine got it from a lady she knows that has a bakery. It tastes good by itself but I haven't tried it on a cake yet.

I've thought about buying it from Sam's Club, but I don't make enough cakes to justify buying a 28 lb tub of buttercream. I would love to not have to make my own. I hate the mess! I'm curious sunnybono, what brand did you buy at your cake supply store?

I purchase most of mine, because it is "oh so yummy", and because I might really stink at making BC! ha ha! Maybe I got a bad recipe for vanilla BC, because I'm normally good at baking! I make ganache, chocolate frosting, loads of fillings... but the BC I'm having trouble with. I don't know why. Maybe it's an environment thing, I tried it when it was about 80 degrees inside (100 outside)... it tasted good, but it didn't keep & I couldn't trust it to put it on a cake. I have other icings that turn-out great, so I'm going to try again on the BC, but when I have a TON of cakes, it's SO much easier to just open a new pack & decorate! My people know what I use, and that most of my things are scratch, but it is time consuming! =)

I don't think it makes you tacky, it's a personal choice. It's no different, I think, than those of us who buy Satin Ice and the like rather than make fondant. I prefer to bake from scratch (all my cakes, fillings & frostings, etc.), and while I DO make fondant myself, frankly it's just not worth it for me to do on a regular basis, when Satin Ice had done it so well lol... so i feel the same. I'll keep making my buttercream, like i said, it's just because I prefer it... don't let anyone rag on you.

Ok...here's the info on the best crusting/tasting buttercream I use and have for about 5 years:

Best Brands Corp. (from Minnetoka, MN)
Item # 1524-54
White Creme Whipped Icing
24 lb. resealable tub
1-800-866-3300 X2000

It sounds like it is not buttercream...but it truly is. It stands up incredibly in heat and is good to keep at 80F degrees or less...also I feel like it's best to use within three months (but it never lasts that long at my place!). Don't leave it in your hot car or it can kind of change the flavor. I would say it's a pretty stiff buttercream but is easily thinned with water for a crumb coat or for piping writing. I am glad that many of you don't think I'm tacky. I feel like I do some darn good cakes and wouldn't use anything I didn't think I'd like to eat myself. Yet I truly admire you cake artists who truly make each batch of buttercream. Whip on sisters...but I'll buy mine for now.

Thanks for not flogging me!

I agree! When I have a lot of cakes I use Sam's brand of Butter cream. I make my own for many other cakes, so far I have had no complaints on the Sam's icing. It sure saves alot of time and I hate the clean up.

I'm going to check out the Sam's brand bc, I wonder if it comes in a smaller container as well. So far the only pre-made icing I've used was Duncan Hines Whipped fluffy white under fondant, it worked great when in a hurry... But it would be great to have that option for a crusting bc as well

I found that I didn't like that Sams brand as well as the one I used from Best Brands Corp. It didn't take color as well...but I think I'm just used to the one I have used for a long time.

Do you order the Best Brands one or can you find it at a store? it sounds great but since I have a Sam's near by...

I get it from a baker's supply in OKC...but I wonder if you couldn't call that 1-800# and find out the nearest supplier. I really really recommend it more than the Sams. I have used both and this just performs better. BUT the Sams is a decent second. I swear, I would almost do anything not to actually make it all the time. When I was making it from scratch I would sometimes under estimate the amount I needed and then have to make more. But with the large amount it really leaves me with plenty of room to use as much as I need. After several years with it I am comfortable with how much I need to complete an order before I purchase more.

Thank you so much, I will call tomorrow and get the nearest supplier. It just would be nice to be able to skip that step if possible...

Never. BC is to easy to make. By the time it takes to run to the store to get it. I can have enough to fill a 7qt mixer bowl. It only takes 1/2 hour to make it.

Mike

I have been wanting to try a good premade buttercream, but they just aren't available in my area. (Sams doesnt carry the buttercream you guys are talking about...the bakery department uses bettercream and will sell it to me, but I don't care for it. Its too sweet)

I purchased a sample package of icing from Dixie's and used some of it yesterday and love it. The sample package was I believe $15.00 for the different types of icing that she carries. Taste great. I have also bought the 28 pound pail from Sam's and will be using that today at VBS to frost cup cakes.

I have been using the Sam's buttercream since finished the Wilton cake classes. I doctor it up a bit. It saves me so much mess. i did just buy the Dixie's sample package and am going to try it on my mothers birthday cake. It does cost more than Sam's. I tried to get Brill but they want a $150 min order and I do not make that much cake. I am going to check out this Best Brands Corp stuff.

Buy ready made stuff. I find it is well worth it.

I can't bring myself to use Bettercreme that stuff will be sitting in landfills after the plastic has disappeared. Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to use it. You can set it out on the counter, and leave it, and it won't go bad.

Mike

I use to make my own buttercream.... then it happened...I had a 4 teired wedding cake and 3 other cakes due in one weekend....and as i have a full time 9 to 6 job during the week their was no way I was going to get it all done...... so I consulted others on cake central and I did it......I bought my first BUCKET O BUTTERCREAM...lol from sam's club...the stuff is great...it crusts wonderfully and never cracks....make beautiful roses.......and my friends and especially family love the taste......

Well that was the weekend of May 3rd. I'm on my 3rd bucket almost ready to buy the 4th and I will never go back..........

So go ahead...take the plunge....you will wonder why you have been killing yourself and doing all those extra dishes and spending all that extra money making your own!..........just think a 30 min trip to sam's club can save you hours in front of your mixer......and you will have all that extra time to do what we really love....DECORATE!!!!!!

Good Luck!!!!

Nope. I love making buttercream.

I bought Dixie's, and I like it, but everyone else prefers my homemade BC. Ugh...

Oh, I was wondering. It's all bad for you anyway, lol....I think I'll try it.

Sams Club sells both bUttercream and bEttercream. and no, they are not the same thing.