October 2012 Weddings
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Calling all bakers! **UPDATE - Cake finished with pics**

mrshall1027mrshall1027 member
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edited March 2014 in October 2012 Weddings
So, I've always had a problem with my buttercream and I need advice.  I think I know what to do, but just want to see what your opinions are.  I usually make my buttercream with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.  It starts off stiff, but once it has sit out for a bit, it turns really soft.  I always leave my cakes in the fridge and then take them out the morning of the party and once it comes to room temp, I also notice that dreaded buckle in between the layers.  I hate it!!

I've been doing some research, and it seems like the best bet to get stiff buttercream that won't soften up is to do half shortening and half butter and add in some meringue powder.  I'm not big on all shortening buttercreams because of the film it leaves in your mouth, so I'm wondering if the half and half recipe would be the same or better...?  Opinions or tips?
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Re: Calling all bakers! **UPDATE - Cake finished with pics**

  • I have 2 go-to frosting recipes:

    The first is Ina Garten's cream cheese buttercream:
    1 pound cream cheese at room temp
    3 sticks unsalted butter
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Confectioners sugar to taste (she calls for 1 lb, but I think that's too sweet)

    Mix until smooth

    The second recipe that I love is Giada's mascarpone frosting:
    8 oz cream cheese
    8 oz mascarpone cheese
    About 4-5 cups confectioners sugar (she uses 6 cups, but again I find that to be a bit too sweet)

    Mix until smooth


    I know that a lot of butter cream recipes call for eggs and cream of tartar, but I've never messed with that. Ina and Giada's recipes are simple and delicious. I've also added melted (and slightly cooled) chocolate to either recipe to make chocolate butter cream. 

    I do add about a tablespoon of corn syrup to the frosting before I frost cakes. It makes the frosting shiny and easier to spread. I never put the cakes in the fridge, because that will make the frosting crack. I leave it on a cake stand at room temperature. My cake stand has a dome lid, so cakes are covered and do not get stale. Loosely covering with plastic wrap (and lots of toothpicks to keep the plastic wrap off the frosting) works too though. 




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  • Those frosting recipes sound delish!  I'm making tiered multi layer cakes that will be finished in fondant, so I need to have a crusting buttercream and a buttercream that will hold up between the layers.  Do those come out stiff, or more creamy?

    I've never had a problem with the icing cracking because of it being in the fridge, but I have heard of that problem.  I think that happens if the cake warms up and expands to quickly or if you have a thinner layer of frosting.  I've always put a thick layer of frosting on to get a perfectly smooth side, so that's probably another reason I haven't had that issue.
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  • I'd say that they're a bit more on the creamy side...but are still stiff enough to pipe and hold their shape. Both frosting form a crust once they're set. You could always add more confectioners sugar to stiffen it up if need be, as long as you don't mind it being sweeter.

    I think Alton Brown has a bunch of butter cream recipes too, but I haven't tried any of them. I also have a Williams-Sonoma baking book with a bunch of frosting recipes...I highly recommend that book. Link --> http://www.amazon.com/The-Williams-Sonoma-Baking-Book-Essential/dp/1603201076/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394555584&sr=8-1&keywords=williams-sonoma+baking+cookbook



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  • DanaOcNyDanaOcNy member
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    edited March 2014
    I taught Wilton cake decorating for several years and have a recipe I use from them. It's purely shortening in the recipe so you may not like it. I have never had any issues with things having a film. Only thing I hate is how greasy everything is as you try to clean it. What I love is you can change the consistency depending on what techniques you are using. I have the recipe at home and will send it later!
  • I have a friend that has her own baking business as a second job.  I've tasted her buttercream and it doesn't leave a film.  This is what she said:

    I use a recipe that calls for 1 1/2 cups shortening and 1 stick butter.  You need a good recipe that will crust if you are going to be decorating cakes.  The recipe I use also is ok to sit out so I do not need to put the cake in the fridge for storing.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

    this is the recipe I use from Cake Central

    Crusting Buttercream Icing (VIVA Method)

