A step-by-step Italian Meringue Buttercream tutorial! It is the smoothest and creamiest of all the buttercreams! You will love it on cakes, cupcakes and more! Plus it’s easier than you think!
In culinary school we made 5 different types of buttercream, but Italian Meringue Buttecream is my favorite! It has a lighter texture and taste than Swiss Meringue and German; it doesn’t taste like pure butter like French Buttercream; and it isn’t saccharine, tooth-achingly sweet like an American Buttercream.
Over the past 2 months, I’ve made this buttercream a lot.
A lot. I dream about cutting a cake in three perfect layers and then frosting it.
And not in a good way. It’s more of a nightmare really.
Italian meringue buttercream (IMB) seems complicated at first; it’s definitely the most sophisticated of its peers. Simply put, it is made by whipping egg whites to stiff peaks while simultaneously cooking sugar to the soft ball stage; you then slowly pour the sugar into the whipping egg whites; and, finally, add butter.
A whole lotta butter.
They don’t call it buttercream for nothin’.
I love this frosting because it is light and airy but simultaneously rich and creamy. It is also magically stable and will keep for months in the freezer! So stable, in fact, if you think you totally messed it up, take heart, it’s probably totally fixable!
I actually think IMB is easier than Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
One of these days I’ll shoot a video tutorial for you on IMB and also Swiss Meringue, because they are really not as complicated as they seem. For now, I shot a step-by-step photo tutorial, which is kind of a big deal. I’ve never done that before!
One small step for IMB; one giant leap for AHC!!
This is another batch of IMB that I made. Mmmm chocolate. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw the cake that it frosted. My very first cake order!
So let’s not pretend like what I did with this fluffy frosting is a surprise. Mmmkay?
Y’all know me by now.
I made cupcakes. #obvi
Coming soon! 🙂
Click Here to Skip to the Picture Tutorial!
Click Here to Skip to the Printable Recipe!
A Few General Tips for IMB Success:
- There is no rule that you have to whip the egg whites on high while you cook your sugar, so if they have reached stiff peaks and your sugar syrup is stubbornly stuck at 220˚F (been there), just turn down the mixer to low. Don’t stop that mixer! I didn’t say that! I said LOW.
- Pour your sugar syrup in with the mixer on HIGH. Do you want scrambled eggs on your cupcakes? I didn’t think so. Turn that mixer up!
- Pour the sugar down the side of the bowl. Don’t hit the whisk because I don’t need to tell you that 235˚ syrup in the face is unpleasant. Don’t be that person. You will know if you did it right because there will be one little lava trail of cooled sugar down one side of the bowl.
- This sounds obvious and it’s in the instructions, but I’m going to say it anyways: cook your sugar to 235˚F. Soft ball syrup is a range but if you shoot for 235˚F, then by the time you get from the stove to the mixer and the syrup has inched up a few degrees, no love has been lost. You will know if you overcook your sugar because there will be a pool of cooked sugar in the bottom of your mixer. No bueno.
- When you start adding your butter, you want it to be soft but still a little cool. If it’s not totally soft enough, add it a little bit at a time and squeeze each piece before tossing it in. That’s right, squeeze your butter! It’s kinda fun. And kinda gross at the same time.
- If your buttercream gets soupy, switch from the paddle back to the whisk and beat it on high. All is not lost. Trust me. Whip it; whip it good. {Is that song in your head now? #sorryimnotsorry}
- If your buttercream breaks (looks curdled) when you start adding the butter, take heart, it will come together. Add the butter in little pieces and squeeze each one to soften it. If you have a kitchen torch you can torch the outside of the bowl with the mixer on high, but keep the torch moving! You want to warm the bowl not melt the buttercream.
- To refresh refrigerated buttercream: Throw it in the mixer and beat with the paddle attachment until smooth; then switch to the whisk to whip it up until light and fluffy.
- To refresh frozen buttercream: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, let warm slightly at room temperature and then proceed with the refreshing refrigerated buttercream instructions above.
- You can speed up the refreshing process by warming the bowl over a gas stovetop flame or with the kitchen torch. Just be careful to constantly move the bowl or torch because you don’t want to melt your buttercream.
Italian Meringue Buttercream Tutorial:
You want to make sure that you have everything measured out and ready to go. This recipe is simple but it does require seamless execution. You also want to make sure that your mixing bowl is clean and free of any residual fat, or your meringue will not whip up and there will be sadness abound.
Mix half of the sugar with the water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir just until the sugar dissolves. When the pan heats up, brush around the sides of the pot with a clean pastry brush dipped in water to dissolve any sugar crystals adhered to the sides of the pot. You can also use a paper towel that you roll up (I did because I forgot my brush at school.)
