25
Feb
Why is my Buttercream Not Firm. To soften your buttercream in the microwave use a low power setting and dont microwave it for more than fifteen seconds at a time depending on the amount of buttercream you have.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together the sugar and butter.
Buttercream frosting that doesn t melt. For over 20 years I used bcream for 100s of outdoor wedding and other cakes and cannot think of a single time the icing melted. This was in hot central CA. Granted it was dry - almost never humid but temps could go into the 100s and rather than melt it would dry out.
IndyDebis sounds like a good choice. I use all high ratio shortening the cornstarch. So icing wont taste greasy I add butter flavoring with whatever other flavor I am adding.
I also add meringue powder to the icing helps icing to crust. For humid weather here I usually mix 2 batches of icing together. One of the shortening based icing one of royal icing.
For buttercream thats so velvety smooth it melts in your mouth dont rush beating the butter. First start with cool room temperature butter. You dont want it to be so warm that its greasy.
Use an electric mixer either hand held or standing and beat it with the sugar until combined. Replace water with coffee for a coffee flavoured buttercream. Step 1 - Beat butter in the bowl of an electric mixer until as white as possible on a low speed of about 3 out of 10 where 10 is the fastest.
Step 2 - Beat in sugar water and vanilla in two batches. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together the sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
Add the salt vanilla and cream and beat on medium for 1 minute adding more cream if needed. Certain types of frosting might have more issues with melting than others too. For example a nice buttercream frosting could be very tasty but it will melt pretty easily in high temperatures.
The cooler idea can help you to transport a cake like this but you could also just use a different type of frosting that wont melt. If your cake is too warm the buttercream will melt and the frosting wont set. If your cake is chilled it can create condensation between the frosting and the cake.
That moisture will prevent a crust from forming. Why is my Buttercream Not Firm. The buttercream will melt if it gets too hot.
To soften your buttercream in the microwave use a low power setting and dont microwave it for more than fifteen seconds at a time depending on the amount of buttercream you have. You will want to microwave the buttercream in intervals to make sure it doesnt melt. With the mixer on low speed slowly add in the salt and powdered sugar and continue beating until the sugar is fully incorporated.
Add in vanilla and cream or milk and mix on low speed until incorporated. Turn the mixer back up to medium-high speed and beat the buttercream for an additional 6-7 minutes. All shortening works well you can also reduce the liquid by 12 or 14 depending on how hot it is and use cornstarch instead of meringue powder.
This works for me every time in the tropics. Just read Sheryl Bitos link this is where I got my recipe. This is the perfect link.
Thank you for all the helpful suggestions. Seven minute frosting will hold up better than buttercream on a hot day too. Swiss or German meringue buttercream swiss meringue pictured above are going to work better as well.
You could try enrobing a regular buttercream frosting in a chocolate shell sort of like a mallomar –but while these might hold for a little while you are going.