I really, really, really, really, really want to love SMBC. Believe me, I do. As I always hear rave reviews for it on the forums. And being a bit unhappy with my current "too sweet" buttercream I tried to make it....

...Why does it taste like a stick of butter? I understand there is a ton of butter in there, but I just had an overwhelming taste that did not go over well. My recipe was 4oz egg whites, 8oz sugar, 12oz butter, and 2 tsp vanilla. Did I do something wrong?

Should I add more flavoring?

Or is this just the tast of SMBC?

Can I add shortening to cut some of that buttery texture out???


TIA

anyone?

Did you use unsalted butter?

I've been experimenting adding less butter. I've made some frosting out of my mom's old Betty Crocker cook book that's called White Mountain frosting. It is adding the hot sugar syrup into the stiff egg whites. I made IMBC the other night and used the Cake Love recipe that calls for 5 egg whites, 10 oz. sugar, 1/4 cup of water, and 16 oz. of butter. I cut that to 12 oz. of butter and it wasn't too bad. I added probably 1 tblsp of vanilla to it also.

I should add that maybe adding less butter might affect how it holds up, I'm not sure. I haven't ever really used it for anything but filling or on cup cakes. The cakes I made with White Mountain frosting were always eaten right away and that was when I just used to slather it on top of a 9x13 cake for whoever's birthday

I always use SMBC. You can always add more flavoring to cover up the butter taste. I use lots and it never seems to affect the end product, the only thing I have had trouble with is adding too much gel coloring. SMBC doesn't like being dark colors . Anyways, I hope that helps. BTW I use the "Well Dressed Cake Swiss Meringue Buttercream with variations" found in the recipe section. It's yummy!

Also, I almost always use 2 Tbsp of flavoring depending on the extract. When I make my irish cream SMBC, I use 1/4 cup of Bailey's ... Makes for happy baking!!!

Jodie: Yes, I did use unsalted butter....

gerripje: Is the IMBC very different than the SMBC? I wonder if I should try that...

and Stsapph, that sounds yummy!!! It seems I may have just not put enough flavoring in my recipe...


Hmmm... sooo much too think about and go back to the kitchen- make up another batch!

i've read people complaining about SMBC tasting like a stick of butter, and also read in order to cut the 'too buttery' taste, one must use UNSALTED butter instead of normal salted butter.


i love butter, so all i've ever used when whipping up a batch of SMBC was normal salted butter, and i'm fine with that. but try unsalted instead, you may taste the difference!

you can sub shortening to make it less buttery or even if you want it to be more stable in hot weather. i like to used organic shortening because its less greasy, imo.

calivettie sorry we must have posted at the same time.. if you've used unsalted & still taste the butter in it.. then i rest my case..

dailey, i never knew we could sub for shortening... i learn something new everyday!

What's the difference between regular shortening and organic shortening? What's different that makes it less greasy?

I meant to say earlier that I use a bit more sugar when I make mine. I like it a little sweeter. So, for 1 cup egg whites, I use 2 1/2 cups sugar, and then 3 cups butter. You do need to add quite a bit of vanilla.
There are also folks that just don't care for SMBC...you may be one of them!

Jodie

The IMBC Itlian meringue differs only that instead of heating the egg whites and sugar, you boil water and sugar to 240 and then pour into the beaten egg whites. Lots of people have said there isn't much difference, but for some reason I have better luck with IMBC for smoothness.