Extra Special Buttercream Icing

Donna M.'s Note:

This is the best buttercream icing I have ever tasted. I used it for my daughter's wedding cake. I made a double batch, which was enough to ice, border, and pipe small decorations on the sides of the cake for a 14" x 10" x 6" tiered cake. I think the whipping cream is the secret to making this icing special.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 7.5 cups

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 lbs powdered sugar (8 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2-1 teaspoon clear butter flavoring
• 4 -6 ounces whipping cream

Directions:

1. Cream butter and shortening until fluffy.
2. Add sugar, meringue powder, about half of the cream, and continue creaming until well blended.
3. Add salt, flavorings and enough whipping cream to make the consistency you need.
4. Beat at medium speed until icing is fluffy.
5. You may substitute all shortening for the butter, which will give a pure white icing, but the flavor will not be quite as good.
6. I used butter and real vanilla and the icing turned out a very pale ivory, which I personally prefer to a stark-white icing.
7. The meringue powder gives the icing a light crust, but it remains soft underneath.

Reviews

[emtpixie]

I'm a pro cake decorator, and this is a good icing for beginners, practice or "informal" cakes. I made a few changes to use for a wedding cake. First, add 1/2 tsp. extra meringue powder for a stronger foundation to decorate on. I also added a little more flavoring, 1/2 tsp. extra of each. If very white icing is desired, use Wilton's White White Icing Dye, it "bleaches" out the ivory color, also I used clear vanilla. Oh, and PLEASE use a stand mixer if you don't want to buy a new hand mixer each time you make icing! A food processor can work, but a stand mixer makes a much smoother icing.

[Lutie]

You do not have to look any further for a butter cream icing recipe... I use this on all of my wedding cakes, special occasion cakes, etc. In the summertime, I reduce the butter to 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) and add the additional 1/2 in extra Crisco (vegetable shortening). It holds up in the extreme humidity we have here in our state, and keeps the icing from melting. I add 2 tablespoons of meringue powder and use only 8 oz. of cream... it whips up, does not get "aerated holes", and has a slight crust... that makes it perfect for the design work I use on the professional cakes. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, as it is one I have used for years... it is one which will give you a great reputation as a baker of lovely cakes.

[dukeswalker]

Absolutely yummy and great to work with! I used an organic trans fat free shortening and it came out perfect!! Used this on your sour cream wedding cake.... holy cow......THANK YOU! *** Edited to add *** I just had to add that I made 2 diff. buttercream recipes tonight. This one and another one that is posted on youtube, cakecentral, etc....this one blows that one out of the water. It has a better taste and a much smoother, bubble-less consistency. This will be my go to from now on.