l have made buttercream a few times and its been ok but this last time it was grainy, horrible, did l add the icing sugar to the butter to quick?
thank you
helen,

no, I don't believe adding the sugar to quickly will make it grainy. Perhaps if you let it mix a minute or 2 longer?

More than likely it's the sugar. Every now & then I get a grainy batch (even though I buy name brand). It becomes the filling or I use it w/ things mixed in so it isn't as noticeable.

thank you, l mixed it for ages thinking maybe if l keep mixing it would get better, but it wouldnt....
maybe it was the batch, that makes me feel a little better, because l was thinking l couldnt make it properly anymore...
thank you so much

Ive had this problem before and it was the sugar. I was in the process of making a cake and ran out. I had some cheap sugar left over that my mom bought and used it. bad mistake. I find that if i use walmarts best value brand i never have trouble with it. Its cheaper and it works just as well.

I just had this same problem this week! I used the Wally mart brand and it came out grainy, I grabbed the bag that wasnt done right and it messed up entire batch

I've had this happen with sam's club brand and C&H. The last time I was able to save it by remixing it with a little extra fat. I'm guessing it help to absorb the sugar particles making it grainy.

I had this same problem with the last few batches I made. I used to have everyone rave over my buttercream but had someone say something to the effect of it tasting gritty like dirt! I was devistated!!! Anyhow I didn't realize till I read this discussion that I had changed the brand of sugar I used. Guarantee you I won't use it again...even though I have tons of it left!

Any recommendations on a good brand of PS?

I always use Domino. Also, using hi-ratio shortening will make a world of difference in the creaminess of your buttercream

I have had it happen also. I used to use Dixie Crystals until I noticed alot of "grit". Now I only use Domino's and so far... no grit.

I really do think it is the sugar.

thank you so much for all the replies, l had used a really good brand, maybe it was the batch lm thinking....thank you its been great to read all your replies....helen

It can hapeen to any brand though. I have had it happen with dominoes, walmart and store brand from time to time.

its just a stupid thing we have to deal with once in a while

my wilton instructor says to only use Dixie Cristal pure cane sugar not the cheap brand to avoid this from happening.

All PS buttercreams are going to be grainy...there are ways to make them less grainy, of couse, but the only way to have a completely gain-less buttercream is IMBC

I've never made a batch that wasn't grainy! It's so frustrating! I've tried all of the suggestions that I could find on CC...pulverize the fat, use popcorn salt in place of regular salt, sift the ps, let each addition of ps mix completely with the fat before adding more, mix for several minutes once all ps in incorporated, change brands of ps...and nothing helps. That's why I started using the Whipped Cream Butter Cream recipe. There is no grit in it at all and it tastes wonderful! If you ever find the trick, please post it!

silly question probably
but what is imbc?

Italian Meringue Buttercream