Imbc- Family Hates It!

Baking By Mmmcake25 Updated 12 May 2014 , 2:50pm by Mmmcake25

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Mmmcake25 Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:09am
post #1 of 35

AI finally worked up the courage to make my first IMBC, and WOW why was I so afraid to make this before? It's so much better- taste, texture..everything!

So as my main taste testers are my family, I decided to use IMBC only for cupcakes I have previously made in the past (a family favorite). Just to find out, they all hated it, and next time want that "confectionary sugar stuff"!! (AMB).

....what?!!!

Does my family just have horrible taste!?

They said they thought the IMBC, flavored with Irish cream, was "too oily" and they like "that sweet stuff".

Now after making IMBC, I just can't imagine using AMB again. Do any professional bakers out there still use ABC?

34 replies
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Mmmcake25 Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:11am
post #2 of 35

AAll of those AMB's should be ABC's. oh the delights of touch screen phones! Apologies!

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Evoir Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:18am
post #3 of 35

It depends on your location. And your market.

 

I'm in Australia, and regular ABC is the domain of cheap commercial bakeries, used on cheap cakes and cupcakes.

 

As a custom caker, though, I use IMBC exclusively, unless asked for something different, for my buttercream.

 

Most Australians would find ABC far too sugary and sweet to eat in the huge pile you usually see on a cupcake these days!

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MBalaska Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:22am
post #4 of 35

Yes I still do ocassionally,   However.................

 

If your willing to try a Swiss Meringue ButterCream, that's been adopted to people who also love American ButterCream, think about one try with these modifications that I've made.  We're not very sophisticated here.

 

8 oz of egg whites, (by weight)

2 cups of granulated sugar,

3 sticks of butter and

1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract. 

 

for those that I know like really sweet icing, I sift in about half a cup of powdered sugar.  When I need a better piping consistency I plop in an extra  few Tablespoons of Crisco. 

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morganchampagne Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:23am
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AMy dad doesn't like it. He says it tastes "slick" most people are used to that crusted over mouth feel of buttercream. Some can't make the switch

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Mmmcake25 Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:35am
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AThanks MB I think I will try Swiss next, maybe try half the batch w/o the confectionary and half with. I originally was going to try Swiss, but after hours of comparing the pros and cons, I took from previous CC threads that IMBC had a longer shelf life?

And Morgan I guess I understand the "slick" feeling, I just thought that was a better texture to enjoy than crunching the outside of your frosting! Haha :)

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MBalaska Posted 2 May 2014 , 3:15am
post #7 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmmcake25 
".....I just thought that was a better texture to enjoy than crunching the outside of your frosting! Haha icon_smile.gif

 

Mmmcake25, You're still All Good!!!  You may end up with a whole book of different icings.

 

AMBC, SMBC, IMBC, ganache, fondant, MMF, MFF, poured fondant, chocolate glaze, corn syrup glaze, Royal Icing ..........................

 

You just match the icing to the persons taste -  ((one man's meat is another mans poison))

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morganchampagne Posted 2 May 2014 , 4:28am
post #8 of 35

AI think he's insane lol. I love the stuff and my clients do too! To each his own I guess. I love the stuff!!

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 2 May 2014 , 4:28am
post #9 of 35

I recently tried the SMBC with a recipe that is very similar to the one listed. I am not sure if perhaps I did it wrong as it just came together, no curdling etc, just one smooth icing...... however what we didn't like about it was the way that it hardened up in to fridge and changed the mouth feel as opposed to the buttercream staying a lot softer and smoother (I filled with SMBC and iced with BC), that is what made me think that I did it wrong?

 

If IMBC has a similar feel to it I can understand why your family felt that way. What I actually did with part of my SMBC was to add it about 50/50 with BC and that was seriously great.... way better than either by themselves, it hardened but stayed soft and there was no crunch to it either, so that might be worth a try for you?