When your sugar starts to bubble begin whipping your egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. You can add a pinch of salt and/or cream of tartar for stability if you wish. When your eggs begin to look frothy, slowly begin adding the second half of your sugar, whipping constantly on medium-high (above picture).
Continue whipping your egg whites until they form stiff peaks (photo 1 above). Ideally your meringue should reach stiff peaks at the same time that your sugar syrup reaches 235˚F. If your egg whites are whipping too fast, reduce the mixer speed to medium. You can also adjust the heat on the sugar syrup to make it cook faster or slower.
To test your syrup you can either use a candy thermometer or you can do it the old-fashioned way, which is what I did here. Take a tiny bit of the syrup on a spoon and dip it into ice water, reach in and grab the sugar. If it dissolves, it isn’t close to ready; if it forms a little malleable ball, it’s ready!! I don’t have a photo of this stage because if I had taken the time to snap a photo, my sugar would have over cooked.
Turn your mixer up to high and SLOWLY pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl as in photo 2 above. Be very careful not to hit the whisk. Ideally you pour it in one solid stream down the edge because it will solidify where it hits the bowl, so if you pour it in three different places, you will be losing sugar. Sadness.
If you look closely at the above photo you can see where my sugar hit the side of the bowl. One little stream. No excess sugar lost. Go ahead, take a closer look…This is what perfection looks like. 😉
Keep whipping the Italian meringue on high until it forms stiff peaks like in the first photo below, but what is more important than the stiffness of the meringue is the temperature of the meringue. Before you begin adding the butter, the bottom of the bowl should feel barely warm (picture 2). There is so much sugar in this meringue that it will not over whip before it cools appropriately. Even though my meringue had reached stiff peaks in photo 1, I still needed to whip it another few minutes for it too cool.
When the bowl feels just slightly warm, switch to the paddle attachment and begin adding your butter a piece at a time like in picture 3. I take my butter out of the fridge when I begin measuring my ingredients. Before adding each piece squeeze the butter. When I am making this (and not taking photos) I use disposable gloves.
Continue to beat the butter in on medium-high until the buttercream is smooth and there are no remaining pieces of butter. The buttercream in photo 1 above is still a bit lumpy. Not there yet!!! Photo 2 is smooth and creamy. At this stage I switch back to the whisk, add any desired flavorings and beat it until it is light and fluffy. You are now ready to frost!
A tutorial for Italian Meringue Buttercream. Once you try this smooth, creamy buttercream, nothing else will do!
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar (375g), divided
- 2/3 cup water (150g)
- 5 large egg whites (150g)
- pinch salt, optional
- pinch cream of tartar, optional
- 2 cups butter, cubed (4 sticks or 1 pound), cool but not cold
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate, melted but not hot
Instructions
- You want to make sure that you have everything measured out and ready to go. This recipe is simple but it does require seamless execution. You also want to make sure that your mixing bowl is clean and free of any residual fat, or your meringue will not whip up and there will be sadness abound.
- Mix half of the sugar with the water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir just until the sugar dissolves. When the pan heats up, brush around the sides of the pot with a clean pastry brush dipped in water to dissolve any sugar crystals adhered to the sides of the pot. You can also use a paper towel that you roll up (I did because I forgot my brush at school.)
- When your sugar starts to bubble begin whipping your egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. You can add a pinch of salt and/or cream of tartar for stability if you wish. I only used salt in the photos you see. When your eggs begin to look frothy, slowly begin adding the second half of the sugar, whipping constantly on medium-high.
- Continue whipping your egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Ideally your meringue should reach stiff peaks at the same time that your sugar syrup reaches 235˚F. If your egg whites are whipping too fast, reduce the mixer speed to medium. You can also adjust the heat on the sugar syrup to make it cook faster or slower.
- To test your syrup you can either use a candy thermometer or you can do it the old-fashioned way, which is what I did here. Take a tiny bit of the syrup on a spoon and dip it into ice water, reach in and grab the sugar. If it dissolves, it isn’t close to ready; if it forms a little malleable ball, it’s ready!!
- Turn your mixer up to high and SLOWLY pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl. Be very careful not to hit the whisk. Ideally you should pour it in one solid stream down the edge because it will solidify where it hits the bowl, so if you pour it in three different places, you will be losing sugar. Sadness.
- Keep whipping the Italian meringue on high until it forms stiff, but what is more important than the stiffness of the meringue is the temperature of the meringue. Before you begin adding the butter, the bottom of the bowl should feel barely warm.
