Help...Help...Help!

I have tried everything that I can think of to get my buttercream smoothe and avoid the airbubbles that appear when you are icing the cake. Is there something that I'm missing. Is there a magic trick that I'm not aware of? Here is how I do my buttercream, so if I'm missing something, let me know.

1 c Crisco
1 stick unsalter butter
1 pinch of salt
flavoring (usually 1 tsp each of vanilla and another tsp of optional flavor)
2 # sifted confectioners sugar

I mix the butter, shortening, salt and flavorings until creamy. I then mix the powder sugar a little at a time, stopping and scraping the bowl often. I add a tablespoon of water along the way to thin as I need too and then I continue to mix on speed 6 for about 5 minutes.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Wanda

Hello, I used to do the same exact thing and would always end up with air bubbles! The biggest thing is that you are mixing way too long! You should mix on low speed just until the ingrediants are incorporated and then in medium speed until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. You want to make sure it is well blended but the shorter the blending time the better. Also, I just had all my powdered sugar at once and only stop once to scrape the bowl. This has really helped with any air bubbles, hope this helps you!

Thank you!

I have often wondered if I was mixing too long and also about adding all of the sugar at once rather than a little at a time. That is also time consuming to do it this way.

Thanks again!

Wanda

Just bumping!