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Frostings and Fillings

Ermine Frosting

February 24, 2022 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Ermine frosting is a light and fluffy buttercream that is similar in texture and flavor of whipped cream and but is sweeter and more stable like Swiss meringue buttercream. Ermine frosting has no eggs and makes for a really good whipped cream alternative for cakes. While the cooking process, and flour in frosting seems a bit odd, trust, as it really is a super delicious, easy and versatile frosting.

Ermine Frosting

What is Ermine Frosting?

Also called flour frosting, boiled milk frosting, and heritage frosting, ermine frosting is an old fashioned frosting made with a cooked sweet milk flour paste (roux) and butter. It was the original frosting of red velvet cake, until cream cheese became more popular. Don’t be put off by the flour in the buttercream. You won’t taste it, and it aids in thickening the custard-like, pudding base of the frosting.

Ermine Frosting

How to Make Ermine Frosting

Milk, sugar, flour and salt are whisked together in a saucepan until boiling. Visual cues will be the key to knowing when the paste has cooked enough. About 2-3 minutes after the paste has started boiling, it will have thickened and resembled vanilla pudding. Whisk constantly to prevent the milk from burning. Vanilla is added and the paste is strained into a bowl and set aside to cool until room temperature.

Beat the room temperature butter in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment until lightened in color and fluffy. Add the flour mixture to the butter, beating in a few tablespoons at a time. Once fully combined, add any additional flavorings. Beat the frosting on high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.

Ermine Frosting

Tips for Frosting Success

FLAVORING – You can infuse the milk with teas, herbs, etc in the milk/flour mixture or you can add flavorings at the end such as chocolate, nut butters, fruit curds, etc.

STORING – Ermine frosting can be left at room temperature up to a day to two, but should be refrigerated after. Bring to room temperature before rewhipping or serving. It can be refrigerated for one week or frozen for three months. Defrost in the refrigerator before bringing to room temperature.

Be sure both the butter and the flour mixture are room temperature before mixing. If either the butter or flour mixture is slightly too cold, the frosting could curdle. Keep beating and the ingredients will come together. If the ingredients were too cold, you can warm the bowl a bit with a blow dryer or kitchen torch, keeping an eye on it so that it does not begin to melt. Keep beating until the frosting will comes together.

If the frosting is too soft, place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, before rewhipping again. Repeat placing it in the fridge in increments if necessary.

Ermine frosting takes color well. I prefer to use gel color, but you can use powdered color as well.

Ermine Frosting

If you make this ermine frosting, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your bakes and creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more frosting and buttercream recipes, check out these posts:

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Italian Meringue Buttercream

French Buttercream

Ermine Frosting
Print Recipe
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Ermine Frosting

Light and fluffy buttercream frosting that is similar in texture and flavor of whipped cream and but is sweeter and more stable like a meringue style buttercream.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Course: Dessert
Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups (341g) whole milk
  • 1¼ cups (223g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (60g) all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1½ cups (339g) unsalted butter, room temperature

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the milk, sugar, flour and salt, and bring to a boil.
  • When the mixture starts to boil, continue to cook, whisking constantly for another 2-3 minutes. The mixture will thicken and resemble pudding.
  • Whisk in the vanilla.
  • Strain the mixture into a shallow container to remove any clumps. Place plastic wrap over the surface of the mixture to prevent a film from forming.
  • Leave to cool to room temperature or pop in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. It should be room temperature to touch, not cold.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
  • Add the room temperature flour mixture to the butter, a few tablespoons at a time.
  • Once combined, whip the frosting on high for 3-5 minutes until smooth, light and fluffy.

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: boiled milk frosting, buttercream, ermine frosting, flour frosting, frosting, heritage frosting

French Buttercream

February 17, 2022 By Ashley Leave a Comment

French buttercream, the less commonly used of the egg based buttercream trio, but easily the most delicious. It’s light and silky as a mousse but rich and luxurious as a pudding or custard. It’s fabulous as a cake or macaron filling and is a fab way to use up any leftover egg yolks. It is the perfect vehicle for intense and decadent flavors, such as chocolate, nut butters and curds.

French Buttercream

What is French Buttercream?

French buttercream is made very similarly to Italian buttercream, requiring a hot sugar syrup to added to egg yolks to form the base of the buttercream, but is faster since it doesn’t require a meringue. Butter is then added and beaten to until thick and custardy. It’s sturdy as a cake filling and holds its shape well when piping. Compared to Swiss and Italian buttercreams, French is the least stable of the trio, and doesn’t fare well with warm weather. I tend to use French buttercream mostly as a filling for cakes or macarons, while frosting the outside of my cakes with Swiss or Italian. This is a great way to use both the yolks and whites.

How to make French Buttercream

French buttercream is custardy-like, due to the buttercream being egg yolk and butter based. Egg yolks are whipped on high to aerate and loosen up the yolks. The yolks will lighten in color and thicken a bit. Meanwhile, water and sugar are boiled on the stove to 238F – 240F. This sugar syrup is slowly drizzled into the beaten egg yolks and whipped until the mixture has cooled to room temperature.

The sugar syrup is very, very hot. Always keep the egg yolk mixture on low speed, and add the sugar syrup in a slow stream to prevent any accidents.

Room temperature butter is added a few pieces at a time, followed by salt and vanilla. The mixture is then beaten until thick and creamy. Any additional flavors, like chocolate, fruit pureés, and more added after the buttercream has come together.

French Buttercream

Storing French Buttercream

Since French buttercream is egg yolk based, it does have to be refrigerated. It can be left out for a few hours, but should be refrigerated overnight. French buttercream can also be refrigerated for up to a week and frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost buttercream in the refrigerator. Bring the buttercream to room temperature before re-beating. Just like Swiss and Italian, French buttercream will separate when beaten cold.

French Buttercream

Tips for Buttercream Success

Since French meringue buttercream is made with yolks and butter, it has a yellow hue. Because of the color, and the high fat content, it does not take food coloring well. I do not recommend trying to color this buttercream.

If your buttercream seems too runny, your butter could have been too soft. Refrigerate for 10 minutes then rewhip.

If your buttercream seems too stiff or lumpy, your butter could have been too cold. Microwave the buttercream in 10 second increments, beating after each increment, until the proper consistency is reached.

If your buttercream looks curdled, keep mixing. Hang in there. It’s going to be ugly before it gets pretty.

