Nothing transforms a cake or cupcake from good to heavenly like a light, creamy frosting. But with so many different types of frostings and icings you can make, its no simple matter to decide which is the best one for topping your treats.
When considering the many different types of frostings there are for cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods, you can think about them in six broad categories: buttercream frosting, cooked frosting, whipped cream frosting, royal icing, ganaches, and glazes.
The best way to distinguish frosting from buttercream is through the ingredients. While both contain powdered sugar, fat, flavouring and sometimes milk or water, frosting does not contain any butter whatsoever. Instead, frosting is usually made with shortening or cream cheese.
Cooked Frosting
Seven-minute frosting is the classically cooked frosting and its made by heating sugar, water, and corn syrup to a boil, then pouring this boiling syrup into a bowl of stiff-peak meringue with the beater going. The trick is adding the hot liquid slowly, aiming for the side of the bowl rather than directly into the meringue.
Heating the meringue through the addition of this hot liquid coagulates the proteins in the egg whites, which stabilizes the meringue and helps the frosting hold its shape.
Seven-minute frostings are delicate and can be absorbed into the cake if not eaten the first day. You can use meringue powder to make seven-minute frosting, but note that pasteurized eggs (including liquid egg whites you buy in a carton) will not form as foamy a meringue.
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Whipped Cream Frosting
Whipped cream frostings consist of whipped cream, powdered sugar, and flavorings—what could be simpler? As with buttercream, the cornstarch in the powdered sugar helps stabilize the frosting. Its possible to overbeat this type of frosting, which can cause it to turn grainy, so beat just until firm peaks appear. Cakes, cupcakes, shortcakes, and cookies with this type of frosting must be refrigerated.
Buttercream vs. Whipped Cream | THE BEST ICING FOR YOUR CAKE!
FAQ
Is butter cream different from frosting?
Can I substitute frosting for buttercream?
Is white frosting the same as buttercream?
What frosting is not buttercream?
What is the difference between buttercream and frosting?
Frosting is a cream based spread usually made by whipping sugar and butter together, hence the term “buttercream.” There are many kinds of frosting made from different cream bases including whipped cream and cream cheese but buttercream is the most popular among all of them. It’s light, thick, fluffy, spreadable, and can hold its shape well too.
What are the best substitutes for butter?
The substitute that you might want to use depends on what you are using butter for. In baking you can use any fat such as olive oil, nut butters, or even avocados. In baking you can also substitute non-fats for butter such as Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, or even applesauce. For replacing butter as a spread, you can use any fat, hummus, avocado, nut butter, or cheese. For cooking, canola oil can be a great sub, or avocado oil is also good because it has a high smoke point.
What is the difference between American buttercream and cream cheese frosting?
The American Buttercream is named “Vanilla American Buttercream,” and can be found in my Cakeculator. The cream cheese frosting is called “Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting” and can be found here. Emulsion-based, or “True Buttercreams,” require precise mixing of two components to make an emulsion.
Is it hard to make buttercream frosting?
Making a good batch of buttercream frosting isn’t hard, even if you are a novice or a new baker. And, it gets easier one batch at a time. Especially, if you know your buttercream basics. Furthermore, understanding the ingredients and how they work with each other is helpful.