- When the bowl feels just slightly warm, switch to the paddle attachment and begin adding your butter a piece at a time. I take my butter out of the fridge when I begin measuring my ingredients. Before adding each piece squeeze the butter.
- Continue to beat the butter in on medium-high until the buttercream is smooth and there are no remaining pieces of butter. At this stage I switch back to the whisk, add my flavorings and beat it until it is light and fluffy. Pipe or spread as desired!!
- When your butter has been completely incorporated, pour your chocolate in all at once and immediately fold it in with a spatula or beat it in with the paddle attachment. You want to make sure that your chocolate is melted but not hot and it is also still warm enough to flow freely in a continuous stream. If your chocolate is too hot, you will melt your butter cream; but if it is too cool, then you will have pieces of chocolate in your frosting.
More frosted delights!
Double Salted Caramel Cupcakes
Double Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry Mascarpone Frosting
Swiss Meringue Buttercream Tutorial
The BEST Death by Chocolate Cupcakes
Copycat Sprinkles Triple Cinnamon Cupcake
German Chocolate Cupcakes with German’s Chocolate Ganache
Peanut Butter Stuffed Double Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
![alt description](http://americanheritagecooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Italian-Meringue-Buttercream-Tutorial-Collage-4TEXT.jpg")
Great tutorial on buttercream, Lindsey! I didn’t realize that there are different types. I am loving the sound of this Italian buttercream…airy, light, creamy, rich but not super sweet. Lovely photo as always!
Thao @ In Good Flavor recently posted…Apricot Thyme Glazed Bacon Sticks
Thank you! So many types! Might as well start with the best, Thao! 🙂
Is it possible to use confection sugar for the sugar in this recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Sherri. I wouldn’t substitute confectioners sugar here. I’ve never tried to make a meringue with confectioners sugar, but you can try it 🙂
hi..may i know 2 cups butter means how many Gram? thanks for sharing…Have A nice day ^^
Hi Joan, 2 cups of butter is 1 pound, which is 453g. Happy baking!
you’re, like… the coolest. you’re pretty much living the dream, and i thank you for that, because i can live vicariously through your blog without steeping myself into ever more debt.
Haha! Thank you, Liz! I am living the dream and I absolutely love passing on everything I’m learning! Happy baking!
I have tried swiss meringue but not italian meringue. Italian meringue sounds and looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it
Chichi recently posted…Vanilla and Lemon Spritz Sandwich Cookies
Oh, Chichi, you must! IMB is fantastic and it is so stable for all those magical cake you make!
Best post ever! I love learning when it comes to baking and you, my dear, are a fantastic teacher! So so talented. What sensational frosting! 🙂 Love the step by step photos xxx
Haha! Thanks, Jess!! I hope it was helpful! You should try it soon…you’ll love, love love! xxxx
I made Italian Meringue Buttercream once in cooking school and haven’t made it since, and you’re right — it’s much lighter and less sweet than the others! I LOVE all those beautiful swirls, Lindsay, and this tutorial is wonderful! Pinning and trying again soon. 🙂
marcie recently posted…Saffron Vegetable Soup with Quinoa
I have made Italian Meringue for pies and prefer it over the regular. I have not made the buttercream but will refer to this when I do.
Phillip recently posted…April Beauties
Italian meringue is best for pies because then you don’t have to bake it or use pasteurized eggs. If you have made the meringue then you’ve made the hard part!!
Thank you for this!! Last weekend in Solvang I had the BEST italian buttercream filled pastries and OMG I must make them. Pinned!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Margarita Bars
Hooray!!! You must, you must!!! You’ll love it! Thanks for the pin!
Wow oh wow oh wow. Girl, come over now, because I need this in my life. All i can dream of right now is licking that off those beaters – yum Linsey, yum!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen recently posted…Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
Haha! I definitely did my fair share of licking off beaters…and spoons…and cupcakes 🙂 xoxoxox
Love this tutorial and that glorious buttercream! It looks so creamy and perfect! IMB and SMB are my two favorites and I am so wishing I could grab that spoon off the screen! <3 this!
There really is nothing else that compares! Thank you, Kelly!