French Buttercream

If you make French buttercream, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your bakes and creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more buttercream recipes, check out these posts:

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Italian Meringue Buttercream

French Buttercream
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

French Buttercream

Prep Time30 mins
Course: Dessert
Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks on high speed until very pale in color and slightly thickened.
  • In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and a ½ (120g) water and place over medium heat, stirring on occasion.
  • Once the mixture starts to boil, stop stirring and boil the mixture until the sugar is dissolved and reaches 238F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
  • With the mixture on low speed, slowly stream in the hot sugar syrup. Be sure to do this slowly and on low speed so the hot sugar doesn't splash up.
  • Turn the mixer up to medium and beat until the mixture is room temperature and the bowl is completely cool.
  • Add the butter, a few pieces at a time. Add in the salt and vanilla.
  • Beat until the buttercream is completely smooth and silky (about 5 minutes).

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: birthday cake, buttercream, custard buttercream, egg yolk, French buttercream

The Ultimate Guide to White Chocolate Ganache

April 16, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Welcome to the last installment of my ultimate guide to ganache series – all about white chocolate ganache. I looooove using white chocolate ganache. It is my favorite alternative for those who don’t like fondant. It’s creamy, delicious and serves as the perfect, smooth, blank canvas on a cake.

White Chocolate Ganache

White chocolate is getting its own separate post because it can behave a bit differently from semi/dark chocolate ganache. It can seize or split easier, and melting white chocolate can sometimes be a challenge. Timing and ratio are key to white chocolate ganache. Gone are the days of troublesome ganache. With these tips and tricks, making a smooth and creamy white chocolate ganache will be a breeze.

How is white chocolate different from other chocolate?

White chocolate, compared to dark and milk chocolates, do not have any cocoa solids. It also has more sugar, more milk solids, less cocoa butter and can burn or seize easier than dark chocolate. But don’t let that dissuade you from making it. Choosing the right chocolate, heating it slowly and mixing it properly are key to a smooth and creamy ganache.

Really, the most important factor of determining the right white chocolate for ganache is the quality of the chocolate. As with dark chocolate, the quality of white chocolate makes a huge difference in the final ganache. Quality determines the taste and texture, especially in white chocolate which can range from chalky and cloyingly sweet to smooth and milky, which is why chips or coating chocolate can be a bit of a gamble. But, you can make ganache with them.

White Chocolate Ganache

How to make white chocolate ganache

White chocolate ganache ratio: 3:1 or 12oz white chocolate to 4oz cream

Weigh or measure the chocolate and place in a bowl. Chop the pieces finely if you are using chocolate bars. Microwave for 45-60 seconds to soften the chocolate.

Place the cream in a saucepan and place on the stove over medium low heat.

Heat the cream until it starts to steam along the top. Keep a close eye on the cream making sure the cream doesn’t scald or curdle.

Once heated, pour the cream over the warmed chocolate. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

With a spatula or a whisk, begin gently stirring the mixture starting in the center to blend, and working outward. This creates a smooth emulsion and prevents air from being incorporated. Too much air can cause the mixture to split.

You can use the ganache immediately or set it aside to cool to the desired consistency. Be sure not to agitate the chocolate while it is setting, which can cause it to split.

Let it set at room temperature. Place plastic wrap onto the surface of the ganache so that it doesn’t form a film.

The ganache is ready for drips at 85-90F and ready for filling or icing a cake when the texture is thickened and smooth, resembling peanut butter or canned frosting.

White Chocolate Ganache
Top: ganache without white color
Bottom: Whitened ganache

Whitening Ganache

Surprise! White chocolate ganache is often enough not white. Color does depend on the brand and varies, but with real white chocolate, to get a true white, you will have to color it. Candy melts and almond bark tend to be more white and less translucent.

You can whiten your ganache by adding white gel color in the cream before mixing it into the chocolate or mixing in the color after incorporating the cream. Alternatively, you can color it once it is ready to use.

Whipped ganache is a fantastic cupcake frosting. Beating the cooled ganache in a stand mixer until fluffy and thickened is also a way to whitening ganache and making a lighter frosting.

White Chocolate Ganache

How to color white chocolate ganache

Traditionally, adding water based anything to chocolate spells disaster. Since ganache is an emulsion, you can add a concentrated gel color to the ganache. I like to whiten the ganache first. This is to make sure the color I am adding to the ganache isn’t altered by the ganache’s yellowish/translucent hue.

Even though you can totally use gel color in ganache, if I’m making red, navy, or even black (when possible use dark chocolate ganache for black – MUCH easier), I like to use oil/chocolate colors because these colors require a lot more color added to the ganache. The oil/chocolate colors can darken the ganache faster with less color.

White Chocolate Ganache

Uses for white chocolate ganache

  • Drip cakes
  • Glazes for donuts, eclairs, cupcakes and more
  • Ice cream topping
  • Cake or cupcake filling
  • Topping brownies
  • Dipping cookies
  • Macaron filling
  • Whipped chocolate ganache frosting
  • Truffles
  • Frosting cakes
  • Dipping fruit
Ganache

White Chocolate Ganache and Cake Decorating

Ganache is ideal for frosting cakes. It’s airless and super smooth, creating an smooth and flawless cake covering. It’s also one of the best cake frostings to use if you’re making a fondant cake. Ganache holds its shape better, and sets up more quickly than buttercream, allowing you to keep smooth and crisp ganache edges when covering with fondant.

Ganache also has a higher melting point than buttercream, which means that on warmer days, buttercream would melt faster than ganache. For those people who don’t like fondant, white chocolate ganache can give you that same white, flawless finish that fondant does.

Another perk of using ganache on layer cakes, is that you typically don’t get any bulging or blowouts as long as you’re allowing your cake to settle after filling and layering it and you’re not trapping any air under your fondant. You also want the ganache to be fully set before covering fondant.

Ganache

Flavor variations

I love infusing flavors into white chocolate ganache, especially fruit reductions. But here are some ideas on what you can infuse or add to your ganache.

Jams and fruit reductions

Teas

Zests

Mint/Herbs

Extracts

Salted Caramel/Nut Butters

Alcohol

Coffee

Sprinkles

White Chocolate Ganache

For more information on ganache and troubleshooting, check out my Ultimate Guide to Ganache posts listed below. If you make white chocolate ganache, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 1

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 2

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: cake, drip cake, filling, frosting, ganache, icing, white chocolate

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache: Part 2

April 11, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

In the Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache part 1, I explained what ganache is and how temperature and ratio determines consistency and usage of the ganache. In this continuation post, I will go over how to make ganache as well as how to flavor ganache and troubleshoot any problems.

