This is the Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe you’ll ever make! Once you try it, you’ll want to use it to cover all of your cakes and cupcakes.
The Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Traditional Swiss Meringue involves heating egg whites, then lots and lots of whipping. This recipe skips the heating step entirely, and still produces a rich, smooth, ultra-creamy buttercream with the characteristic texture and taste of Swiss Meringue. It’s as easy to make as American Buttercream, but it doesn’t crust over and it isn’t teeth-shatteringly sweet. You seriously NEED to try this recipe!
Swiss Meringue Buttercream is my FAVORITE type of frosting—it tastes delicious, is a dream to work with, doesn’t crust, and isn’t overly sweet or greasy. In short, it’s almost perfect!
The only problem? It can be a big pain to make. I won’t go into all the steps—for that, you’ll want to read my post on how to make traditional Swiss Meringue Buttercream. But the point is, the whole Swiss Meringue shebang has been a necessary evil…until now. Introducing your new favorite recipe, The EASIEST Swiss Meringue Buttercream!
First things first: this is based on a frosting recipe by the amazing cake decorator Lauren Kitchens. If you want to see some real talent, check out her site! The frosting is not technically a Swiss Meringue, because the technique is different, but the ingredients and final product are so close, I have no problem calling this a lazy version of SMBC! I did a lot of tweaking and ended up with some very different ingredient quantities than the original recipe, to find the right balance of sugar + butter for my personal taste buds.
Now let’s get down to the business of buttercream.
This frosting will seriously change your decorating life. I used it as a base for almost all of my cakes. It’s easy to work with, tastes great, and doesn’t crust over. That is gold, people.
Table of Contents
🧾 What You’ll Need
Ingredients
This is a simple recipe and only needs a few ingredients. Here are a few ingredient tips. Full amounts can be found in the recipe cared below. (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
- Pasteurized liquid egg whites: Use pasteurized egg whites in a carton for this recipe. See my egg white tips below to answer commonly asked questions.
- Powdered sugar: It may seem strange, but I am very picky about my powdered sugar. Some brands have too much cornstarch, or are too coarse, leading to a rough, gritty texture in frosting. This is my powdered sugar of choice! It’s made from cane sugar instead of beet sugar, and produces smooth, consistent results.
- Unsalted butter and salt: Your butter should be at room temperature. This means it’s pliable but cool–you don’t want it to be greasy and melty. I always recommend unsalted butter in baking, so you can control the precise amount of salt. If you only have salted butter, use that but omit the additional salt in the recipe.
- Vanilla extract: Nielsen-Massey Bourbon vanilla extract is my absolute FAVORITE vanilla extract! However, feel free to use your favorite vanilla extract you have at home.
Equipment
This frosting recipe requires very little to make and that’s good news for you! You’ll be on your way to enjoying delicious buttercream before you know it! (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
- Stand mixer: A stand mixer with a paddle attachment is an absolute necessity for making smooth, creamy buttercream.
- Spatula: You’ll want a good spatula to help scrape down the sides of the bowl and ensure all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Piping tip: I’m frequently asked what piping tip I used to make the buttercream swirls on the cupcakes picture in the post. It’s a closed star tip, Ateco #849.
💗 More Desserts to Frost
Leave a Review!
If you make this recipe, let us know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on the recipe below, and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram @elabau, or use #sugarhero on IG!
The EASIEST Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Ingredients
- 6 fl oz pasteurized liquid egg whites, (3/4 cup)
- 24 oz powdered sugar, (6 cups)
- ½ tsp salt
- 24 oz unsalted butter, (3 cups), at room temperature
- 2 TBSP vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix whites, sugar, and salt. Combine the egg whites, powdered sugar, and salt in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix everything together on low speed, until the sugar is moistened and no dry patches remain.
- Scrape down sides, mix for 5 minutes. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula, then turn the mixer to medium speed. Beat on medium for 5 minutes.
- Add butter. After 5 minutes, turn the mixer to medium-low and start adding the softened room temperature butter, 1-2 tablespoons at a time.
