The Best Basic Buttercream Recipe Tutorial

This recipe is my go to for almost every buttercream need I have, well, actually, I use it for EVERYTHING! The best part is that there is absolutely no wastage as I have a great way to use any leftovers (next video). It works well on cupcakes, cakes, as a filling and has many more uses and flavour combinations. It is so yummy - almost tastes like ice cream :D
Here is the recipe:
Tip: if you want it pure white you could tone it with a little bit of purple gel food colouring(a toothpick's tip- remember you can always add more but not take out)
500g butter(salted or unsalted, your preference) at room temp
1kg icing/confectioners sugar
125ml fresh cream/confectioners cream(longer shelf life)
5ml vanilla essence
5ml vanilla extract
You can basically convert it to any flavour by replacing the flavourants with your desired flavour and using gel colours(not too much as some can go bitter in my opinion) to colour it. Try to avoid liquid food colouring as this might cause it to split. Different flavours that work well are: Lemon, orange, mint,almond,elderflower, rose water, orange blossom etc
Flavour options:
- Replace 140g of icing sugar with sifted Cocoa powder for yummy chocolate fudge buttercream.
- Dissolve 15ml of powder instant coffee into the vanilla essence and add 10ml of cinnamon powder for cappuccino icing
- Replace half of the cream with lemon curd (and essence) and add the zest of 1 lemon(microwave for 10 sec) for Zingy lemon icing
- Replace half of the cream with any fruit preserve or jam to make a fruity icing ex. strawberry and rasberry or apricot(with almond essence) etc.
-Crush in a packet of Oreos or any biscuits like lemon creams, jolly jammers for a biscuit/cookie icing
- Add 125ml of dulce de leche or caramel treat in stead of the cream and then add a pinch of salt for salted caramel(also replace the vanilla extract with caramel essence)
- Even add half a cup of sprinkles for a funfetti look!
These are just a few ideas feel free to play around and let us know if you find a great flavour combination in the comments below:)
More tips:
This icing stays up and has great hold in most weather conditions but you can adjust the cream to tweak it to a firmer consistency.
Also adjust the cream to your taste of desired sweetness .
This is a crusting buttercream but the crusting will depend on the variation you choose to make.
All of the adjustments will still deliver a firm and pipe-able Icing :)
Thanks for watching and remember to look out for the next video for that leftover trick .

[@pelonegro23]

What is confectioners cream? The one that we use in the coffee? Keep posting videos, you are vey talented!!!

[@thesugarartchef]

Hi, Thank you for the kind words. Conf cream is more like dessert cream intended for whipping :)

[@dkk9339]

Hi, Great video . Is it whipping cream that you find in the cold section in the supermarket or cream comes in tins that are kept in the shelf. ? ( similar to evaporated milk) Thanks.

[@thesugarartchef]

DKK you can use both ;)

[@thesugarartchef]

The dessert cream in a can might be pouring cream so just use till your buttercream has reach desired consistency. But both will definetly work