Buttercream - Who, What, When Where And Why
Decorating By azsunn Updated 22 Aug 2007 , 3:20pm by nikisbakin
I am a very novice baker but have had a lot of fun reading and trying some things. I am starting to plan for my sons 18th bday cake and will need some practice.
In the past I've been horrible making icing. The old Wilton Decoraters icing is what my mother always used. I purchased a small tub of that for the last cake I did, and used it in conjunction with Pastry Pride.
I'd like to have more Buttercream for sons cake and use it to frost the cake as well. I'm going to try a FBCT. I've read about Sweetex and Alpine and am willing to try that, but shipping it to Arizona in the summer doesn't seem like a wise idea. Sam's club premade sounds ideal, but I'd never use that much icing.
Do you all have any ideas where I could buy either the Sweetex locally, does Smart and Final carry this? Is there anyplace where I could purchase premade buttercream (short of the small Wilton containers)?
I asked at our Walmart about purchasing some of the buttercream and was told they didnt have a upc and don't sell it because of that. Would another grocery sell it?
TIA for your help! All of your designs inspire me and I am learning so much reading.
Are you opposed to making your own icing with out the hi-ratio shortening? If not there are plenty of buttercream recipes on here that don't use hi-ratio shortening, but still taste good.
What was it about the recipe that you used that you didn't like? If it was the crisco you can always do half butter and half crisco. If it was the flavor you can always change the flavors around to get the combination that you like best.
I have never used premade icing from grocery stores, but I have had students bring some in to class. My complaint about them is that they only come in one consistacy really. When I make it at home I can adjust the thickness of the icing according to what I am going to use it for.
If you have a cake supply store in the area you may be able to purchase the hi-ratio shortening, or if you have a resturant supply store, maybe you will get lucky there, but you won't find the hi-ratio at a grocery store.
If you're not opposed to making your own frosting, just want to offer up mine. I use crisco without any problems and it is very tasty 
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-5183-2-My-Buttercream-Recipe.html
Where in AZ do you live? There are 2 places locally that I buy it from. Either Christy's cake supply in Mesa or ABC decorating in Phoenix.
Hi azsunn,
I was going to ask where you live in AZ too and suggest going to either of the cake supply stores but the person above beat me too it.
I make my buttercream with all Crisco and it comes out just great. Some use the 50/50 recipe which is half butter and half Crisco. Both stand up to the heat here just fine. ( inside of course! 
)
If you would be interested, I can give you info on the cake clubs in the Phoenix area too.
KimAZ
Thank you all ladies, I think I will try making my own. The recipe my mother used was all crisco and deathly sweet and greasy (this was 20 yrs ago) and I don't think any flavoring was added. It tasted just like Crisco and powdered sugar (wonder why 
)
Thank you for the recipe recommendation, I will give that a shot and do half and half with crisco and butter. I had read so much about the "new" crisco I thought maybe the other was a necessity to make a decent icing.
I am across the valley in Peoria, ABC is 30+ miles from according to mapquest, so I think I will try regular crisco and go from there.
Thanks again for all of your help! 
Edited to add: Thanks Kim for the offer on the cake clubs. I will pm you if I get to a point where I am ready to look for one. It was very kind of you to offer.
Several people have had problems with the new crisco and have started using the store brand shortening with good success so you might want to try that. Our local resturant supply store carries the hi-ratio so you might check that out if you have one close by.
Wow! I didn't know about Christy's in Mesa. It's nice to know when I am in that area. However, ABC is closer even though it's still pretty far from me. Thanks for the info.
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