Ganache

Ganache Amounts:

Bittersweet/Semi-Sweet Ganache:

1:1 – 10oz chocolate/10oz heavy cream

2:1 – 10oz chocolate/5oz heavy cream

1:2 – 8oz chocolate/16oz heavy cream

Milk Chocolate:

3:1 – 12 oz chocolate/4oz heavy cream

Ganache

How to make ganache

Weigh or measure the chocolate and place in a bowl. Chop the pieces finely if you are using chocolate bars. Microwave for 30-45 seconds to soften the chocolate.

Place the cream in a saucepan and place on the stove over medium low heat.

Heat the cream until it starts to steam along the top. Keep a close eye on the cream making sure the cream doesn’t scald or curdle.

Once heated, pour the cream over the warmed chocolate. Let the mixture sit 3 or 4 minutes.

*Add ins: Adding a tablespoon of butter or corn syrup will give your ganache more shine, which is helpful especially when using for a drip or glaze. Corn syrup also gives the ganache a little bit of elasticity. Adding a pinch of salt to the chocolate before the cream is added gives the ganache a bit of flavor and breaks up the sweetness into identifiable flavors.*

With a spatula or a whisk, begin gently stirring the mixture starting in the center, and working outward. This creates a smooth emulsion and prevents air from being incorporated. Too much air can cause the mixture to split.

You can use the ganache immediately or set it aside to cool to the desired consistency.

Ganache

Ganache and cake decorating

Ganache is ideal for frosting cakes. It’s airless and super smooth, creating an ideal and flawless cake covering. It’s also the best cake frosting to use if you’re making a fondant cake. Ganache holds it shape better, and sets up more quickly than buttercream, allowing you to keep smooth and crisp ganache edges when covering with fondant.

Ganache also has a higher melting point than buttercream, which means that on hotter days, buttercream would melt faster than ganache.

Another perk of using ganache on layer cakes, is that you typically don’t get any bulging or blowouts as long as you’re allowing your cake to settle after filling and layering it and you’re not trapping any air under your fondant. You also want the ganache to be fully set before covering fondant.

Chocolate ganache is also a good starting point for a true black frosting. Adding black color to the ganache allows you to use less food color, but also it’s easier to achieve a true black. Coloring buttercream uses far more gel color and can also leave an aftertaste.

Ganache

Common Ganache Questions

Can I reheat or reuse ganache?

Most definitely. I almost always make ganache in advance and store in the refrigerator for a day or two before using it. I microwave ganache in short 5 second bursts, gently stirring after each to gradually bring the ganache to temperature, but also to achieve the desired texture. Refrigerating and reheating repeatedly can cause the ganache to lose its shine. But, it’ll still taste amazing.

How do you store ganache?

Due to the higher sugar amount, ganache can be stored at room temperature for up to 48 hours. You can also refrigerate ganache for up to 2-3 weeks, and freeze ganache for up to 3 months. Note that frozen ganache will typically loose it’s shine and glossy appearance when brought to room temperature.

What about white chocolate ganache?

See my Ultimate Guide to White Chocolate Ganache.

Can I refrigerate my ganached cake?

Absolutely. But, you don’t have to. The ganache *can*crack if the cake gets too cold. And while the topic of freezing ganache covered cakes is highly debatable, I do not recommend freezing a ganached cake because of this reason.

How do I attach fondant to my ganached cake?

When ganache is set on a cake, it sets firm and dry. You can adhere fondant to the ganache by brushing on a thin layer of sugar syrup, corn syrup, alcohol or vegetable shortening.

How do I color my chocolate ganache black?

There are a couple ways to darken ganache. Keep in mind, it only takes a small amount of black color to achieve black ganache.

  1. You can add black chocolate/oil based color OR black gel color to your ganache until you achieve your desired color. It’s typically true that adding to water will cause chocolate to seize, but since ganache is an emulsion, you can use gel color.
  2. You can add black gel color to the cream mixture before pouring over the chocolate.
Ganache

Troubleshooting Ganache

Why is my ganache grainy?

If your ganache is grainy and poor quality chocolate isn’t the culprit, place the bowl of ganache over a double broiler, and slowly reheat the mixture, stirring until the mixture is smooth no longer grainy. If the ganache is greasy, too much air could have been incorporated while mixing. Additionally, use a glass bowl. Ganache is shinier and smoother when using glass compared to plastic. No idea why, it just is. Science.

Additionally, if you’re reheating the ganache, any graininess is just uneven melting. Just keep stirring and gently heat to even out the texture.

My ganache is lumpy after mixing in the cream?

Likely, your chocolate isn’t melted enough. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring gently after, until the ganache is smooth and melted.

I made my ganache too liquidy? How can I fix it?

For ganache that is too thin and won’t set, reheat it and add a small amount of chopped chocolate at a time, heating it thoroughly until thickened.

For ganache that is too stiff, add additional warmed cream, a tablespoon at time to thin it out.

My ganache split and is greasy. Can I fix it?

Be sure to not overheat your chocolate, as well as taking care to not overheat the cream. Chocolate that gets too hot can cause the fats to separate causing a split and greasy chocolate mess.

It’s very easy to overheat chocolate in the microwave. Microwave in short increments to avoid overheating.

Ganache

Flavor Variations

Ganache is chocolate and chocolate will be the dominant flavor, but infusing flavor into ganache gives you loads of options for pairing with different cakes and fillings.

Mint and fresh herbs

Salted Caramel

Flaky salt

Extracts

Espresso

Earl Grey/teas

Zests

Cookie Butter

Peanut Butter

Nutella

Alcohol

Spices

Ganache

If you make ganache, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 1

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: cake, chocolate, drip, drip cake, filling, frosting, ganache, icing

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache: Part 1

April 11, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Chocolate ganache. Multi-functional, very delicious, and super easy, requiring only 2 ingredients – cream and chocolate. Ganache can be infused with different flavors and can be used for glazes, fillings, truffles, or even frosting cakes. With it rich, creamy and velvety texture, ganache is perfect for elevating any dessert and making beautiful cakes.

Ganache

What is chocolate ganache?

Ganache is an emulsion consisting of chocolate and warmed cream to make a creamy, shiny and smooth mixture with various uses. The ratio of chocolate to cream determines how thick the ganache is and what it can be used for. The temperature of ganache also determines how it can be used. Warmed, it can be used for drips or glazes, cooled and set, it can be used as a cake filling, frosting or even chocolate truffles.