- Add flavoring, scrape sides, beat for 10 minutes. Once all of the butter is incorporated, add the vanilla extract and mix it in. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bottom and sides once more. Turn the speed to medium and beat the buttercream for 10 minutes until wonderfully light and creamy.
- Use or store. The buttercream can be used right away. It can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months. If you have chilled the frosting, let it come to room temperature and then beat it for several minutes to smooth it out and restore its texture before using it.
Video
Recipe Notes
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Nutrition
🥣How to Make The Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Here’s an overview of how to make The Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream! Full instructions are included in the recipe card above.
- Combine egg whites, powdered sugar and salt: Combine 6 fl oz of pasteurized egg whites, 6 cups powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Mix on low speed until combined: Mix everything together on low speed, until the sugar is moistened and no dry patches remain. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula.
- Mix on medium speed for 5 minutes: Then turn the mixer to medium speed. Beat on medium for 5 minutes.
- Mix on medium-low and add softened butter: After 5 minutes, turn the mixer to medium-low and start adding the softened room temperature butter, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until all 3 cups have been incorporated.
- Add vanilla: Next, add 2 tablespoons vanilla extract and mix it in. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bottom and sides once more.
- Mix on medium speed for 10 minutes: Turn the speed to medium and beat the buttercream for 10 minutes. At the end, you’ll have a frosting with a wonderfully light and creamy texture.
- Use or store: It can be used right away, or stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or the freezer for up to two months. If you have chilled the frosting, let it come to room temperature and then beat it for several minutes to smooth it out and restore its texture before using it.
💡 Tips for Success
One of the reasons buttercream might not get silky is that too much air is being incorporated into the mix. After making the recipe as directed, my number one recommendation would be to turn the speed on your mixer down to low and mix for an additional 5-10 minutes to release some of the air.
And, here’s another general tip… When making buttercream, you want to use the smallest bowl that will accommodate your mixture. Air bubbles generally start forming when the bowl is too big and the paddle isn’t fully submerged. Sometimes it’s not possible to use a smaller bowl but you could adjust the recipe by 1.5 or 2 times. Then freeze any excess for up to 6 months or keep it in the fridge for up to a month to use with another dessert.
When buttercream gets grainy it usually comes down to ingredients, specifically the powdered sugar. Powdered sugar has cornstarch in it which can start to clump together if its a lower quality brand, older, or has sat on a shelf for too long. One way to avoid this is to make sure you are using high quality powdered sugar. When looking for powdered sugar, look at the ingredients and try to find a brand that uses pure cane rather than brands that use beet sugar. My preferred brands are C&H, or Domino.
It’s hard to diagnose without seeing the buttercream, but here are 2 common reasons you might get lumps in your frosting. First, if it’s not perfectly smooth I would say it needs to be beaten longer. I like to finish mixing for about 10 minutes on low to get out air bubbles and make it really creamy.
Or, your butter might have been too cold. It needs to be soft (room temperature) when you start mixing. If this was the problem, you can take about a cup of the buttercream and microwave it for about 10 seconds (just until melted, NOT long). Then mix it into the rest of the buttercream for a few minutes. Keep repeating this process until the consistency is right and the lumps are gone.
I wouldn’t suggest it because the buttercream relies heavily on the sugar for stability and texture. I have not tried decreasing the sugar but I suspect it will be too soft and would hate to see anyone waste so many ingredients.
For layer cakes: This is kind of a difficult question to answer because so much depends on how the exterior of the cake is decorated, and how much frosting you prefer between layers. I would say on average I estimate about 1 cup between each layer for 8″ or 9″ cakes, and around 2/3 cup between each layer for 6″ cakes. (I do like a generous frosting layer, you may find that you like to use less.) For the exterior, probably 3-4 cups total for 8″ or 9″, and 2-3 cups for 6″–this is likely more than you will need, but it takes into account the fact that it’s helpful to have excess frosting on the top and sides that will be scraped away when smoothing out the finish of the cake.
