What’s the Difference Between These Buttercream Frostings? | America’s Test Kitchen



Jack Bishop explains the difference in texture and taste across various types of buttercreams, from simple types like American buttercream to the more complicated French buttercream.

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25 Comments

  1. I don't know if it's actually considered a buttercream but there's a frosting that a lot of grocery stores use that has such a feather-light texture and pleasantly sweet flavor. The consistency isn't like a pie meringue but it's clearly a frosting but so light! Whereas when they use what they call "buttercream," it's a bit gritty and cloyingly sweet to the point I feel sick on one cupcake or piece of cake. I guess they just call this other stuff "whipped" icing and it is absolutely heavenly imho compared to the so-called buttercream. It might be made with hydrogenated fat honestly which yeah not so nice but I love the almost-Cool Whip but denser texture.

  2. The frosting I've never liked is the stuff they putt on grocery store cakes and cupcakes. It doesn't go on this list, because I don't think it's a buttercream anyway. I believe they use vegetable shortening, because it give you a white frosting which can be used as-is or dyed sky blue without having any discoloration, unlike butter. But I just remember it would taste so horrible to me.

  3. I don't know if it is the added cornstarch or not, but I've never liked anything with a lot of confectioner's sugar. There's an "off" flavor I can taste. A sprinkling is fine for looks, but not when its the main sweetener.

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