AHow to make a not-too sweet thick buttercream?

For an American buttercream you mean?

 

Use buttermilk for the liquid & add some salt.

A[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/2881903/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

This is the cake with cream cheese frosting. However it was melting down while piping :( so couldnt make nice roses :(

Cr ch icing is hard to work with. If you have warm hands it will melt in the bag :(    W/0 the recipe it is hard for us to help you other than in general ideas.

"Regular" American (Crisco &/or butter) icing is easier to work with. 

Icing is *suppose* to be sweet.  That is the nature of it.  Some people add some salt to help cut the sweetness.  Never thought of using buttermilk but that sounds like a good idea.

AI always use an Italian meringue buttercream. Less sweet, a little more time consuming, but stands up quite well in the Australian heat.

Look up the "Crusting Cream Cheese" icing recipe here.  It's awesome, can be smoothed easily and withstands piping beautifully.  I happened to do this cake today using it. 

 

 

 

A

Thanks I ll def try it. Btw, your cake looks awesome. How long have you been making cakes?

Thanks!  I've been doing cakes for 16 years. 

A

Wow! 16 years! I wish I were you :( I am 28 and want to open a cupcake cafe. No idea how many years I need to wait to become an expert at doing cakes!!!

Enjoy being 28!!  I was a stay-at-home mom, and doing cakes plus being a Wilton instructor for 16 years kept me sane! My children are now 18, 20, and 21.  I opened a bakery with a "friend" several years ago but that didn't work out...not only would I never recommend opening a business with a friend (unless you would actually marry them), but I wouldn't recommend doing it while having kids to raise.  My kids were all in high school at that time and I missed most of my middle child's football games (they all seem to be on Friday nights - which are cake nights) and I nearly missed seeing my daughter get ready for prom.  

 

Hubby and I recently re-opened the bakery on our own - and since he and I have been married for 23 years, I am pretty sure the partnership won't take a nosedive. LOL  And I get to decide when to close the shop for family things - like two Saturdays ago, when our oldest child graduated from college with her first degree.

 

You don't need to be an expert - you just need to have the passion for it and make sure the time is right in your life to take on opening your own business.  Always put family first - so timing is everything!  And your experience will grow by leaps and bounds once you're doing it 100 hours a week.  :D

AYou made me reconsider again my business plans bc I have a 5 months old son! I think first thing to do is decorating many cakes until I would be able to run a cake business. Thank you! it was like talking to an older sister. Hope you would help me on my cake decorating journey ;)