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs. sifted powdered sugar 1/2 cup or 1 stick butter, softened. 1-1/2 cups solid vegetable shortening 2 tbsp. clear vanilla extract 1/3 cup water for icing cake -OR- 1/4 cup for stiff consistency. 1/4 tsp. almond extract

    Instructions

    1. Cream butter, shortening, and extracts until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and water. Mix thoroughly on medium speed for hand mixers, low speed for stand mixers, until smooth and creamy. Do not overmix or mix on high speed.
    2. For whiter icing, use butter without dye (health food stores)
    3. For stiffer icing, use 1/4 cup of water instead of 1/3 cup.
    4. If you live where it is humid, you can add 1-2 tbsp. meringue powder.
    5. Let set for 15 minutes before smoothing with a VIVA paper towel.
    6. Icing can be refrigerated for 2 weeks in an airtight container. Iced cake can sit at room temp. for 2-3 days.
    7. *Any flowers made with this recipe remain soft enough to be cut with a knife.*

  • The crusting is so important!!!! My buttercream cakes look like fondant because I smooth them out so nicely once there is a little "crust" on it!
  • linnae939linnae939 member
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    edited March 2014

    This is my great grandmas recipe. It is awesome, and if left out (for a little while...it's still has milk so it will go bad if left out for days) it is fine, never gets "soggy" but will get a little crunch on top b/c of all the sugar.

    2 sticks butter, 1 heaping tablespoon shortening if desired (I don't always have it, it doesn't make a HUGE difference. I also reccomend AGAINST the 1/2 and 1/2 I've made it that way, there is definitely a film)

    Blend that until creamy

    add vanilla as desired (I say this because I never measure it, I prob put in around a tablespoon. I know that's a lot!)

    blend again. Add 1c milk or heavy cream (we use cream for our christmas cookie frosting, if you're going to be bad, why not be really bad?)

    Add powdered sugar 1c at a time slowly while blending

    I end up using the whole 1lb box, if not a little more

    This is for a double 9in layer cake, but I make mine 4 layers (like cut the layers in half once they're cooled) because I love frosting.

    I feel like it's a titration in chem lab, oops, a little too much milk, add more sugar and vice versa. some of it is trial and error.

    When done, it should form stiff peaks, like merengue (i never add merenge powder, that sounds gross to me) It should be so stiff would be hard to spread if refrigerated.

    This will become crunchy just on the surface but will never lose its shape. It's so good and so bad for you, so really really good.

    Your recepie sounds similar to mine, I think you need more sugar and it will stiffen up.

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  • The buttercream was perfect.  Great consistency, crusted great, and actually tasted really good!  I was expecting it to be super sweet and have that obvious shortening taste, but it was just the right amount of sweet and the butter flavor came through really nice.

    I made a huge mistake though!  I had finished icing it and went to put on my fondant and totally forgot to stick it in the freezer for a few minutes for it to harden up.  So when I was trying to smooth out the fondant, it was just bulging and bending everywhere!  I had to completely start over :(  So, I refrosted it, rolled out more fondant while it was in the freezer and ended with a cake with perfect crisp edges!  I think it's the best fondant cake I've ever done :)
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  • Great job! It looks very clean! Hope it tastes as good as it looks!
  • Looks great! I love every cake you pin on Pinterest and wish I had energy now to get back into cake decorating!
  • It does take a lot of energy!  Thankfully, I spread this out over the week so it wasn't so bad.  I'm excited to make some upcoming cakes, but also not looking forward to the pain my back is going to feel afterwards!
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  • Yay! It came out great : )

    I know what you mean about the back pain...every time I go on a big baking or cooking spree, I pay for it later with back pain. I think our counters are a little higher in the new place, so hopefully that will help.



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  • The #1 thing I've learned making cakes for a living is to ice, pipe and do all fondant work (except initial covering) while sitting!! It makes a world of difference for your back and feet. If your counters are too high pull a chair and fold-away table into the kitchen and work on there. :)
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