For cupcakes: If you think you will use the amount of buttercream in the swirl pictured in the blog post, I’d recommend making a full batch of the buttercream to cover 27 cupcakes. If you’ll be using slightly less of a swirl per cupcake, a 3/4 batch would suffice. If you have any leftover buttercream, you can store the unused portion for 2-3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer (I usually wrap mine in plastic wrap, but you can also freeze it in a plastic tub or similar). When you are ready to use the frozen buttercream, defrost it overnight, bring it to room temperature, mix well until it has a smooth texture again, and it’s as good as new!
I have a couple thoughts about what might be going on. It could be a problem with your butter. Some brands perform differently and some tend to be much more yellow. I’ve also heard discussion that many companies have changed formulas over the last year as ingredient costs have risen, and have started using more water vs butterfat, meaning both the texture and color might be different. If you find that your buttercream is looser, or cookies spread more, or things just behave differently, I’d consider trying other butter brands to see if that solves things.
The other thought is that it might be temperature related. If you are working with room temperature buttercream, and spreading it on a very cold cake, then scraping, adding more layers, using a hot spatula, working it for awhile, etc., your buttercream is going through a lot of extreme temperature fluctuations in a short amount of time. I’ve noticed buttercream with darker/lighter patches when I do a lot of this. If you are noticing the yellow coming through primarily when working with it on cakes, try adjusting some of those factors: don’t use a hot spatula (if you were), have the cake be a little less cold, don’t work it as long, etc.
Here is a tip for color-correcting. You can add an extremely small amount of purple food coloring to the buttercream and mix until fully incorporated. The purple balances out the yellow and will give the buttercream a white color. Go very slow (start with a drop) because too much will definitely show.
My first guess would be an accidental mis-measurement of one of the ingredients. It happens to everyone occasionally. And, my second guess would be the butter. Sometimes butter can vary in its water content. Occasionally, my regular brand of butter has been softer than usual and handled a little differently. It can be frustrating when that happens.
Don’t despair! There are a few things you can do to save the batch. If it still seems liquidy, you could try adding additional powdered sugar or some shortening. If you use shortening, I’d start with a 1/4 cup to see if that helps. Adding a little extra room temperature butter could help as well.
It holds up pretty well, but if it is going to be in a hot setting for an extended period of time I highly recommend replacing 1/4-1/3 of the butter with shortening to increase stability. When blending shortening and butter, you can substitute up to half of the butter with shortening. However, my personal preference is not to replace more than 1/3.
Also, I’d recommend using a high ratio shortening like Sweetex because it is lighter and less greasy than traditional Crisco. It can be purchased online or in a cake supply store, and you’ll notice that it will help the frosting stay fluffier without the grease.
This buttercream holds up really well for 1-2 days at room temperature. It could possibly even go 3 days at room temperature in a cool, dry room. Heat and humidity will impact how long it can safely sit out, and you’ll need to make your best guess based on your environment. If it’s sitting out in a warm, humid room, err on the side of caution and refrigerate after 24 hours.
Keep in mind that as the meringue buttercream sits, it will become a little spongy. Before using the frosting, make sure to mix it on low for several minutes until it regains its smooth, glossy texture.
💡FAQs About Egg Whites
The carton egg whites can be used right from the fridge! You want the eggs to be closer to room temperature when you add the butter, so if after the 5 minute mixing with powdered sugar you think they are still too cold, let the mixture sit for a minute before adding the butter (you just want to avoid the butter seizing up).
It’s not safe to eat raw egg whites unless they have been pasteurized. Egg whites in a carton are pasteurized which means the whites have been heated to kill bad bacteria and can be consumed raw. If you cannot find pasteurized whites in a carton, look for pasteurized whole eggs, and separate out the whites yourself. For food safety reasons do not use this recipe with fresh (un-pasteurized egg whites).
The biggest difference between fresh egg whites and the store bought carton egg whites is pasteurization. Most people don’t like to eat raw eggs due to the potential for salmonella or other bacterial contamination. My recipe is called the Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream because it uses pasteurized (carton) egg whites and allows us to skip the entire step of heating the egg whites.