Ganache

Uses for chocolate ganache

  • Drip cakes
  • Glazes for donuts, eclairs, cupcakes and more
  • Ice cream topping
  • Cake or cupcake filling
  • Topping brownies
  • Dipping cookies
  • Chocolate mousse
  • Whipped chocolate ganache frosting
  • Truffles
  • Frosting cakes
  • Dipping fruit
Ganache

The importance of chocolate quality

When possible, choose chocolate bars rather than chips. Chocolate chips are made to retain their shape when baking. They do melt, as you can see when you eat a warm cookie, but they are made with less cocoa butter so the chips remain somewhat intact. This *can* make for a grainy, somewhat thicker and dull ganache. However, that’s not to say that you can’t use any chips. I prefer to use a higher quality chocolate chip. One that has a higher percentage of chocolate and cocoa butter, such as Ghirardelli 60%, or Guittard Extra Dark. For milk chocolate, I prefer to use chocolate bars only. It’s not as easy to melt milk chocolate chips, which can result in burning them or they can seize. I find that they make a clumpy, grainy ganache, but feel free to experiment to find your preference and what brands work best for you. My favorite bar chocolates are Callebaut and Guittard. Ghirardelli or Lindt are good alternatives that can be found in most grocery stores.

Ganache

Chocolate to cream ratios

Depending on the ratio of heavy cream to chocolate depends on the consistency of the ganache is and how you can use it. The temperature of the ganache determines when you can use it. Freshly made ganache can be used for drips and glazes. Nearly set ganache, can be used for fillings, and firmer, cold ganache can be used for truffles. But all ganache will be thinner when just made, and set and harden more as it cools.

Semi/Bittersweet chocolate Ratios:

2:1 – 2 parts chocolate, to 1 part cream (by weight) creates a thicker, fudge-like ganache that when lukewarm can be used for drips, or when set to peanut butter consistency, can be used for cake fillings, topping brownies and frosting a cake. When the ganache is chilled or hardened a bit, you can use this ganache to make truffles. This is my preferred ratio for frosting a cake.

1:1 – 1 part chocolate to 1 part cream (by weight) creates a thinner ganache that can be used for glazes, drips and when cooled a bit, can be whipped to make a whipped chocolate ganache frosting or a mousse. You can also use this ratio for a cake or cupcake filling, but it will be a little bit softer.

Ganache

1:2: 1 part chocolate to 2 parts cream (by weight) makes a thin, pourable ganache that can also be used as a glaze, or as an ice cream topping. You can also use this ganache for dipping fruit, or fondue as well as making hot chocolate.

Milk Chocolate Ratio:

Milk chocolate requires less cream than dark/bittersweet because it has a higher percentage of milk solids, less cocoa butter and has more sugar in it which allows it to stay liquid when heated.

3:1 – 3 parts chocolate cream to 1 part heavy cream (by weight) will make a thicker ganache like the bittersweet 1:2 ratio. You can also do 2.5oz of chocolate for a softer ganache.

Ganache Drip

Head on over to The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache part 2 to learn how to make ganache, how to flavor it, and how to troubleshoot any ganache issues.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 2

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: cake, chocolate, cream, drip, drip cake, filling, frosting, ganache, glaze

Salted Caramel Sauce

October 29, 2020 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Salted caramel is one of those sauces that can go on so, so many baked goods. Even when I’m writing recipes, I have to keep myself in check, otherwise there would probably be salted caramel on everything. This salted caramel sauce recipe should be kept on standby in your kitchen. It is quick and easy to make, doesn’t require a candy thermometer and tastes so much better than store bought. It’s rich, buttery and deep in flavor, making a perfect caramel topping for your favorite dessert.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Salted caramel sauce has endless uses. This sauce, while still warm, is a thinner consistency perfect for drizzling over ice cream or yogurt, cakes and pies. The sauce, when cooled is thicker in consistency, and is perfect for a cake filling, swirling into brownies, dipping apple slices and for using in frostings.

Salted Caramel Sauce

How to make salted caramel sauce

Prep the ingredients for the salted caramel before you begin because once you get started, it all comes together quickly. Butter and a small amount of water are cooked together. I recommend using a light colored saucepan so that you can see the color indictions that the caramel is done cooking. The water is added to help the sugar melt more evenly. The sugar mixture boils until it is mid-amber in color. Too light and the flavor will be bland, not having been fully caramelized. Too dark and it tastes burnt.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Once the caramel is mid-amber color, remove from the heat. Carefully add the butter. The mixture will steam and bubble so be very careful when doing this. When the butter is fully whisked in and melted, whisk in the cream, salt and vanilla. If the caramel seizes after the cream is added, put the saucepan back over low heat and whisk until melted. Remove from the heat. Pour into a jar or storage container. The caramel will thicken as it cools. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove to thin the consistency. Salted caramel sauce can be kept for up to a month in the refrigerator.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For amazing recipes using salted caramel, check out these posts:

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Salted Caramel Sauce
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Salted Caramel Sauce

Sweet and salty salted caramel sauce
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: caramel sauce, salted caramel

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (59ml) water
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or flaky salt

Instructions

  • In a medium sized saucepan, combine the sugar and the water. Stir just until combined. 
  • Place the saucepan over medium heat. Let the sugar mixture cook, without stirring, until the sugar mixture turns a mid amber color. Take the mixture off the heat to stop the cooking process.
  • Add the butter to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Be very careful as the mixture is incredibly hot and will bubble up and steam when the butter is added. 
  • Whisk in the heavy cream, followed by the vanilla and the salt. Whisk until smooth.
  • Let the caramel cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a storage container to cool completely.

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: caramel, salted caramel sauce

How to Color Buttercream: A Comprehensive Guide

July 27, 2020 By Ashley 12 Comments

Coloring buttercream can be difficult, especially when it comes to very dark or very bright colors, and also in trying to achieve an exact color that’s needed to be reproduced for a cake design.  Matching colors and recreating specific colors isn’t always easy to do.  This guide will help you be able to properly color buttercream and frostings, as well as how to customize and create colors and color palettes. This guide will also help you understand color theory basics, help you troubleshoot any coloring issues and give you some tips and tricks for making specific colors, or color palettes.

Coloring Buttercream

This gradient was created by adding blue buttercream to white buttercream. The blue was made the day before and developed overnight. These gradient colors were mixed just before the photo was shot. You can notice some speckling in the mid/light blue colors because the blue hasn’t fully mixed with the white.

How do different types of buttercream adapt to color?

How well buttercream takes on color and how the color develops depends on what type of buttercream you use. American style buttercream, made with butter or shortening, tends to incorporate color the fastest and easiest. This type of buttercream is considered sugar based, so there is generally less fat in this type of buttercream compared to meringue style, or any other fat based buttercream which tend to contain far more butter or shortening. American style buttercream adapts to color easier as the water based gel color dissolves in the sugar/liquid mixture, so the color can penetrate and deepen before mixing with the fat.

