I've tried several buttercreams and have found that most of them are not stiff enough especially if they have dairy in them. Am I not mixing them long enough? They also come out too sweet and grainy. What can I do? Someone please help. I loose sleep at night because of this. 
Ditto the above post. What ingredients do you use?
1) Buttercream dream: I stick of unsalted butter, 1 stick of salted butter, 1 cup of shortening, 2lbs ps, 3tsp of vanilla, 5-6tbl of cold milk
2) Wiltons buttercream
3) Decorators buttercream icing: 1/2 cup of shortening, 1/2 cup of butter, 1 1/2 tsp of clear vanilla, 5 cups of ps, 2-3 tbs of milk.
Im not an expert but I think you have too much fat and not enough powedered sugar. Usually I use equal amounts. Two cups of fat two pounds of sugar. Also the cold milk could be making the fat seperate. I hope that makes sense
I agree. It sounds like you need more powdered sugar. Also, you could be overmixing. That will make bc runnier the longer it's mixed.
I have to disagree about the powder sugar/fat. In the first one that is 2 cups of fat to 2lbs of sugar, which works fine. The second would be 1 cup fat to 1lb sugar, again the same ratio. And if you look at the last it is 1 cup of fat to 5 cups (which would be over 1lb of sugar) so that would be even more sugar added.
My opinion is that she is adding too much liquid. When making the Wilton buttercream stiff consistancy you use 2T of water/milk to 1 cup crisco and 1lb of powder sugar. If you follow that ratio when doing a recipe doing 2 cups/2lbs you should add 4T of water/milk. Adding 5-6 would make it medium or closer to it.
Another thing to consider, butter can make the icing softer, especially when piping with it, because it has a lower melting point than crisco.
I agree. Too much liquid. Stop adding the liquid when you reach the consistency you want.
My experience with most BC, add powdered sugar when too soft and/or decrease the amount of liquid.
Oh, and I agree with the butter! When piping, your icing will get softer from the heat from your hands. You need to keep them on ice packs or something.
You'll need to share your recipe before we can diagnose the problem.
This was funny, I am sitting at work about to page one of the Dr on call. Forgive me it's late.
You'll need to share your recipe before we can diagnose the problem.
This was funny, I am sitting at work about to page one of the Dr on call. Forgive me it's late.
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