| Luscious buttercream has been dubbed the queen | | | | out with, here's one of our favorite buttercream |
| of icings by many a cake decorator, and if you | | | | recipes. |
| have ever played chess, you'll appreciate the | | | | 1 cup vegetable shortening |
| analogy. | | | | 1/2 cup butter |
| This makes it well worth your while to learn how | | | | 1 teaspoon of clear vanilla flavor |
| to make great tasting and performing | | | | 1 teaspoon of creme bouquet flavoring (optional) |
| buttercream. You will find you can use it to fill and | | | | 1/4 cup milk or water (add more as needed or |
| cover a cake (providing a canvas for all sorts of | | | | for thinner consistency) |
| decorative work), pipe decorative borders, and | | | | 1 pinch salt (if using unsalted butter) |
| make icing flowers and other decorations. | | | | 1 teaspoon meringue powder |
| Buttercream can even be rolled like fondant. | | | | 2 pounds of sifted powdered sugar |
| You will find many varieties of buttercream, | | | | Mix the shortening and butter until well blended. |
| including crusting and non-crusting, strawberry | | | | Add milk/water and flavoring and continue mixing. |
| (made with fresh strawberries is best!), buttery | | | | Once well combined, turn the mixer off. Add salt, |
| buttercreams and snow-white, dairy-free | | | | meringue powder and sugar. Adjust mixer's |
| buttercreams. Crusting buttercream dries to a | | | | setting to the lowest speed, and mix just until the |
| semi-hard consistency, but not cement hard like | | | | ingredients start to come together. |
| royal icing. And, crusting or soft, buttercream | | | | Then on medium speed and mix for 2 - 5 minutes |
| tastes wonderful. Those who prefer a less sugary | | | | until smooth and a little fluffy (time will vary |
| icing can use a less-sweet-buttercream recipe. | | | | depending on the power of your mixer). A stand |
| If you've ever made a wedding cake, you already | | | | mixer will require about 2 minutes, while a hand |
| understand the need to turn out a velvety, | | | | mixer will require 5 minutes or more. |
| fondant-like buttercream icing. | | | | If the icing is too stiff and you can tell the mixer |
| As any cake decorator will tell you, producing a | | | | is straining, add more liquid to obtain the right |
| creamy buttercream icing and then smoothing it | | | | consistency. If it becomes too soft, add more |
| to a wrinkle and crack free surface on your cake | | | | powderedsugar. |
| can be tricky. | | | | Tips for Perfect Buttercream |
| No worries. There are some tried and true | | | | -If using a stand-up mixer, use the paddle |
| techniques that will help you to consistently | | | | attachment, NOT the whip. |
| produce smooth buttercream icing with each new | | | | -When using unsalted butter, add a little dash of |
| cake. | | | | salt to cut the sweetness. |
| One of our favorites is the "Paper Towel Method". | | | | - Meringue powder helps make your buttercream |
| This works only with crusting buttercream. One | | | | lighter and fluffier, which helps flowers hold their |
| you've iced your cake, allow your buttercream to | | | | shape when you pipe them. |
| sit for about 15 minutes, allowing it to form a | | | | -Always use name brand shortening. Because it |
| crust. | | | | has more emulsifiers, it blends better and will not |
| Use a smooth paper towel (such as Viva) for this | | | | give you that "greasy" taste. |
| method. Also be sure the paper towel is white so | | | | - For snow-white and dairy-free buttercream, |
| there's no risk of color's bleeding onto you cake. | | | | replace the butter with shortening and add 1 tsp. |
| Step 1. Press the clean, dry paper towel onto the | | | | clear, butter flavoring. |
| surface of your cake with the goal of pressing | | | | - Smooth the sides of your buttercream iced |
| out any wrinkles in the frosting. | | | | cake with a fondant smoother or bench scraper |
| Step 2. With the palm of your hand flat on the | | | | by holding either tool to the side and slowly |
| paper towel, gently glide the towel in a circular | | | | spinning the cake on the turntable. |
| motion. The natural heat from your hand help's | | | | Here's one more tip for making buttercream icing. |
| smooth the frosting under the towel. | | | | Sometimes the buttercream in your mixing bowl |
| Step 3. Continue to gently glide the paper towel | | | | will develop waves or bumps. This usually means |
| and press out bumps and wrinkles on the entire | | | | your icing is too thick. No problem. A small amount |
| surface of your cake until the surface is perfectly | | | | of corn syrup to the icing will thin the |
| or near perfectly smooth. | | | | buttercream. |
| And to give you a great buttercream to try this | | | | |