Buttercream
Buttercream is a type of icing or filling used either inside cakes, as a coating, or as decoration.Varieties
Simple buttercream is made by creaming together fats and powdered sugar to the desired consistency and lightness. Typically twice as much sugar as butter by weight is used. Flavorings, in the form of extracts and oils, may also be added. Some recipes call for cream, non-fat milk solids, flour, or meringue powder.Meringue-based buttercream
There are three types of meringue-based buttercream: Italian, Swiss, and American. The Italian and Swiss meringues must be cooled to room temperature in order not to melt the butter (which has a variable melting point below as it is subsequently beaten in. The American meringue buttercream is a no-cook method which means there is no risk of melting the butter.French buttercream is made with whipped egg yolks. Custard-based buttercream is prepared by beating together pastry cream and softened butter, and may be additionally sweetened with extra confectioners' sugar.