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FioreCakes Posted 2 May 2014 , 5:10am
post #10 of 35

I have a question--- I use SMBC and ABC, I give people a choice with a description of each, most choose ABC because I think most have never tried SMBC. I mostly do celebration cakes not wedding cakes so there is no tasting involved. So, those of you (AZ) who use strictly meringue buttercreams, do you just say "buttercream" to your clients and they get SMBC always? have any of you had complaints from clients thinking they were receiving ABC and got SMBC?

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 5:43am
post #11 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by FioreCakes 
 

I have a question--- I use SMBC and ABC, I give people a choice with a description of each, most choose ABC because I think most have never tried SMBC. I mostly do celebration cakes not wedding cakes so there is no tasting involved. So, those of you (AZ) who use strictly meringue buttercreams, do you just say "buttercream" to your clients and they get SMBC always? have any of you had complaints from clients thinking they were receiving ABC and got SMBC?

I usually describe what the smbc is like, and how it's different regarding mouthfeel, and how it's not toothachingly sweet. I've never had anyone express disappointment that they weren't going to get an ABC style icing, no. :D

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FioreCakes Posted 2 May 2014 , 5:49am
post #12 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 
 

I usually describe what the smbc is like, and how it's different regarding mouthfeel, and how it's not toothachingly sweet. I've never had anyone express disappointment that they weren't going to get an ABC style icing, no. :D

Thanks for letting me know...maybe I will try to make the switch to an all SMBC menu! 

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 5:53am
post #13 of 35

Actually, anytime I've had IMBC, I thought it was greasy and too buttery as well, and my SMBC is definitely neither. Could be the recipes were wonky, or they could have been just fine, and I could be completely nuts.

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Smckinney07 Posted 2 May 2014 , 6:29am
post #14 of 35

AI prefer the SMBC, I use that and ganache mainly. Every other baker in my area uses American BC so I refer to it as my 'Kids Buttercream' also explaining the difference, I haven't made American BC for a customer in a long time!

For the original poster, have you tried making French BC? From what I understand it's more rich like ABC but it's made like a meringue BC, Joshua Russel makes it in his free Craftsy class and it looks easier to make then a SMBC. I haven't tried the French BC, but it uses powdered sugar.

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morganchampagne Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:31am
post #15 of 35

A

Original message sent by bubs1stbirthday

I recently tried the SMBC with a recipe that is very similar to the one listed. I am not sure if perhaps I did it wrong as it just came together, no curdling etc, just one smooth icing...... however what we didn't like about it was the way that it hardened up in to fridge and changed the mouth feel as opposed to the buttercream staying a lot softer and smoother (I filled with SMBC and iced with BC), that is what made me think that I did it wrong?

If IMBC has a similar feel to it I can understand why your family felt that way. What I actually did with part of my SMBC was to add it about 50/50 with BC and that was seriously great.... way better than either by themselves, it hardened but stayed soft and there was no crunch to it either, so that might be worth a try for you?

You did it right. Do to the high fat content it gets rock hard like cold butter in the fridge...but you have to let it sit out for a while before eating it. Like a couple of hours. I don't like it cold at all!! But room temp OMG

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Mmmcake25 Posted 2 May 2014 , 1:08pm
post #16 of 35

I guess my next route is to try SMBC, and possibly French BC after that. I'm now wondering if they ate the frosting directly out of the refrigerator, which could of had a rock solid texture like Morgan stated. That way I could possibly understand why they said it was "slimy"...

 

AZ- how is the shelf life of SMBC? I think the only reason I chose IMBC was because from what I read, it seemed like IMBC lasted longer, I could also as well be nuts! :duh:

 

Part of me thought about checking to see what the (very few & far between) local bakeries in my area use for buttercream and see what the "norm" for my area is. Maybe that will explain why my family is stuck on ABC...

 

Thanks for everyone's input, very much appreciated!!!!!

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Claire138 Posted 2 May 2014 , 1:23pm
post #17 of 35

This is so interesting bc I made SMBC last week after not having made it in years and my kids did not like it, they said they prefer AMC, personally I prefer the former but I did wonder about it. My husband on the other hand loved it as did my guests so maybe it's a more adult taste?