However, if you don’t want to purchase the carton egg whites or just want to use up fresh eggs, I’d recommend trying my regular recipe for Swiss Meringue Buttercream. This recipe does require heating the egg whites and will make the eggs safe to eat.
You can make this recipe with either meringue powder or powdered egg whites–both work great! For a medium-sized (36 oz) batch of frosting, you’ll need:
3 TBSP powdered egg whites or meringue powder
½ cup warm water
1 lb (16 oz, or 4 cups) powdered sugar
½ tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract, to taste
1 lb unsalted butter, at cool room temperature.
Whisk the meringue powder or powdered egg whites and the warm water together in a bowl. Meringue powder will dissolve fairly quickly, the plain powdered egg whites typically take longer. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, whisking occasionally, until all the lumps are gone. Then just follow the recipe procedure as written!
I have noticed that meringue powder has a more tangy flavor, probably due to the citric acid it has. It’s not BAD, but it is noticeable to me. It works best with fruity-flavored buttercreams where the tanginess goes well with the flavor–you might not like it as much with a vanilla buttercream.
💭 Variations In Flavoring
Want to change up the flavor of the buttercream? Here are some of the most requested flavor variations.
- Chocolate: Chop 12 oz unsweetened chocolate, and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Once the chocolate is melted, let it cool until it is completely room temperature. Make the frosting as described, and after it is finished, add the melted and cooled chocolate. Mix on low speed until the chocolate is completely incorporated. (Alternately, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder. Make the recipe as directed and then add 3/4 cup cocoa powder. Taste and add a little more if needed, but beware that it can dry out the buttercream and/or make the flavor bitter if you use too much. If the cocoa powder makes the buttercream texture seem too thick, you can add a little milk to thin it out. Mix on low speed until the chocolate is completely incorporated.)
- Citrus: You can make all kinds of citrus flavors like orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit by using this basic flavoring method. First, zest your citrus fruit of choice (about 1-2 TBSP to start with, or more if desired). I don’t recommend using citrus fruit juice for flavoring because it might waterdown the buttercream. Instead use a citrus oil like the following from LorAnn’s: orange oil, lemon oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil. You can also use a citrus flavoring, but keep in mind you’ll need to use more flavoring than oil to get the same depth of flavor. I also recommend LorAnn’s flavorings and extracts such as: orange bakery emulsion, lemon bakery emulsion, and key lime flavoring. In place of or in addition to the vanilla, add the following to give your buttercream citrus flavor: 1 tsp citrus oil or 2 tsp citrus emulsion/flavoring, 1-2 TBSP citrus zest (add more to taste if needed), and ¼ tsp citric acid, optional. The citric acid is actually the key to really well-flavored citrus buttercreams. It can sometimes be hard to track down in regular stores, so I typically purchase it from Amazon. It’s not very expensive and lasts forever, so it’s worth the purchase if you make citrus desserts a lot. And, just as a word of warning, all oils and flavorings can vary in intensity. Be conservative with how much you add until you are confident with the product you are using.
- Cream cheese: In regards to adding cream cheese, I suggest making the full recipe as written. Then, in a separate bowl, beat 4 oz softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Next, add the buttercream to the cream cheese and continue to beat until combined. I don’t recommend adding more than 4 oz for stability purposes. However, if you want more cream cheese flavor, I suggest adding a cream cheese emulsion so that the buttercream will keep its stability. I would recommend LorAnn’s brand. Start with a teaspoon and more until you achieve your desired depth of flavor.
- Freeze-dried fruits: If you love fruit flavored buttercream, I highly recommend using freeze-dried fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Make the buttercream recipe as directed. Then take 2 oz of your fruit of choice and place it in a food processor. Use long burst until the fruit becomes a fine powder. Add it to the buttercream and mix on low speed until the powder is well-mixed into the frosting. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired, to boost the fruit color. I do not recommend using fresh or frozen fruit because of their water content. It will throw off the texture of the buttercream.
