Hi
I'm new to baking and decorating but am keen to learn! Cakes are good but my icing needs help.
I made some buttercream today but I can still 'bite' the icing sugar despite beating it on my mixer for a very long time. Why is this?
I've also tried using shortening t make american style frosting but it always curdles!
Maybe I'm doomed.....
Any tips would be great!
Thanks
Debx
If you're using powdered sugar, it will always be grainy. If you want a smooth, creamy buttercream, make swiss or italian meringue buttercream. It's to die for! Doesn't use powdered sugar. You melt granulated sugar into egg whites, whip them to stiff peaks, then beat in butter and flavorings until it's fluffy. I prefer mine cold, but it's divine at room temperature, as well. HTH
I use powdered sugar all the time, never grainy, also could be the quality or grade of the sugar. Where did you buy your p. sugar? I only buy mine from warehouse stores such as smart & final (when you buy in smaller qty's being that you are new) I buy from bakery distributors so its in 50lb qty's. The sugar is much fresher/moistier. Sorry if I didn't spell this right.
As for the curdling, I find that if all ingrediants wet/dry are not at the same temp. this happens but will straighten itself out.
FYI. I also add white chocolate to my wet and a teaspoon or so of flour to my dry ingrediants. The taste is awesome.
thanks for responses!
i use the wilton recipe but Ilive in the UK so we dont have as much choice as you do over in the usa (although my mom visits frequently so she could be my new importer of all things small and light!). I have only one brand in even the biggest store so buy that.
I'll have a go at the recipes above and for getting professional sugar too.
Thanks again
D
D, maybe you can find out where the bakeries get their supplies and if so would they sell to you. I don't know what the rules are in the UK. On this side we have to have a resell permit to buy. If they won't sell to you maybe a bakery will. Some bakeries will help out newbies.
Try to find powdered sugar made from sugar cane--not beets. C & H or Domino's are both cane sugar. It really makes a difference!
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