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morganchampagne Posted 2 May 2014 , 1:29pm
post #18 of 35

AIt's possible!! My friends dad told me he didn't like my cake. After some investigating it turned out that he ate it rock hard out of the fridge. Once he let it come to room temp it he loved it!! He bothers me all the time for it lol

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:03pm
post #19 of 35

Ahhhhh, you can't really love your smbc unless you can eat it right outta the fridge. Until then, you're only having a little love affair. Just kiddin'....but my personal favorite way to eat is, is right outta the fridge, nice and cold and chunky. Yum yum!

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-K8memphis Posted 2 May 2014 , 2:10pm
post #20 of 35

cold smbc is gross-- and it lasts several days out of the fridge in a cool room and of course you can freeze/fridge it if you want--it's a good icing-- has a good shelf life -- if i had leftover i would pop in some vanilla to spruce/spice it up--like for family

 

i make mine fresh for every cake though--it makes a difference

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craftybanana Posted 2 May 2014 , 3:08pm
post #21 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Ahhhhh, you can't really love your smbc unless you can eat it right outta the fridge. Until then, you're only having a little love affair. Just kiddin'....but my personal favorite way to eat is, is right outta the fridge, nice and cold and chunky. Yum yum!


I'm glad I'm not the only one! I love cold cake and how the icing is hard..... It just melts in your mouth :D

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 3:11pm
post #22 of 35

AMmmmmm, exactly!

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JWinslow Posted 2 May 2014 , 4:13pm
post #23 of 35

If SMBC is made correctly, it's like a creamy ice cream right of the fridge.  Yum!  I especially love my Java SMBC cold.

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 4:44pm
post #24 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWinslow 
 

If SMBC is made correctly, it's like a creamy ice cream right of the fridge.  Yum!  I especially love my Java SMBC cold.

Actually, I describe it as soft vanilla ice cream (as far as the taste) sometimes to people wondering what it's like. :D 

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:16pm
post #25 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Ahhhhh, you can't really love your smbc unless you can eat it right outta the fridge. Until then, you're only having a little love affair. Just kiddin'....but my personal favorite way to eat is, is right outta the fridge, nice and cold and chunky. Yum yum!

Eeek - that description makes me think of vomit. haha - I think you have just ruined SMBC for me for life.

 

 

Edited to add that we ended up cutting the pieces of cake an hour or two before we wanted to eat them so that they had time to warm up on the bench and for the SMBC to soften to a creamy texture which we found far better for us.

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:34pm
post #26 of 35

:lol: Hee hee.....oops, sorry Bubs! 

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:36pm
post #27 of 35

I definitely would not try to push that preference on an unsuspecting customer. I time my deliveries so the cake will be in place and resting, and will come to serving temp by the time they serve it, for sure. But I have spoken to people who did admit to eating it by the forkful right out of the refrigerator. :lol:

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AZCouture Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:41pm
post #28 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmmcake25 
 

 

AZ- how is the shelf life of SMBC? 

 

 

I know some people say it lasts out of the fridge just fine for a couple/few days, personally that creeps me out. But that doesn't mean it's not perfectly safe. Some of those same people might say that you only have to cook it until the sugar is dissolved too, which really creeps me out, and is just BAD advice. Eggs need to be cooked properly, especially when serving to the public, and a person's fingers do not a thermometer make. Anyways....once I make a batch, it goes into and on the cake, and the cake goes into the fridge when I'm not working on it, or it's being delivered, period. I just don't take chances.

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:42pm
post #29 of 35


I have no doubt that you do it that way :-) Funny how different everyone's tastes are, personally I like cake straight from the fridge and I like mudcake straight from the freezer mmmmmm. 

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MBalaska Posted 2 May 2014 , 11:57pm
post #30 of 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubs1stbirthday 
 


I have no doubt that you do it that way :-) Funny how different everyone's tastes are, personally I like cake straight from the fridge and I like mudcake straight from the freezer mmmmmm. 

 

try cheesecake straight from the freezer.  also wonderful.  (are you old enough to remember the wonderful fad of putting a wooden popsicle stick in a Milkey Way bar and freezing them?)

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