- Peanut butter: I don’t recommend adding peanut butter to this recipe. The peanut butter oils really mess with the texture of the buttercream in an unpleasant way. You could try using powdered peanut butter like PB2 (found at most grocery stores next to the peanut butter). You could start with a tablespoon and add more until you reach the right flavor.
- White chocolate: White chocolate can make the buttercream softer, so I would start slow. Chop 3-4 oz of real white chocolate and go from there. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Once the chocolate is melted, let it cool until it is completely room temperature. Make the frosting as described, and after it is finished, add the melted and cooled chocolate. Mix on low speed until the chocolate is completely incorporated. If you are in a hot environment, you may also consider replacing 1/4-1/3 of the butter with shortening to stabilize.
- Vanilla: The buttercream has a very neutral/mild vanilla flavor. If you want to boost the vanilla flavor you could add a little extra vanilla extract or vanilla bean to taste.
- Other flavorings and extracts: If you want to add another flavoring in addition to or in place of the vanilla, I would recommend starting with a teaspoon and then add more to taste if necessary. Extracts and flavorings vary in intensity so starting slow is key until you are familiar with how much you will need. I love using LorAnn’s brand of baking flavorings, extracts and emulsions. You might try butterscotch flavoring, caramel flavoring, or cinnamon flavoring.
💭 Variations In Coloring
You’ll want to use gel food coloring when attempting to color the frosting. Gel coloring is highly concentrated so you’ll only need a little to get a vibrant color. To achieve the same depth of color with a liquid food coloring would require A LOT of product and might alter the stability of the frosting. Americolor is my favorite brand of gel food coloring. Start with a drop or two of gel coloring, mix and then evaluate the color to see if you need more.
- Extra tips for creating black frosting: First, I highly recommend making the buttercream at least one day before you need it. The color will get darker and set with time. It’s much easier to start with a chocolate buttercream. If you’re planning to use the Easiest Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe, I’d suggest using black cocoa powder. It’s super dark (think Oreo shade of black). Start by adding 3/4 cup . . . a little more if needed. It can dry out the buttercream and/or make the flavor bitter if you use too much. If the buttercream texture seems too thick, you could add a little milk to thin it out. Then, you’ll want to use a high quality black gel food coloring. I prefer Americolor Super Black Gel Food Coloring. I’d add at least a tablespoon and then go up from there until you reach the right shade. Finally, when you get ready to use the buttercream you might notice inconsistency in the coloring. If that’s the case, I’d suggest warming up a small amount of the buttercream in the microwave. Start with a cup and microwave it for about 10 seconds. Mix the warm buttercream back into the main batch. The warmth helps with the emulsification process and can help even out the color.
🧁More Frosting Recipes
Want to learn to make traditional Swiss Meringue buttercream? I have a Swiss Meringue Buttercream photo tutorial and recipe right here!
- Cinnamon Buttercream
- Red Velvet Fudge Frosting
- Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Lime Cream Cheese Frosting
- Honey Buttercream
- Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
- Lick-The-Knife-Clean Chocolate Spread
- Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting
- Butterscotch Frosting
Cookie Dough Frosting
Strawberry Buttercream
The recipe looks amazing and easy! Will this buttercream hold fondant design on the cake?
Hey Stella, Yes for the most part it is as stable as a traditional Swiss Meringue. It does hold fondant fairly well, my concerns would be if it is too warm or if the decor is really heavy. My suggestion is to use your best judgment! I hope it works out great for you!
Can you make 1.5 batches in the kitchenaid?
Want to use this for a kids’ cake – if I halve the sugar, will this materially affect the texture? Anyone ever tried to reduce the sugar? Thanks! The cake pics are serious inspiration!
Hey A-Jin, Thank you! I have not tried decreasing the sugar by half. I wouldn’t suggest it because the buttercream will rely heavily on the sugar for stability and texture. I suspect it will be too soft however you could definitely play around with it. I would suggest you start out with a smaller batch and see what happens. Keep an eye on the texture, and add smaller amounts of sugar back in as needed! Hope that helps, I would love to hear how it goes!
