I am really having a hard time finding a buttercream that I like. The problem is the taste. I really like the all shortening ones but HATE the almond flavor. The one I made today has all the basic ingredients like powdered sugar, shortening, vanilla extract, butter flavoring, meringue powder, and of course almond flavor. Is there another flavor besides almond that would go good with this recipe? Please help, I have to make my nephew's b-day cake soon. TIA, Dordee

I'm getting raves from my family with a blend I'm trying. It's mostly vanilla...but has lemon, almond and just a touch of coconut. Not much coconut at all...just enough to give it that "something."

What about that butavan stuff? I've never used it but other people seem to like it. I think Earlene has it on her site, earlenescakes.com. Good luck, I know how hard it is to get bc just the way you like it.

I usually double up on a diffrent extract. For my BC I use the recommended amount of butter and vanilla but them add more butter or vanilla (which ever I feel like having that day) instead of the almond. Tastes just fine. Sometimes I add even more butter flavor because I like my BC to taste like butter and not just sugar.

Would you mind at all sharing the recipe? I would really appreciate it. I am getting desperate to find one that I like better. Thanks, Dordee

reenie,
I will try that the next time. I don't have a lot of experience here and I was afraid if I added more butter or vanilla in place of the almond that it wouldn't taste right. Thanks a lot!

Crimsicle, how much of each of the flavorings are we talking? That sounds like a good blend.

I do what Reenie does because I too very much dislike the almond flavor. This weekend I made a cake and put McCormick's Vanilla Butter & Nut flavoring instead of the almond/vanilla - it was delicious but yellow. So if you need white icing, that's probably not the best way to go. Peppermint extract is good too, for something different.

i think the lemon would go good with yellow/white cake. i've done cinammon for spice cakes/pumpkin cakes, just add cinammon flavoring. i have left the almond out before, i think it just ends up a little sweeter. there's french vanilla flavoring too you could try, i've tried it it's pretty good.

If you don't like the almond flavor then leave it out. I only use vanilla and butter for my basic buttercream.