Fat based buttercream takes a bit longer to develop color, and can be a more frustrating process, but it can still be done. Because gel food color is water based, so it takes more color to be able to thoroughly saturate buttercream, especially in larger batches, and with very dark or vivid colors. Fat and water repel, so it takes more time for the color to emulsify and develop into the buttercream, but it is still possible to achieve dark and vibrant colors with gel colors.

Less stable buttercream, like those made with custards, roux, whipped cream or cream cheese, tend to develop color similarly to American style buttercream, but oftentimes the texture and stability can be compromised depending on how much color is added. It is also possible that the buttercream can collapse or separate with over mixing (like a whipped cream buttercream). Avoid adding too much color to these types of buttercream as the stability decreases and the texture changes.

Coloring Buttercream

Top row: This buttercream has been colored black using gel color from chocolate buttercream. The first photo is after a couple hours and is still a charcoal color, but has darkened slightly. The second is black buttercream that was left overnight to rest. Bottom row: Buttercream that has been colored red from buttercream that was colored with electric pink, then red oil-based candy color. The first photo is after a couple hours, the second one is the results after resting overnight.

Buttercream also falls into two base color camps. Butter based buttercream is usually more yellow hued, while shortening buttercream is white. This can also make a slight difference in the outcome of a color, particularly if you’re trying to achieve a light or pastel color. If you add a touch of leaf green to white buttercream, it will most result in a hue that is more true to the bottle green color. If you add leaf green to a yellow-hued buttercream, that leaf green color will be have a warmer undertone from the yellow.

If you need your buttercream to be a pure white, you can use a concentrated bright white gel color, or you can also add very (very) small amounts (toothpick dots) of violet gel color to the buttercream to cancel out the yellow hue and create a white buttercream. I’ll explain more on how this works in the color theory section.

Coloring Large Batches of Buttercream

When coloring buttercream, fondant, ganache, etc., it’s good to invest in gel colors that are highly concentrated and true to color. Highly concentrated color requires you to use less color, making the color less likely to be tasted, and less likely for the texture to go off, which is particularly important in moisture sensitive mediums like ganache, gum paste, and fondant. There isn’t one specific brand of gel colors that I specifically use, and I’m always experimenting with new brands and colors, but I’ll list my preferred colors below.

Coloring Buttercream

When I say true color or true to color, I am referring to colors that are a more accurate representation of that specific color, and not color that has lots undertones of another color, or changes hues when added to buttercream. For example, some black gel colors either have a green or purple undertone that is noticeable when mixing into buttercream and fondant. Some brown gel colors have orange undertones. It takes more time to balance out the undertones, in addition to creating the desired color.

An alternative to gel color, for fat based buttercream, is to use candy color, or oil based colors. Usually these types of colors are created to be used with chocolate, and they work fantastically with fat based buttercream, and ganache and are probably my favorite use for meringue buttercream and ganache. I prefer using these colors when I can, particularly for coloring large batches of buttercream.

Coloring methods:

With a meringue style buttercream, you can color the meringue before the butter is added. Just add the color to the meringue, mix to combine, then add the butter. For a darker color, remove a small portion of the meringue, mix in the color until the desired color is achieved (it will more than likely deflate, that’s ok). Add the butter to the uncolored meringue and mix until the buttercream has reached the proper fluffy consistency. Add the colored meringue at the very end and mix to combine. Add more color if necessary.

You can also use the microwave method for buttercream. Remove about ¼ cup of finished buttercream and place into a microwavable bowl. Add gel color until the the desired color is achieved and microwave for 5-15 seconds until the color is incorporated, deepened and slightly liquid. Add the colored mixture to the buttercream and combine.

Coloring Buttercream

Pastels created using individual gel colors.

It’s important to let the colors develop and deepen for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. Particularly with fat based buttercream, not allowing the color to rest also results in speckling, which means that the color hasn’t fully emulsified into the buttercream. When mixing color into the buttercream, you want to bring it close to the desired color, then allow it to rest. Especially for very dark and bright colors. The buttercream will darken a couple shades. Alternatively, you can make a darker buttercream by starting with chocolate buttercream. Adding darker colors to an already naturally darker buttercream will help you achieve those colors a bit faster with less color.

If you’re concerned about tasting the gel color, or of the possibility of staining mouths, consider using the dark color buttercream only as a thinner outer layer of your cake, rather than piling on a lot of dark buttercream on the outside.

When it comes to mixing small batches of buttercream for painting on cakes, or for buttercream details, I mix gel colors directly into the buttercream with a palette knife to help blend and mix together, while also getting rid of any air bubbles. I particularly love this method because the buttercream gets super smooth and sort of shiny like oil paint.

Coloring Buttercream

When two colors that are opposite on the color wheel are combined, they create a neutral color. The paired colors on the left are pastel primary and secondary colors. The pairs were mixed to create the neutral colors on the right.

Color theory and why it’s important

Understanding basic color theory is fundamental for any artist that works with color. Understanding how colors work together, how to balance and create tones, tints, shades etc. is important in being able to create particular colors, and complimentary color palettes.

So, just a few general color theory basics.

Hues  – Hues are the pure colors in the color spectrum, and refers to the dominate color family of a specific color. It’s really the term we are referring to when we mention “color”, except it doesn’t include, white, black, gray (neutrals). Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple are hues.

Tints – Tints are created when white is added to a hue. Think of these as pastels, or hues that have been lightened and desaturated.

Tones – Tones are created when adding white and black (gray) to a hue. Tones can be darker or lighter than the original. In other terms, tones are created by tinting and shading the hue. Undertones can also refer to warm (red, orange, yellow) or cool (green, blue and purple).

Shades – Shades are created by adding black to a hue, making the hue darker.

Coloring Buttercream

Primary colors – These are the three colors that all other hues are made from, and cannot be made by mixing any other hues together. These colors are red, yellow, and blue.

Secondary colors – These three colors are made when two primary colors are mixed together. These colors are green, orange, and purple

For the best results and the most optimized colors, build color by adding a little bit at a time with multiple colors, rather than just trusting one bottle color. Building colors, especially to create purples and pinks also reduces the chances of fading, which can happen with these colors sometimes. For example, I noticed my purple would lighten and have a blue hue. So when I make purple, I start with electric pink (or a bright pink), then I use purple. The electric pink boosts the brightness of the purple and keeps the pink tone of the purple, if the purple starts to fade.