The receipe says 24oz powdered sugar and 6 cups next to that…24oz would equal 3 cups…. which is correct?
Hey Erin, They both are! I actually get this question a lot! I expound more about the confusion here. I hope it helps! I am excited for you to try out the buttercream! https://www.sugarhero.com/frequently-asked-questions/#measurements Thanks!
I made this for your Unicorn cake a couple of months ago and it turned out amazing. I made this again a couple of days ago, and it separated and was quite liquidy. My kitchen gets very warm in the summer and especially when I’m baking, so i had put it in the fridge for a while then re-whipped it some. It was still liquidy. I wonder if the butter was too soft; would it change the consistency? I’m also thinking I needed to re-whip it longer. I also was using the whisk attachment instead..I really liked this the first time and want to use it again…Any tips?
Hey Clair, I have rarely found a problem that whipping it longer can’t solve. I would suggest whipping it longer with the paddle attachment. It is hard considering it is summer so the heat wont help, a couple things you can do is add additional powder sugar possibly up to three cups. Another thing is to swap out half the butter for shortening. That will be good especially if the baked goods are in the sun or outside. I hope that helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions!
I had the same question about 24oz powdered sugar. I did the math in my head to figure out how many cups that would be (thought it was weird it wasn’t in cups already like everything else) and I came up with 3 cups. I had already measured out 3 cups, sifted it into the bowl and rinsed out the sifter when I consulted the next ingredient on the list and saw 6 cups! What? Now I almost proceeded to the next step thinking it was a typo, but thank God I scrolled down to read the comments at the end of this recipe. Another person asked the same question and was told “Both are right!” . Not an answer to her question. Or mine! I clicked on the link in your answer and saw that it was to be weighed! Not measured in dry measuring cups. Yes, the reason is logical as a cup of brown sugar WOULD weigh more that a cup of powdered sugar, but none of us are getting out a kitchen scale to weigh out our ingredients. The 24 0z needs to have “dry wt” after it or better yet – just put 6 cups powdered sugar at the beginning and put 24oz dry wt in parentheses. I’m sure the people who wrote in that their frosting was too runny made the same mistake we did! Thought 24 oz meant 3 cups. Had to get a wire strainer to sift another 3 cups of powdered sugar as the sifter was already wet from cleaning. Yes, you always sift powdered sugar folks since it always has some clumps in it and will leave the clumps in your buttercream frosting or glaze frostings.
Hi Kathy, I’m sorry if the recipe format was confusing. The truth is that 24 oz is the correct weight for both ingredients, and they DO have different volumes, so the simplest answer is that both are correct. There are several reasons it’s written the way that it is–for one, measuring by weight is the gold standard for baking, as it is much more accurate than cup measurements, and in basically every country in the world except for the US, scales are the most common way to measure, so it makes sense for a blog that is open to a worldwide audience to speak to that audience in an accessible way.
Secondly, the recipe card is a “smart” card that is able to convert the main measurement to metric units, and it can also scale the recipe up or down depending on visitor needs. This only really works when the main measurement is in Imperial units, not cup measurements, so from a logistical standpoint it makes sense to use ounces. This is why oz is the main measurement and cups is included at the end in parenthesis.
And finally, “ounces” denotes dry ingredients already. Liquid measurements are commonly denoted by fluid ounces, or fl oz, in standard recipe writing.
I hope that the frosting worked out for you, and I’m always happy to answer questions or help you troubleshoot in the future.
Hey I have been using this recipe with great success … except this one batch which feels grainy – what can I do to get that smooth texture again –
Hey Niloufer, I’m sorry to hear that happened! When it gets grainy it usually comes down to ingredients, specifically the powdered sugar. Did you by chance switch up your brand of powdered sugar? Powdered sugar has corn starch in it which can make that happen. One way to avoid this is to make sure you are using quality powdered sugar. I would recommend that when looking for powdered sugar you look for pure cane rather than brands that may use beat sugar. My preferred brands are C&H, or Domino. I hope that helps! If you have anymore questions about it feel free to send me an email. Thanks!