I love Italian meringue buttercream! But I haven’t made it in a looong time…I clearly need to fix that problem. This is an awesome tutorial. I love all of the tips you’ve got in here. I do seem to recall that Italian buttercream doesn’t “last” that long. Like maybe a day at best? Am I making this up? I saw your notes about refreshing it, but what if you’ve already frosted the cake? Share your culinary wisdom with me, Lindsey! I mean, I’m not saying I can’t eat an entire cake in a single day. But I am saying that it’s probably not the smartest of plans. 🙂
David @ Spiced recently posted…Cinnamon Sugar Sopapillas
Get on it, David!!! Italian buttercream is one of the most stable buttercreams at room temp because of the softball sugar, so once you’ve frosted your cake you are good to go as long as your cake lasts. It does need to be refrigerated but the cake should be brought to room temp prior to serving because otherwise it just tastes like butter! It will also trap in moisture and extend the life of whatever you’ve frosted. I wouldn’t keep a frosted cake longer than 3 days in the fridge because after that I can just tell the cake is drier, but the buttercream is fine for 2 weeks in the fridge and 2 months in the freezer. Hope that helps 🙂
i have a question (no baking background) so i make the cake frost it put it in the fridge take it out of the fridge and should be ready to eat in …. and will it sweat??? sorry these may sound so dumb just want to make sure i execute right
Hi Martha! Those aren’t dumb questions! I like to “temper” the cake and frosting after I take them out of the refrigerator, which just means I leave it at room temperature for an hour or so to bring the cake and frosting to room temperature. It won’t cut as cleanly but it will taste better. Frosting just tastes like butter when it is cold! It will sweat a little bit but just leave it uncovered in the refrigerator and when you are letting it sit out before serving.
I’ve always wanted to try this- I mostly use Swiss. I love the step by step photos! I get it now and it definitely looks do-able-I was a bit intimidated by Italian Meringue. And yup…the songs in my head, lol. I love that song so it’s all good 🙂
You’ve totally got this, Veronica!!! I understand because I felt the same way!
Love how this buttercream looks. Much more than using only butter. I will have to give it a try then 🙂
Ella-HomeCookingAdventure recently posted…Bloomin Onion Bread
You should, Ella! You and the girls with love it!
After I read your intro, I was thinking I’d ” love it on cakes, cupcakes and..” spoons – and then I saw your second picture! Really, with buttercream this good – who needs cakes -eh?
Thanks for the detailed tutorial, Lindsey, I’ve never attempted to make my own Italian Buttercream – but, I know where to look when I do!
Lol! Definitely spoons! Cake is totally superfluous! You should make it soon!
This was a grand, cool & long tutorial, my friend! Amazing exciting photos too! xxx
lol definitely long! Thanks, Sophie! xx
I love the tutorial but I have a question. In the directions, the recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar divided. It says to had half of the sugar to the water and stir until dissolved. Am I missing something? What do you do with the other cup of sugar. I realize I am getting old and senile, but I am just missing it. Thanks so much!
Hi Elise, the other half of the sugar goes into the whipping egg whites to stabilize the meringue. It’s in step 3 but I can definitely make it more clear that this is the second half of the sugar! Thank you so much for calling this to my attention!! I will update the recipe and photo tutorial right now 🙂
OMG GORGEOUS.
yepp, now that I have my stand mixer this is gonna need to happen soon!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) recently posted…Spinach and Artichoke Hummus
Oh girl!!! You are gunna LOVE that stand mixer and you definitely need to make this!! It will blow your mind!
beautiful tutorial, Lindsey! Italian meringue is my favorite buttercream by far, as well 🙂
Ariana recently posted…pastry school: lemon meringue tart and burning the candle at both ends (midterm, part une)
Thanks, love! And thanks for stopping by! Isn’t IMB the BESTEST!
Wow… I had no idea there was more than one type of buttercream! Good thing I have friends like you to teach me your sweet genius ways! Love the step by step tutorial too!
Chris @ Shared Appetite recently posted…Pork Belly Tacos with Ancho Chili Roasted Pineapple and Avocado
Oh man, Chris! Buttercream! I’m so glad I could open your eyes to the wild world of butter creams! But really you should just start with this one because it’s AMAZING.
What tip do you use in the second pic with the pretty
ruffles on the spoon? Perfect
Thank you, Nancy! I used an Ateco 888!
Can you double this recipe or would you need to make two separate batches?
Hi Jennifer! You can absolutely double the recipe but it does depend on how large your mixer is. I wouldn’t make a double batch in anything smaller than a 6qt stand mixer. Hope that helps!
I have a 6 qt. kitchenaid! Last question…can you color this buttercream? I use gel colors.
Gel colors are perfect for frosting! Just add it at the very end. What are you making with it?!
Hi, I’ve tried to make Italian Buttercream with so many different recipes and every time it turns to soup once I start adding the butter. What am I doing wrong and how can I fix this? Can I save it once it turns to soup or do I have to toss it and start over? Should I be adding the butter on low speed?