Be familiar with what a particular gel color looks like – whether it has warm or cool undertones, or if there are any alternative color undertones. Ivory is a color I recommend to always keep on hand,  Adding a little bit of ivory helps to tone down the saturation on bright colors, and can help mute a pastel. I add ivory to all my vintage colors as I like these colors to be muted and warm toned.

Coloring Buttercream

These are primary colors – red, yellow and blue. Notice that the red and yellow look throughly saturated and color is evenly distributed. The blue, being freshly made has more of speckle effect because the color isn’t fully disbursed.

Hues can be neutralized when a color is too overpowering. For example, if you have a  yellow hued buttercream, you can neutralize the color by adding the color opposite on the color wheel, so in this case, it would be violet. Adding a little bit of violet to yellow will “cancel” out the yellow, making it white. Another example is gray buttercream made with black gel color. The buttercream ends up looking a bit green. To neutralize the green, you would add very little red to cancel out the green since they are opposites on the color wheel, and end up with balanced gray.

Brands and Colors I like to use:

Americolor – red, black, royal blue, electric pink, electric blue, electric purple, green, bright white, lemon yellow, chocolate brown, ivory, avocado, moss, gold, dusty rose, regal purple

ProGel – purple, claret, gooseberry, navy

Artisan Accents 

Wilton –brown, kelly green, ivory

Chameleon colors (oil based color)

Coloring Buttercream

The top three colors (red, orange and yellow) were mixed the night before the photo was taken. The bottom three colors (green, blue, and purple) were mixed right before this photo was taken. I mixed primary colors together to create the secondary colors.

Color mixes for popular colors:

Masala/Burgundy – more red and less purple, with a little bit of brown to tone down the brightness

Coral – more orange, less pink and a little bit of ivory to tone down the saturation

Wine – equal red and purple, a touch of brown, a touch of black

Mint – more green, a touch of blue, ivory to mute the saturation

Chocolate brown – brown, touch of black

Moss green – leaf green, touch of brown

Royal blue – electric blue, a touch of purple, a touch of black

Navy – more royal blue, less black and a touch of purple to tone the blue and make it less smoky looking

I hope I’ve helped answer any questions you may have regarding coloring buttercream. I’ll be working on separate coloring posts for pastes, chocolate and royal that will be coming soon-ish. If you have any questions, please leave them below so I can get them answered for you!

For more on buttercream, check out these posts:

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Italian Meringue Buttercream

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings, Resources Tagged With: american buttercream, butter, buttercream, candy color, color, food color, frosting, gel color, icing, meringue buttercream, neutrals, shortening

Italian Meringue Buttercream

June 8, 2020 By Ashley 2 Comments

Italian meringue buttercream is the lighter, fluffier, more stable cousin to the ever popular Swiss meringue buttercream. Both Italian and Swiss buttercreams are similar as they are light, silky smooth, and melt in your mouth. They both create a smooth cake surface and chill firmly for sturdy stacking and transportation. The main difference between Swiss and Italian is in the preparation of the meringue.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

The Italian method of boiling sugar and water to a high temperature to create a sugar syrup and then adding it to soft peak egg whites, allows for a more stable meringue, or a meringue that will not deflate or breakdown easily over time. This is especially beneficial when using this buttercream for a cake for an outdoor event or on a warm day. With caution of course. If you frost a cake with any butter based buttercream and leave it outside in the sun in mid-July in the Midwest, it’s destined to be a buttery messy puddle quickly. But, for moderately warmer temps, it is the best butter based buttercream to use.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

Egg whites and cream of tartar whipped to soft peaks.

Both Swiss and Italian meringue buttercream contain mostly the same ingredients – egg whites, sugar, butter, salt and flavoring. The exception is that Italian meringue buttercream usually uses some sort of stabilizer (cream of tartar, salt) which stabilizes the egg whites during beating, before the sugar syrup is added.

How to make Italian meringue buttercream

Italian meringue buttercream is made by combining sugar and water into a saucepan and boiling until softball stage, or about 240-245F. As with caramel, mix together the sugar and water. Then stop stirring. You don’t want to create sugar crystals – which would give you crunchy bits in your otherwise silky smooth buttercream. While the sugar is boiling, whip up the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form. When the sugar mixture reaches temperature, remove from the heat and turn your mixer up to medium-high speed. Drizzle the *very* hot sugar mixture into the bowl, between the side of the bowl and the whisk attachment.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

Sugar syrup has been added, and the meringue has been cooled and beaten to stiff peaks.

Continue to mix on medium-high until the outside of the bowl is just lukewarm to the touch, or the mixture is at 80F. Really though, don’t stress about having exactly 80F meringue here -I’m really just giving you a temperature as a guide. Just feeling that the bowl is lukewarm means it’s ready for the butter. You can wrap the bowl with ice packs or cold towels to help cool the meringue down faster if you wish.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

Right after all the butter was added. A bit deflated, lumpy and thin. Keep mixing!

Same as with Swiss buttercream, softened butter is added to the bowl piece by piece until all the butter is added. The buttercream will deflate a bit, and it is quite possible the buttercream will curdle or look thin, like cake batter,  but keep going. Oftentimes, meringue buttercreams go through an ugly, sloppy mess before coming together and looking more like buttercream. Once the buttercream has come back together, let it mix on low speed for a while – 5-10 minutes or so, to get rid any air bubbles. Air bubbles in buttercream under a fondant cake can result in blow-outs and bubbling fondant. The end result will be perfectly smooth, beautiful, fluffy, light and silky buttercream.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

The buttercream is fluffy, light and smooth. Those little holes and divots are air bubbles. Mix on low for 10 more minutes to smooth them out.

Troubleshooting Italian meringue buttercream

*The buttercream can be refrigerated and also freezes well. Bring to room temperature before rewhipping, otherwise the buttercream will separate. If this happens, heat the metal mixing bowl with a kitchen torch while continuing to whip. Stop applying heat when the buttercream comes together.

*Color meringue buttercream with gel color, or ideally chocolate colors (which are oil based). Do not use liquid color as it can dilute the buttercream.

*If at the end of mixing, your buttercream is a liquidy, soupy mess, pop in the refrigerator for 15-25 minutes to cool it down. Look for the edges of the buttercream to start to harden, then it should be ready to whip again. Repeat this process again if necessary.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

*Keep going! If you have whipped up your egg whites and heated your syrup to the correct temperature, the rest of the process is pretty foolproof. If it is curdled, separated, lumpy, the butter was too cold, etc. Keep mixing. It might take a bit longer but keep mixing and it will come together.

