Do you use the thickened buttercream dam that she recommends? Do you make it as thick as shown in the video? How big of dam do you use?

I made a cake before viewing the dvd using a regular buttercream dam (4 layers, with filling, buttercream, filling between), and had no problem with filling leakage or bulging.

I made a cake after viewing the dvd with the thickened buttercream dam (same filling style, but the cake was a bit delicate, I think because I hadn't made sufficient adjustments for the higher altitude). The thickened buttercream tore the edges of the cake, hurting the structure and the top tier collapsed outright (I'm not blaming the collapse completely on the thickened buttercream, but I do think it was a factor).

I ate a piece of the collapsed tier, and when I got to the edge of the slice, the part with the thickened buttercream, I just about gagged on it... to me the chewiness made it gross.

Now, in all fairness... I was making the cake with a friend, and I think when she thickened the buttercream, it may have been a little thicker than shown in the video... but not a lot. I think a slightly thickened buttercream might be alright, but I was wondering if everyone used the super-thickened buttercream shown in the video.

I use it and havent had any problems -- havent had any buldging sides on my cakes since I watched the video. I use a regular coupler to apply it at the edge of the cake then add my fillings at the same level as the dam.

I ordered the DVD just last week, so I am not familiar with her buttercream yet, I like the recipe I have for mine. I've never used a super thick cram for the dam, actually I've even used my IMBC for it, and it has worked good for me...

I hope some else that uses this BC can help you... I am interested to know too, before I make it, once i get my DVD'S

Same here not problems. It has actually made the sides more stable.

I haven't found Sugarshack's buttercream to be super thick and I have the video. I'm not sure why you thought hers was super-thickened. I'd place it more at a medium-thick consistency. I've made "super-thickened" buttercream before -- trust me, you cannot pipe it!

Yes, I use the thickened buttercream damn and it works great especially for fruit fillings.

This first time I watched her Buttercream DVD my first thought was that the buttercream looked VERY thick, well I decided to give it a try and although it was thicker than I was previously working with I found that I had no problems with it and really liked it.

All I would suggest it that you give it another try and see if it works any better for you.

I love the idea of a dam, especially with fruit/jam fillings. I make sure my bc is slightly thicker than regular-I would say medium consistency...and this works like a breeze. Like I have said before I do alot of fruit filled cakes and I use a very thin strawberry fruit sauce in between layers and it would be very ugly to have any of it leaking out. The dam prevents this completely and also I can stuff it with the filling so it tastes super moist and yum. Good Luck!

I don't make a dam like she does (although I don't use really runny fillings either). I just put a tile on top of the cake as it settles and anything that is going to squish out will do it then.

I have used the thickened buttercream Dam, but only with her recipe, and it works just fine for me I mostly use fruit fillings, maybe you had the problem and the gag effect, because you used a different recipe, and it became too thick, her recipe for the thickened dam is thick but not extremely thick, I have never had any complaints with those cakes.

I hated eating the part with the 'dam' also. Yuck, too much thick frosting. This is why I abandoned the idea, and because I'm lazy

I have dumped extra Powdered sugar into some buttercream, but it's not thick enough to break off with my hands. It's thicker than the buttercream I ice the cake with, but i can still pipe a dam thru a coupler. I just make sure it's thick enough for me to press on with my finger and it doesn't "smush". I can wiggle the dam into place or move it, if necessary. I've never had a problem with breaking or taste.

I find her buttercream recipe works well as a damn without making it any thicker. I usually pipe out two layers of the buttercream and never have any leaks. I'm too lazy to make the thick rope of buttercream.

I just made the thickened dam for the first time yesterday. I haven't eaten the cake yet but I was wondering about the chewiness of the dam buttercream. I don't think I will do it again unless I have a runny filling. I am too lazy as well. That stuff was hard to pipe!

if you guys are struggling to pipe it out of the coupler, it is too thick. It takes a little bit more pressure to pipe it out (as I did in video) but I was not straining or struggling to pipe it out. It does not have to be super hard stiff, just stiff enough to support some of the weight of the layer above.

It has not bothered me or any customer of mine ( that I know of) to eat it. BUt it might bother some. I think maybe if you are having bad results, try it not quite so thick and see if that is better.

HTH some!

Yup, Use it LOVE it!! One thing that I learned though (from another dvd of hers) was to put a little schmere of buttercream before the stiffened buttercream, just to help it stick to the layers And I liked the taste of the thickened buttercream I also used it like fondant (just made it a little more thick after I piped the dam) and made a nose and some ears for the baby shower cake I was making because they didn't want fondant. Worked great Hope you try it again, because it really does help

Use a thickened dam every time, and love it. I don't notice a difference in the taste and haven't heard anyone else mention it. Trust me, if my DH tasted a difference, he'd let me know...he's a cake snob lol.

I get mine pretty thick, but still very pipeable. I don't use a coupler, though. I just cut the tip off of a disposable piping bag...I've done it enough times that I know what size hole I need in the bag. Love the thickened dam...no bulge!

The thickened BC dam works great for me. It keeps the regular BC or whatever you're using as a filling from squishing out, I haven't had any "squishing" problems since I started using it. And I actually like the taste and consistency of it... does that make me weird?

I just got my Wedding Bouquet Flavor from GSA and can't wait to make her buttercream.... it smells incrediblew... my kids wanted to drink it hehehe

I only watched it once so far but I thought she took a small amount and added more cs and then rolled it in her gloved hands and then put it around the edges..............was I hallucinating lol..........I better go watch again....love Sharons dvd's all of them....I will no doubt have to watch 100 times before you notice any improvement in my cakes though

I haven't done the dam either, but i love her bc, it's not that sickening sweet, it comes out pretty thick for me, and i was surprised on how much bc she put in after the dam. i do have to thin it down some to make it spread on the cake easier.

I am not actually using her exact recipe at this point...I am just using my usual recipe and using the hot creamer with it....wow it makes it nice...I have never used the bouquet stuff either

made some for the first time tonight ..... I would say the buttercream was on the medium side..... I loved the taste and it had a good texture.... Light and soft..... I would say that it a little softer than what I have been using... but I will try it again.

I love the stiffen buttercream. I have used it several time and find that it really help.

Hi, Sagebrush -- You mentioned that your cake was a "bit delicate." Sounds like you may have gotten the BC way too thick, which is why it "tore" your cake, if it had a delicate crumb texture. That damming BC is thicker than normal, but you should be able to pipe it. The first time I did it, I got it way too thick, too and struggled w/piping it out. Next time, not so thick and it worked fine. I haven't found any difference in taste by adding the additional PS to thicken it. HTH and good luck!