As a child, one of my fondest memories was visiting the local bakery and marveling at the frosted irresistible treats. The vibrant colors and glossy sheen of the frosting never failed to captivate me, promising a world of sweetness and delight with each bite. That first taste of bakery-style frosting was pure bliss, a burst of sweetness that danced on my tongue and filled me with joy. I think most of us have a similar memory from our childhood, right? Bakery-style frosting has a smooth and creamy consistency that holds its shape well, making it perfect for piping and decorating intricate designs. This type of frosting is stable at room temperature, which is important for bakery products that may be displayed for a period of time before being consumed. It can be easily flavored and colored to create a variety of different effects and decorations, making it versatile for different types of baked goods. It has a light and fluffy texture that complements cakes and cupcakes without being too heavy or overly sweet. Also, this frosting is easy to work with, making it suitable for both professional bakers and home bakers who want to achieve a professional-looking finish on their baked goods. Overall, bakery frosting is popular because it combines ease of use with a great taste and appearance, making it a favorite choice for many bakers and cake decorators.
Step by step: Bakery-style frosting
Makes enough to cover 2 x 8-inch cakes or 24 cupcakes
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or hand mixer, cream butter and shortening for about a minute, on medium speed, until light and fluffy.Pro tip – The butter’s color will get lighter and blend with the shortening. Combine water with cornstarch and vanilla extract. Add it to the creaming mixture and whip until smooth. Add the salt.Pro tip – Water will create a glue effect with the cornstarch when combined with the fat. It will also take away that starchy taste from the cornstarch. Next, start adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Once all the sugar is in – whip the buttercream for three minutes until light and fluffy.Pro tip: Whipping for no less than 3 minutes will give a light, airy whipped cream frosting consistency.
Bakery chocolate frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or hand mixer, cream butter, shortening it for about a minute until light and fluffy. Combine water with cornstarch. Add the cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract. Add it to the creaming mixture and whip until smooth.Pro tip – Water will create a glue effect with the cornstarch when combined with the fat. It will also take away that starchy taste from the cornstarch. Next, start adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Once all the sugar is in, whip the buttercream for three minutes until it is light and fluffy.Pro tip – whipping for no less than 3 minutes will give a light and airy whipped cream consistency frosting.
Troubleshooting
Frosting is too runny: If your frosting is too runny, it may be because you added too much liquid (such as milk or cream). To thicken it, gradually add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency. Frosting is too thick: If your frosting is too thick, it may be because you added too much powdered sugar. To thin it, gradually add a little more milk or cream until you reach the desired consistency. Frosting is too sweet: If your frosting is too sweet, you can try adding a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness. You can also try adding a little more butter or shortening to mellow out the flavor. Frosting is lumpy: Lumpy frosting can occur if you did not sift your powdered sugar or if your butter and shortening were not fully softened. To fix this, you can try beating the frosting on high speed for a few minutes or pressing it through a sieve to remove any lumps. Frosting is grainy: Grainy frosting can occur if your powdered sugar was not fully dissolved. To fix this, you can try beating the frosting on high speed for a few minutes or adding a little more liquid to help dissolve the sugar. Frosting is too greasy: If your frosting is too greasy, it may be because you added too much butter or shortening. To fix this, you can try adding a little more powdered sugar to absorb some of the excess fat. Frosting is not holding its shape: If your frosting is not holding its shape when piped, it may be because it is too warm. Try chilling it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm it up before piping.
Creative variations – vanilla flavors
Vanilla bean Frosting: Add 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste for a classic vanilla flavor. Lemon Frosting: Add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest for a bright, citrusy flavor. Almond Frosting: Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of almond extract for a sweet and nutty flavor. Coffee Frosting: Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee granules in 1-2 tablespoons of hot water and add to the frosting for a rich coffee flavor. Cream Cheese Frosting: Replace half of the butter with cream cheese and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for a tangy, creamy frosting. Strawberry Frosting: Add 1/4 cup of strawberry puree (made from fresh or frozen strawberries) and reduce the amount of milk or cream in the frosting for a fruity flavor. Maple Frosting: Replace 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar with maple syrup and add 1/2 teaspoon of maple extract for a sweet and rich maple flavor.
Creative variations – Chocolate flavors
Mocha Chocolate Frosting: Add 1-2 tablespoons of instant coffee granules dissolved in 1-2 tablespoons of hot water to the frosting for a rich mocha flavor. Chocolate Orange Frosting: Add 1-2 teaspoons of orange extract or zest to the frosting for a zesty twist. Mexican Chocolate Frosting: Add 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper to the frosting for a spicy kick. Chocolate Mint Frosting: Add 1-2 teaspoons of mint extract or a few drops of peppermint oil to the frosting for a refreshing minty flavor. Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting: Add 1/4-1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter to the frosting for a rich and nutty flavor. Chocolate Coconut Frosting: Add 1/4-1/2 cup of shredded coconut to the frosting for a tropical twist. Chocolate Raspberry Frosting: Add 1/4-1/2 cup of raspberry puree (made from fresh or frozen raspberries) to the frosting for a fruity flavor. Spiked Chocolate Frosting: Add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur, such as Kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream, to the frosting for an adult twist.
Frequently asked questions
Creative ways to use buttercream frosting
Cupcake Art: Use this frosting to create intricate designs on cupcakes. You can pipe flowers, animals or even write personalized messages. Cookie Sandwiches: Spread a generous amount of frosting between two homemade cookies to create delicious sandwich treats. You can experiment with different cookie flavors and frosting combinations. Frosting Dips: Create sweet dips for snacks like pretzels, potato chips, or fruit. Mix the frosting with cream cheese or whipped cream for a lighter consistency. Donut Glaze: Use the frosting as a glaze for freshly baked donuts. Dip them in the frosting or drizzle it over for a decadent treat. Cake Pops: Crumble a cake, mix it with frosting, and form it into bite-sized balls. Insert a stick into each ball and dip them in melted chocolate or frosting for a tasty cake pop. Fancy Hot Chocolate: Top a mug of hot chocolate with a dollop of frosting instead of whipped cream. Add sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or crushed cookies for an extra touch.
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