*Italian meringue buttercream can hold quite a bit of flavorings. When adding liquids, such as fruit purees and other liquids, mix in a little at a time. The liquid needs to be able to emulsify into the buttercream. Another reason you want to add a little bit of liquid at a time, is that adding too much liquid can cause the buttercream to become unstable. I recommend reducing your fruit purees into concentrates before adding to the buttercream. You can also use pulverized freeze dried berries for fruity variations as well.

Italian Meringue Buttercream

The recipe below is for vanilla bean Italian meringue buttercream. But the flavor options are endless. Here are a few popular flavors to experiment with. Adjust the quantities to suit your taste. I like my buttercream flavors as concentrated as possible.

*Chocolate – Add 3 cups (600g) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature, to a batch of buttercream

*Fruit flavors – Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups reduced fruit puree, preserves or curd per batch

*Nut Butters, Cookie Butters, Caramel- Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups per batch

*Boozy – Add 1/4 – 1/3 cup flavored liqueur such as Bailey’s, Champagne,  Amaretto, etc. per batch

For more information on meringue based buttercream, check out my post on Swiss meringue buttercream here.

Italian Meringue Buttercream
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Italian Meringue Buttercream

A fluffy, silky and smooth not-so-sweet meringue based buttercream, that is more stable than Swiss meringue buttercream but lighter in taste and texture. Perfect for all types of flavors and add ins.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: buttercream, frosting, italian meringue buttercream

Equipment

  • Electric Stand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 9-10 (300g) large egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 ½ cups (500g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120g) water
  • 3 ½ cups (793g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cubed
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  • Place the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
  • In a heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and the water over medium-high heat. Stir to moisten the sugar.
  • Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Boil the sugar and water mixture. Do not stir.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar.
  • On medium speed, whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, about 1-2 minutes.
  • When the sugar syrup reaches 240F, remove the saucepan from the heat. Turn the speed of the mixer to high, and very carefully and slowly pour the hot syrup in a thin and steady stream into the bowl, pouring between the bowl and the whisk attachment so that the sugar syrup doesn't splatter. Don't rush.
  • Once the sugar syrup is added, continue to whip until stiff peaks form and the bowl is lukewarm to the touch, about 10-15 minutes. You can wrap the bowl with ice packs to speed up this process, if you wish.
  • Switch to the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low speed, add the softened butter, a few pieces at a time, mixing until the butter disappears into the meringue.
  • After all the butter has been added, increase the speed to medium and whip until thick, and fluffy.
  • Reduce the speed to low. Add the vanilla and salt, and beat for an additional 5-10 minutes to minimize the air bubbles.

Notes

Buttercream can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerated for 1 week in an airtight container and frozen for up to 3 months.

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: buttercream, cake, cake filling, frosting, italian meringue buttercream, meringue

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

March 4, 2019 By Ashley 38 Comments

When I discovered Swiss meringue buttercream several years ago, I was intimidated by it. I didn’t like the idea that I couldn’t just throw everything in a mixing bowl and start mixing as I had done with the buttercream I had been making at the time for my cakes. Swiss meringue buttercream requires a bit of extra time, costs a bit more and involves a process. But let me tell you, it is so worth it. Swiss meringue buttercream is luxuriously light and creamy. It’s silky, fluffy and smooth texture makes it a DREAM for filling and icing stacked cakes. It’s stable and holds its shaped when piped. It’s perfect for getting those sharp, precise edges on layer cakes and is a great base for covering with fondant.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

How to make Swiss meringue buttercream

You begin the process of making Swiss meringue buttercream by heating egg whites and granulated sugar in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. This process is to cook the egg whites and melt the sugar all while whisking continuously to avoid any scrambling. Once the egg white mixture reaches 160F, it is strained through a sieve into a stand mixer mixing bowl and using the whisk attachment, beaten until stiff peaks form and the bowl is room temperature to touch. At this point, softened butter is popped in piece by piece and then, and you leave it to mix on low for a bit. It’s important to mix on low as to not incorporate air. Incorporating air into your buttercream can cause and contribute to cake disasters, such as blow-outs, air bubbles and sinking.

This is the time in Swiss meringue buttercream making that most people think they’ve destroyed it and they pitch all of that glorious (albeit, ugly at this point) buttercream. It’s quite possible your buttercream will look curdled, or super deflated. It might even look separated. But it’s ok. Let it keep mixing. This can take up to 10 or 15 minutes. Keep mixing and it will come together into creamy, silky and smooth Swiss meringue buttercream. Mixing the buttercream on low for a while allows it to fully incorporate, and eliminates air pockets – which is super important if you’re making a fondant covered cake. It also helps creates that super silky, creamy texture.

Once the buttercream has come together and is fully incorporated, add the flavorings and a pinch of salt. Don’t skip the salt – it helps to define the flavors you add to your buttercream. Swiss meringue buttercream is a blank canvas suitable for many, many types of flavorings. Jams, curds, cookie butters, nut butters, extracts, chocolates, etc. It holds flavors incredibly well so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
The mixture just after adding butter. The butter is incorporating, the mixture looks like it’s deflating and it looks like it’s curdling. Keep mixing!

Some common questions and concerns:

1. Swiss meringue buttercream is too buttery.

This is the most common concern, no doubt. In comparison to American style buttercream that is mostly sugar and the sugar taste is the forefront flavor, Swiss meringue buttercream will seem more buttery as butter is the star in this buttercream.  I always suggest to meringue buttercream beginners to try a fruit or chocolate flavored buttercream first so you can really get a since of how delicious, adaptable and amazing this buttercream truly is. Additionally, if you’re making a vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream, don’t skimp on the vanilla in quality or quantity. I add both vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste to my buttercream. This buttercream is more of a luxury style buttercream meant to showcase high quality flavors and ingredients. It’s the perfect vehicle for intense and concentrated flavors.

*Pro tip: If you love the texture and taste of Swiss meringue buttercream but want it a bit sweeter, add 1/2 -3/4 cup of sifted confectioners sugar after the butter is fully mixed in.

2. Can I make Swiss meringue buttercream in advance?

Yes, definitely. You can keep your Swiss meringue buttercream at room temperature for up to two days. If you’ve let your buttercream sit for a couple days, it will seem kind of spongy if you try to use it as is. Place the buttercream back into the bowl of your stand mixer and mix on low for 5-10 minutes until smooth. You can also refrigerate and freeze the buttercream. Again, you will need to mix again on low speed to smooth out the texture. The buttercream must be room temperature before mixing otherwise, it will separate. I always make my Swiss meringue buttercream in advance and refrigerate it because I’m always making large quantities of it for wedding cakes.

