Milkmoon Meringue Buttercream Recipes

Steps:

• Place the egg whites and sugar into a metal bowl and set over a pan filled with about 2 inches of simmering water. Heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature of the egg whites reaches 140 degrees. They will feel very hot to the touch.
• Transfer the heated egg whites and sugar to a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Mix at high speed (or as high as you can go without egg flying out of the bowl) until they have reached their maximum volume, 5 to 10 minutes. Mix on medium or medium-high speed while pinching off small pieces of butter and throwing them in. Mix in vanilla if using. The buttercream may look like it is breaking down, but keep on mixing and it will come back together.

Steps:

• One of the best-tasting buttercreams is also the easiest to prepare. See the end of the recipe for flavoring possibilities.
• Place egg whites, sugar and salt in medium-sized heatproof mixing bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk gently and constantly until egg whites are hot (about 140 degrees) and sugar is dissolved, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and whip by machine until thick and cooled, about 5 minutes. Beat in butter and continue beating until buttercream is smooth and spreadable. Use immediately or refrigerate, covered, for up to 5 days. Before using, bring buttercream to room temperature and beat smooth by machine. Beat in flavoring, a little at a time, and continue beating until buttercream is smooth, about 2 minutes longer (always flavor buttercream immediately before using it).
• Flavorings: Liqueur: 2 to 3 tablespoons liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or dark or light rum. Lemon: 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Coffee: 3 tablespoons instant coffee (espresso, if possible) dissolved in 2 tablespoons water, coffee or rum. Raspberry: 3/4 cup thick raspberry puree made by cooking down and straining a 10-ounce package of frozen raspberries. Chocolate: 6 ounces chocolate melted with 4 tablespoons water, coffee or milk and cooled.

Steps:

• Start whipping egg whites slowly in the mixer until foamy. Increase the speed of the mixer and slowly start adding the sugar until all the sugar is incorporated. Once all the sugar is in, increase the speed of the mixer even more and whip until the mixture is shiny and stiff. You now have a meringue. You know when your meringue is done when you pull out the whip, hold it horizontally, and if you have what looks a "sparrow's beak" on the end of the whip.
• Replace the whip, turn the mixer on medium and start adding the butter a bit at a time. Once all the butter is incorporated, turn the mixer on high and let mix; depending on the weather, the buttercream could take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to form. You will know when it has formed when you hear the motor of the mixer start to slow down and whine a little bit; also, when you first add the butter, your meringue will break down and look weird and this is what you want. When the buttercream is done, the mixture will be homogeneous, consistent, and tasty.
• Remove the buttercream from the bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Buttercream can be kept at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for a 1 to 2 weeks, but always use warm buttercream when icing a cake. To warm up the buttercream, put it back in the mixer using the whip or the paddle, and apply direct heat with a propane torch you can find at any hardware store.

Steps:

• Place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to melt the sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan. When the syrup begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and insert a candy thermometer into the syrup. Allow it to continue to boil while moving on to the next step.
• Place the egg whites in the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip the whites until frothy. Then, if using, sprinkle in the pinch of cream of tartar (this improves the strength of the meringue).
• Keeping an eye on the temperature of the sugar syrup, increase the speed of the mixer to high to achieve stiff peaks. Ideally, you will time this to coincide with the sugar syrup reaching 248°-250° F, the Firm Ball Stage. If your whites reach stiff peaks before the sugar syrup reaches the correct temperature, reduce the mixer speed to the lowest setting and leave running until the syrup is ready.
• When the syrup reaches 248°-250° F, increase the mixer speed to the highest setting. Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour the hot syrup down the side of the bowl into the egg whites, being very careful to avoid allowing the stream to hit the whisk and spatter. Pour slowly and steadily until all the syrup has been added, and continue beating the meringue until it becomes light and fluffy and holds its shape exactly when the beater is removed, roughly 3-5 minutes.
• After this time, the meringue may still be hot-if so, place the bowl in the refrigerator (or freezer) for 10-15 minutes until it has cooled all the way through.
• When the meringue has cooled, place the bowl back on the mixer, replacing the whisk with the paddle attachment. Begin mixing on low, and add the butter 1/4 cup (half a stick) at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the butter is added, increase the speed to medium and beat the buttercream until it becomes light and fluffy. It may look soupy or curdled shortly after all the butter is added-this is okay! Just keep on beating it and it will whip up into a light, fluffy cloud.
• Add the pinch of salt and vanilla, if including, and beat on low speed until incorporated. You may now add any other flavorings, gel or liquid food colorings, shaved chocolate, chopped nuts, fruit purées, or any other goodies you like to add to your buttercream. This is a very versatile recipe, so play around and create your own delicious flavors!
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Have a mixer bowl with no fat in it, and a whisk, clean them with vinegar and salt, if nessecary, then rinse and dry.
• Put the egg whites into the mixer bowl with a pinch of cream of tartar, and about 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir once or twice, fit into the mixer with the whisk attachment in place and ready. Set aside.
• Grease a 2-cup glass measure with soft shortening, or use an ample quantity of vegetable cooking spray, set aside, by the stove.
• Put the sugar and water into a 4-6 cup saucepan with a lid, stirring very briefly with a spoon to ensure that the sugar has been absorbed by the water on the bottom of the pot. Turn the heat to medium, and cook until the mixture starts to simmer. Cover with a lid. Cook 1-2 minutes (2 at the most), uncover, insert a candy thermometer, and cook, without interruption, until the sugar mixture reaches 238 degrees f.
• While the sugar mixture is cooking, and keeping a steady eye on it, beat the egg whites at high or medium high intensity until this is stiff. (The object is to have the sugar mixture ready, the same time that the whites are beaten, I know that other recipes do not typically specify this process, but some do, and it's the method I learned, and am used to).
• Transfer the sugar syrup, all at once, to the greased measure.
• Pour it into the mixer, with it running, little at the time, avoiding the beaters entirely, and the side of the bowl, but allowing it (the sugar) to run gently down one spot of the side of the bowl, is preferable to having it sling on the beaters. Do not add it to fast, if there is any left in the cup, after a minute, throw it away, do not scrape it into the sauce.
• Beat the mixture for 10 minutes moderately, or until the base is room temperature. Stir in the vanilla.
• Beat in the butter, 1-2 tablespoons at the time.
• Carefully transfer to a bowl, and chill to spreading consistency if nessecary. Add a few spoonfuls of rum before chilling, if required.

