Classic Buttercream Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
• Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms and sides with parchment if desired (for easy removal).
• Add the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and combine well. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, egg whites, vegetable oil and vanilla bean paste and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• Turn the mixer to low and add the chunks of butter slowly to the dry mix. Continue to beat on low until there are no chunks of butter remaining and the mixture becomes crumbly. Add a third of the wet ingredients to the bowl and then turn the speed to medium. Mix until a light paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add half of the remaining wet ingredients and beat on medium-high speed for 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Add the remaining wet ingredients and beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans and bake until a skewer comes out clean and the sides have begun to pull away from the sides of the pans, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack, 10 minutes, then invert onto the rack to remove the pans and parchment and cool completely.
• For the filling: Roast the pecans in the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the condensed milk and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Cool completely before using.
• For the buttercream: Beat the butter with a hand mixer, the paddle attachment of a stand mixer or a wooden spoon until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla bean paste. Pour in the milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
• To assemble: With a long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally into 2 layers. Place 1 layer on a cake plate and top generously with filling. Place another layer on top; top with more filling. Continue in this manner until you place the final layer of cake. Frost the cake all over with the buttercream. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a small clean dry saucepan, place 2 cups sugar and then pour 1/2 cup water down the sides of the pan. Make an X in the sugar with 1 finger to encourage the water to seep into the middle of the pan of sugar. Bring to a boil and cook until softball stage or 235 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, in a mixer with a whip attachment, whip the whites until they form soft peaks. When the syrup is up to temperature, drizzle it down the wall of the mixing bowl with the mixer running. Continue whipping until light, fluffy and almost cooled down. Start adding the butter a few cubes at a time to cool the frosting and thicken it. When it gets thick you can stop adding butter; you may not use the whole pound (it depends on how much water you cooked out of your syrup). Add vanilla extract to taste.

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in large mixing bowl and mix at slow speed until smooth. If stiffer icing is needed, or if the weather is very warm, add a little extra sugar. This recipe is enough to cover and fill a 9- by 13-inch sheet cake or two 9-inch layers.

Steps:

• Assemble your ingredients making sure they are room temperature. I suggest setting out the butter and cream the night before.
• Assemble your utensils. You will need one large mixing bowl, a set of measuring spoons, dry measuring cup, liquid measuring cup, soft spatula, a standard hand mixer.
• With your hand mixer beat butter in a large bowl on high speed until creamy.
• Add heavy cream and extracts (or liqueurs if desired). Beat on high for five minutes.
• Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating on high until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure an even incorporation of all the sugar. .
• Your end product should be light and airy.
• Frost your favorite cake, cookie, or fill your favorite doughnut or pastry.
• FOR MOCHA OR CHOCOLATE: Substitute 1.5 cups of powdered instant coffee of your choice, or powdered cocoa in place of 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. I use Hershey's or Ghiradelli. Both work beautifully. You may also add a coffee or chocolate liqueur, both which are fantastic. Again, this recipe is very versatile. If you want a stronger and richer coffee or chocolate, you can add more powders or liqueurs to taste. Texture may vary slightly with additional ingredients. Use your discretion.

Steps:

• Place butter, shortening, milk, vanilla, salt and one pound of sugar in large bowl.
• Beat at low speed until combined.
• Gradually add the other pound of sugar.
• Stop and scrape sides.
• Beat on high until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Keep covered with plastic wrap to prevent crusting.
• Chocolate Buttercream: For each pound of sugar used in the butter cream, allow 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 3 tablespoons butter and 0.125 teaspoon salt.

Steps:

• Combine the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk as desired. Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature and mix on medium-high until smooth.

Steps:

• Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the condensed milk and beat on the medium speed of an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick.
• You can add gel food coloring at this point.
• Make sure to use the icing at room temperature, and cool once the cake is assembled.

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°. Lightly butter three 8"-diameter cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper rounds. Toast 2 cups (250 g) raw walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Let cool. Set aside 1 cup walnuts for serving.
• Meanwhile, cook ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it foams, then browns, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil or refined coconut oil, melted. Set brown butter mixture aside.
• Pulse remaining 1 cup toasted walnuts in a food processor until coarsely ground (it should be the texture of panko). Transfer to a large bowl and whisk in 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 2¼ tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ½ tsp. baking soda.
• Process 4 large eggs, 1¼ cups (250 g) sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1 tsp. instant espresso powder in food processor (no need to clean bowl) until mixture is lightened in color and thickened, about 30 seconds. Stir 2 Tbsp. whole milk into reserved brown butter mixture. With motor running, gradually stream brown butter mixture into egg mixture and process until combined. Add dry ingredients and process just until a smooth batter forms. Divide batter among prepared pans.
• Bake cakes, rotating pans front to back after 15 minutes, until puffed and just starting to pull away from the sides of pans and a tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 20-22 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks and let cakes cool 15 minutes. Run a small knife around edges of each cake to release from pan if needed. Turn out cakes onto racks and remove parchment paper; discard. Turn cakes right side up and let cool completely.
• Combine 8 large egg whites, 2¼ cups (450 g) sugar, ¾ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set over a medium saucepan filled with 1½" of simmering water (bowl should not touch water). Heat, stirring and scraping often with a heatproof rubber spatula, until sugar is dissolved and an instant-read thermometer registers 185°, 10-15 minutes.
• Fit bowl onto stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, until meringue is shiny and stiff, 8-10 minutes. Beat in 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
• With mixer on medium speed, add 3 cups (6 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces, a piece at a time, mixing until incorporated before adding more. Once all the butter has been added, increase speed to high and beat 1 minute. Transfer buttercream in bowl to refrigerator and chill 30 minutes.
• Fit bowl with buttercream back onto stand mixer and add ¼ cup (21 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted if needed, and 2 tsp. instant espresso powder. Beat on medium-low speed, scraping down sides as needed, until combined.
• Using a large serrated knife and long sawing strokes, remove tops of cakes to level if needed. Place a cake layer, right side up, on a cake stand or large plate. Using an offset spatula, spread ¼ cup buttercream over cake, working all the way to the edges. Place second cake layer, right side up, on top; spread another ¼ cup buttercream over cake, working all the way to the edges. Place third cake layer, cut side down, on top, and press lightly to adhere. Spread top and sides of cake with ½ cup buttercream in a thin, even layer. Chill, uncovered, at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours. (If chilling cake longer than 1 hour, cover remaining buttercream in bowl and chill. Bring to room temperature and beat again before using.)

Steps:

• In double boiler stirring constantly cook flour and milk, to a soft or med paste, do not worry ! It will be OK if it gets thick to. You can do this step the night before also. I have even forgot to do this and put the recipe "on hold" until I had this done and cooled.
• Put paste in bowl, cover, cool in refrigerator, about 1/2 hour or until cooled.
• Put paste in mixer bowl, add sugar,butter, vanilla, salt and mix. Scrape and mix some more.
• Mix some more until granulated sugar is dissolving. Let rest for 10-15 minutes. I know this sounds funny but the granulated sugar has to dissolve. Add any of your optional flavors now.
• Mix for another minute, test for sugar granules between your index and thumb if no sugar crystals your done if not mix a short while longer.
• If you use powdered sugar you do not have to mix as long, it will dissolve instantly.
• optional, ways I have changed this recipe extract of your choice:.
• 1/2 of a lemon zest and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder and / or 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder, more or less to your taste.