*Pro tip: If you start mixing the buttercream and find that it is still too cold and is separating, you can help bring the separated mixture back together by using a kitchen torch to warm the buttercream. While the mixer is on, run the kitchen torch flame along the outside bottom, of the metal mixing bowl, back and forth, until the buttercream starts to come together. *Only try this technique if you’re using a metal mixing bowl.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Starting to form larger curds and looks like it’s starting to separate. But it won’t. Keep mixing!

3. Why aren’t my egg whites whipping into stiff peaks?

Your mixing bowl and utensils must be grease free otherwise the eggs won’t whip up properly. They’re temperamental like that. Wipe down your bowl and utensils with a clean cloth and lemon juice or vinegar to remove remaining fat residue. I also don’t recommend using carton eggs. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. I also don’t find meringue made with carton whites to be as stable.

4. Why is my Swiss meringue rock hard after being refrigerated?

Keep in mind that Swiss meringue is made with mostly butter, so being that cold butter is hard in the fridge, you should expect your buttercream to harden similarly. This aspect of Swiss meringue buttercream though, is one of perks of using it for layer cakes. Cakes refrigerated with Swiss meringue buttercream are far more stable for transportation and for covering with fondant than a cake covered with an American style shortening based buttercream. Also, buttercream acts as an excellent insulator, keeping your cake moist while being refrigerated. Just bring your cake to room temperature before serving and it will be perfectly soft and delicious.

5. I’m adding loads of gel food color to color my buttercream but it’s still not the dark color I want.

Swiss meringue buttercream is oil (butter) based. Gel food color will not allow you to achieve the deep, or vibrant colors that can be easily achieved with shortening based or American style buttercream. To be achieve dark and vivid colors with Swiss meringue buttercream, you need food coloring that is suitable to chocolate, one that is oil based. I like to use Artisan Accents Chameleon Colors.

6. Swiss meringue buttercream costs more to make, takes longer to make and can be more difficult to make. Why would I want to make Swiss meringue buttercream over my go-to American buttercream that is inexpensive, fast, and easy?

Just like some people find Swiss meringue buttercream to be too buttery, some people find American style buttercream to be grainy, greasy or overly sweet. When it comes to taste and texture, it all comes down to personal preference. It’s also important to consider workability as well, especially if you want to make professional looking cakes.

The main reasons I find Swiss meringue buttercream to be worth trying and is my preference for my cakes, is for stability and versatility. If you make layer cakes or tiered cakes, it’s important to have a base buttercream that is stable for layering, stacking and transporting. Swiss meringue buttercream, as well as Italian buttercream, chills firm allowing for a smooth and stable foundation for fondant or rolled chocolate.

I also find that the support from using a meringue style buttercream, or ganache is important for supporting sugar flowers well in a cake. Buttercream that is more loose, doesn’t firm in the fridge (like a shortening based buttercream) just doesn’t have the stability of a meringue buttercream or ganache. Using Swiss meringue allows me to get sharp, clean edges on my cakes and stays firm while I am decorating, stacking, and transporting the cake.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
The mixture has come back together from it’s curdled state and is starting to look creamy and silky, but there’s lots of air pockets still. Keep mixing on low speed!

Some tips for successful Swiss meringue buttercream:

*Use a candy thermometer or and instant read thermometer to make sure your temperature just reaches 160F. 160F ensures that all the bad bacteria is killed off in the egg whites. However, be sure to bring the temperature of your egg/sugar mixture up slowly and don’t overcook your mixture. Rushing this process will result in scrambled and cooked egg whites.

*Swiss meringue buttercream can hold quite a bit of flavorings. When adding liquids, such as fruit purees and other liquids, mix in a little at a time. The liquid needs to be able to emulsify into the buttercream. Another reason you want to add a little bit of liquid at a time, is that adding too much liquid can cause the buttercream to become unstable. I recommend reducing your fruit purees into concentrates before adding to the buttercream. You can also use pulverized freeze dried berries for fruity variations of Swiss meringue buttercream.

*If your finished buttercream appears loose and more pudding-like, it’s possible that the butter was too warm when you added it to the meringue. Pop the bowl into the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes then mix again.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Perfect texture! Look at that silky and creamy Swiss meringue buttercream.

The recipe below is for vanilla bean Swiss meringue buttercream. But the flavor options are endless. Here are a few popular flavors to experiment with. Adjust the quantities to suit your taste.

*Chocolate – Add 3 cups (600g) of bittersweet chocolate, melted, to a batch of buttercream

*Fruit flavors – Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups reduced fruit puree, preserves or curd per batch

*Nut Butters, Cookie Butters, Caramel- Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups per batch

*Boozy – Add 1/4 – 1/3 cup flavored liqueur such as Bailey’s, Champagne, or Amaretto per batch

If you try this Swiss meringue buttercream recipe, let me know! Leave a comment in the comment area below and be sure to snap a photo and tag it #littlevintagebaking on Instagram. I love seeing your Little Vintage Baking creations!

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Silky, creamy, and stable Swiss meringue buttercream perfect for piping, filling and icing cakes
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Mixing20 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: buttercream, frosting, swiss meringue buttercream
Servings: 10 cups

Equipment

  • Electric Stand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 9 (300g) large egg whites
  • 2 1/2 cups (500g) granulated sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups (793g) unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  • Weigh out egg whites and granulated sugar together in a non-reactive bowl, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the bowl and place over a pot of simmering (not boiling) water, whisking constantly and gently until temperature reaches 160F. 
  • Using a sieve, strain the egg white sugar mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • Mix on medium speed with the whisk attachment until the mixture is glossy, reaches stiff peaks and the outside of the bowl is no longer warm. You cannot add butter to the bowl if it is warm or the butter will just melt when added. 
  • Once the mixture reaches stiff peaks, you have Swiss Meringue (Yay!) but we’re going for buttercream here, so onward. Switch out the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment and begin mixing on low speed. 
  • Add the softened butter cubes, a couple at a time, until incorporated. 
  • Now, just let it mix. It might curdle or look lumpy but that’s ok. Keep mixing. This could take some time. The buttercream is ready when it is smooth, satiny and creamy.
  • Keep mixing on low and add the salt and flavorings. Mix until everything is fully incorporated.  

Notes

This recipe can be halved or doubled. One full recipe will fill and frost a 8″ cake that is 4″ or 5″ tall. 

Filed Under: Frostings and Fillings Tagged With: buttercream, fondant, frosting, layer cakes, meringue, Swiss meringue buttercream, tiered cake

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