Steps:

• Put sugar and egg whites in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved, and mixture registers 140F on an instant-read thermometer.
• Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
• Reduce speed to medium-low; add butter by the tablespoon, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and coconut if making buttercream for filling. Buttercream can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days or frozen up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature before using; beat on lowest speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Steps:

• Boil 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water over medium heat until it reaches 245. As it cooks begin meringue so it's ready when syrup is done.
• Whip egg whites with a wire whisk in a stand up mixer on high until soft peaks form. About 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup sugar. Beat.
• Slowly pour the hot syrup into the meringue steadily with the mixer still on high.
• Beat the frosting for 7-10 minutes until the outside of the bowl is room temperature.
• Beat in butter by the tablespoon. The butter will deflate the frosting a bit.
• Add in desired flavorings.
• Flavorings.
• Chocolate: 1/2 cup melted and cooled chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Coconut: 1 teaspoon coconut extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Coffee: 1 teaspoon espresso powder or 3-5 tablespoons strong coffee.

Steps:

• Bring ½ cup of water to a simmer.
• Whisk together egg whites and sugar.
• Place mixing bowl over simmering water and continue whisking and mix for about 3-5 minutes.
• Rub mixture between fingers and stop if sugar is dissolved. Continue mixing until fully dissolved or get mixture to 160˚F.
• Wipe the bottom of the bowl and then transfer to a mixing bowl with a whisk attachment (if you're using a mixer).
• Mix on high until the bowl is room temperature (about 15 minutes) and add salt (the peaks should be stiff).
• Switch to paddle attachment turn onto medium speed, add cubes one at a time until each is incorporated.
• Keep beating until thick.
• Add vanilla and beat 1 more minute.
• Note: If the mixture looks lumpy keep going. This can vary based on your climate based on time of year.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the egg whites and the sugar and whisk until well blended; (yes, your arm will get tired).
• Set the bowl on top of a double boiler, or transfer mixture to the top pan of a double boiler and whisk constantly until the mixture is hot to the touch.
• Transfer to your mixer's bowl and beat on High with the whisk attachment until the bowl has cooled to the touch and the meringue forms stiff peaks.
• While beating on medium speed,slowly add the room temperature butter about 1/4 cup at a time.
• When all the butter has been added, it should be thick and creamy.
• Add the vanilla and blend until combined.
• This can be stored at room temperature for up to a day, refrigerated up to a week, and frozen up to a month.

Steps:

• Continuously whisk egg whites and sugar in a large, heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water until the mixture is frothy, thick, and very hot to the touch (about 160 degrees F).
• Remove from heat and beat with a mixer on high speed. The mixture should then become cool and glossy and triple in volume.
• Beat in the butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes, a few pieces at a time.
• Add the vanilla and beat until fluffy.

Steps:

• Combine egg whites and sugar in a heat-safe bowl. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water. Whip mixture until the temperature reaches 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) on a digital or instant thermometer and sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Remove egg white mixture from heat. Continue to whip until soft peaks form and the meringue temperature has come down to 99 degrees F (37 degrees C) or lower, 4 to 7 minutes.
• Add butter to the meringue, 2 tablespoons at a time, whipping until incorporated and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and keep mixing until smooth, 5 to 8 minutes. Add vanilla extract and whip until incorporated.

Steps:

• Make lemon curd:
• In a small heavy saucepan whisk together yolks and sugar and whisk in lemon juice, butter, and a pinch of salt. Cook mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until it reaches boiling point, 5 to 7 minutes (do not let it boil). Strain curd through a fine sieve into a bowl and cool, its surface covered with a plastic wrap. Chill curd, covered at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Make buttercream:
• In a heavy saucepan combine sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, undisturbed, until it reaches 248°F on candy thermometer. While syrup is boiling, in a standing electric mixer beat whites with a pinch salt until foamy and beat in cream of tarter. Beat whites until they just hold stiff peaks and add hot syrup in a stream, beating. Beat mixture at medium speed until completely cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Beat in butter, 1 piece at a time, and beat until it is thick and smooth. (Buttercream will at first appear very thin but as more butter is beaten in, it will thicken.) Beat in lemon curd and salt, beating until smooth, and drizzle in framboise, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating. Buttercream may be made 4 days ahead and chilled in an airtight container or 2 weeks ahead and frozen in anairtight container. Let buttercream come completely to room temperature (this may take several hours if frozen) and beat before using.