Hi-I want to try this for sunflower cupcakes I’m making for my granddaughter’s first birthday. Two questions…can it be colored and is it suitable for piping? Thanks!!
Hey Elaine, That is going to be so fun! Happy Birthday to your granddaughter! To answer your questions, yes and yes! When coloring my buttercream I tend to use gel food coloring. It will be more pigmented while using less product. It should be great to pipe with!
I really, really like this buttercream recipe. Will certainly use it again. I also love Cuisinart….without whom, this recipe would be’ much more difficult. The powdered sugar blends in seamlessly, no worries about limps. Thank you.
Hey Lila, I am so glad to hear you enjoy it so much! Thank you so much for your feedback!
Finally an icing that is not sweet, gritty or greasy tasting. I have made Italian meringue buttercream and it tasted like I was eating pure butter. Once iced do these need refrigeration?
Hey Sandra, They are fine to sit out for the day. I do typically refrigerate if it’s going to be overnight or longer. The other thing I would mention is to be aware of the temperature when they are out, like any buttercream it will be susceptible to hotter conditions. So glad to hear you love it as much as I do! Thanks for your feedback!
LOVED this frosting! Taste is amazing. Only problem I had was it crusted overnight in the frig. How can I avoid the frosting from crusting?
Hey JoAnn, I am glad you loved it! This frosting does get hard when it’s chilled. However in my experience it hasn’t crusted. Can you tell me about the texture of it once it has come to room temperature, is it crusted once thawed? It should become smooth again once it has come to room temperature. If it is crusting, my only guess would be that it would have to do with the powdered sugar? Did you had the correct amount? This frosting just isn’t one to crust so if you could give me a little more detail I would love to help figure it out. Thanks!
So, in the recipe you call for a paddle attachment, but then in the picture you’re using the whisk attachment. Which is recommended?
Hey Angela, I am sorry for the confusion. That is actually a link to my original Swiss Meringue. You will use the paddle attachment for this recipe. I would love to hear how it goes!
Lovely recipe, I’d like to know if you can freeze it and for how long please
Hey Joanne, Yes absolutely! It will stay good in the freezer for up to six months!
Can I use a handheld mixer for this, I’m not a professional baker so I dnt have a stand mixer.
Hey Faith, Yes you can! I would suggest using the whisk attachments, and then keep in mind the times might take longer for it to come together. I would love to hear how it goes!
I love the taste of this recipe and have used it a few times! Is there a way to make it a little stiffer for piping? I live in a very humid climate by Gulf of Mexico and it does not hold it’s shape down here.
Hey Amber, Yes! If you are making a regular sized batch (the one written on the recipe card) I would add a quarter cup of shortening and 3-4 cups of powdered sugar. This does make it sweeter and it also makes it more like a crusting buttercream just to give you a heads up. It will definitely make it easier to pipe with as well! Hope that helps!
So I made this yesterday exactly as directed. It came out white, smooth, fluffy and delicious. I put it in the fridge overnight with the anticipation of using it today. It was hard when I took it out of the fridge, which was to be expected so I let it come to room temperature and then gave it a quick whip in the stand mixer. The texture of it was completely different then when I made it yesterday. It looked almost chunky so I figured that I just needed to beat it longer, so I did. The texture smoothed out a bit but it didn’t look the same and it definitely wasn’t as white as when I first mafe it. Any ideas on how to remedy this?
Hey Hope, I am sorry to hear that the buttercream is giving you some trouble! To be honest there are very few things that whipping longer won’t solve. If the color or texture isn’t how you like or comparable to when you first made it I recommend whipping it longer! I recommend whipping it for a long time on a high speed. After whipping it for a long time I usually whip it on a low speed for three to five minutes to smooth out any air bubbles. You should be able to get the same product you started out with! Putting it in the fridge or freezer shouldn’t be a problem, I hope that helps!