The PERFECT American Buttercream recipe for frosting and piping a cake.
Buttercreams come in all different varieties and flavors. One of the easiest and more used ones is American Buttercream. This buttercream recipe will be your go-to frosting to cover a birthday cake or pipe on some delicious cupcakes.
About American Buttercream
- This recipe is very easy to prepare and comes together very quickly. The number of ingredients is just a handful, and the process is easy to follow.
- Unlike Swiss Meringue Buttercream, AMB requires no cooking or heating ingredients.
- The list of ingredients includes; Room-Temperature butter, Sifted powdered sugar, a Pinch of salt, Vanilla extract, and Meringue powder. This last ingredient is optional but recommended.
- Let's talk about Meringue powder. This ingredient adds stability and structure to the buttercream and prevents it from falling off the cake. It is totally optional to incorporate it into the recipe; however, it makes the frosting much easier.
- American Buttercream can be adapted to different frostings, such as chocolate, confetti, or fruit.
How To Make This Frosting
- We start with room-temperature butter. When pressing it down, the butter should be soft enough that your fingertip leaves a dent. Too soft butter makes the buttercream too runny, and too cold butter will be difficult to beat, making the American Buttercream lumpy.
- Use the paddle attachment and beat the butter until soft, light in color, and fluffy. This may take up to 10 minutes.
- After reaching the desired butter consistency and color, add the powdered sugar. It is important to add powdered sugar in a small amount.
- Mix meringue powder into ¼ cup of the powdered sugar, then add to the butter. Mix well, and then add the rest of the sugar in ¼ cup at a time. Never add the meringue powder to the buttercream directly.
- The recommended ratio of the butter to the sugar is 1 to 4. With this ratio, American Buttercream will not taste like butter, and the sweetness will have a good balance.
Why Heavy Cream
- One important ingredient is heavy cream. Heavy cream or milk smooths out the buttercream, making it more spreadable and easy to work with.
- In the end, add vanilla extract. If using any other extract, such as lemon or mint extract, add it after the vanilla extract.
- If you find the buttercream too stiff, add a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream, and if it is too runny, add ¼ cup powdered sugar to reach the right consistency.
- This buttercream can be flavored with cocoa powder, caramel, ganache, fruit reductions, etc.
- Add a few drops of gel food color at the end to tint the frosting.
📖 Recipe
American Buttercream
The PERFECT American Buttercream recipe for frosting and piping a cake.
Equipment
- 1 Stand mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter, Room temperature
- 4 cups Powdered sugar, Sifted
- 1 teaspoon Meringue powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2-3 tablespoon Heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Leave the butter at room temperature for at least one hour before making the buttercream. Using the paddle attachment beat the butter until light, smooth, and fluffy.1 cup Butter
- Mix the meringue powder into ¼ cup of the powdered sugar and add it to the butter. Mix well.1 teaspoon Meringue powder
- Add the rest of the powdered sugar in ¼ cup at a time and mix well after each addition. Add in the salt.4 cups Powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add in vanilla extract and any other extract you would like to add.1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- Add two tablespoons of heavy cream to smooth out the buttercream. Mix the buttercream for 3-4 minutes.2-3 tablespoon Heavy cream
- If the buttercream is too stif, add more heavy cream, and if it is too runny, add more powdered sugar to reach a smooth and spreadable consistency.
- Add a few drops of gel food color to tint the buttercream at the end.
Nutrition
Calories: 1767kcalCarbohydrates: 503gProtein: 3gFat: 195gSaturated Fat: 124gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 50gTrans Fat: 7gCholesterol: 522mgSodium: 2632mgPotassium: 102mgSugar: 3gVitamin A: 6114IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Farnaz Marandi
I call it sweet art ❤️
Arezou Bahador
Just like yourself, sweet and lovely, Farnaz!