Tessa recently posted…Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
Hi Tessa! It’s all about the temperature of your butter and your meringue. The bowl should not be warm. If it’s warm, it will just melt the butter and then you’ll get soup. If the butter is too warm, soup. Just follow my tip #6 to fix it. You don’t need to throw it out. You can add the butter on low speed or medium speed. It’s not really the main factor. Good luck!
I have one question, can you add color to the Italian Merengue buttercream?? and thank you for sharing I cant wait to make it 🙂
Hi Sofia! You can add color. I would add it at the end and only use a gel coloring. The alcohol based ones can deflate the meringue or make it weep. Happy baking!
hi teacher…may i know 2 cups butter in Gram? thanks for sharing recipe..u r the best. hv a nice day^^
Hi Joan, 2 cups of butter is 1 pound, which is 453g. Happy baking!
Hi! do i use unsalted butter in this recipe? i am assuming so!
Hi Tanya, Yes! I use unsalted butter in everything because that way you can control the salt.
Hi, just wondering is it safe to eat? I used to hear that people said it is okay to eat this buttercream since the sugar syrup practically kill all the bacteria in the egg but some people said that the temperature didn’t reach the require temperature for the egg to be fully cooked. So now I was confused:(
People said swiss meringue buttercream is safer but i know that swiss meringue is not as stable as italian and i need the most stable buttercream because the weather here is extremely hot sometimes! Really glad if you can clear this! Anyway your tutorial is amazing!
Please see my above comment about the safety of this buttercream. You should also know that every traditionally trained baker in the world uses Italian or Swiss buttercream. If you have concerns, use pasteurized egg whites. But just know they behave differently than fresh ones.
This is my go to Italian Buttercream! I wanted to try this because I can’t stand regular buttercream because it’s so sweet and french buttercream was too heavy for my liking. Makes me feel like a serious baker showing up to parties with cakes and cupcakes slathered in this stuff. My husband swears he could eat it for dinner or any meal for that matter and my mom who is not a huge sweets fan goes nuts over it. The directions are spot on, and I can now say I can make this without the directions (minus measurements). I’ve made this recipe now at least 3 times and people go CRAZY for it. Thank you so much for sharing and I can’t wait to try some more of your recipes.
Thank you so much, Mallory! Your comment made my day! I feel exactly the same way about Italian Meringue Buttercream – makes me feel extra fancy! I am super impressed that you can make it without the directions! Happy baking!
A million thanks to you for the recipe and tutorial. First time ever making it, followed all of your instructions to a tee and have perfect buttercream with the best consistency and flavor I have ever experienced!! I am so glad that I crumb coat the cakes because it means I get to eat the bit with the crumbs in it!!
Yay!!! I’m so glad you liked it Joann! And aren’t the crumbcoat leftovers the best?! I also level my layer cakes so I have a little bit of extra cake to eat with the crumb-coat frosting too 🙂
Here is what I made!! First time for everything! https://morethan2016.wordpress.com/2016/04/15/an-epic-cake-adventure/
I took a look yesterday! It’s amazing! Well done!
Thank you! 🙂
I made this but I think I killed the meringue 🙁
Is there anyway to fix it?
Hahah. Sadness. I’ve been there. Can you be more specific? Did it break? Is it soupy? Is the butter not incorporating?
I was adding the sugar syrup and it turned into liquid! I want to do it again but i’m afraid the same thing will happen 🙁
Hi Andrea, The hot syrup deflates the meringue almost completely which is normal. Make sure you pour in the sugar slowly with the whisk attachment on high speed then continue to beat with the whisk attachment on high until it is just warm to the touch. What did you do after you added the sugar?
Hello great recipe! I was wondering instead of using the Semi-Sweet Chocolate could i use a Peanut Butter Chip instead? Thanks!
Hi Vanessa! You could certainly try or you could try melting peanut butter that way you can use less and get a more intense pb flavor.
oh great idea on the Melted Peanut butter!! More Flavor i bet. Thanks again! 😀
No problem! Just make sure it isn’t too hot or it will melt the butter and break your buttercream! (same goes for the chocolate or pb chips)
yup worked better then i thought!! i used Melted Peanut Butter!
Woohoo!!! Thanks for reporting back! I just filmed a video tutorial for this and made a chocolate one…but I feel like my next creation needs to have a chocolate AND a peanut butter buttercream. Back to the kitchen!
Yes i Agree Everyone Loved the Peanut Butter Buttercream! 😛 Thanks for the Video`s! i use This Buttercream a Few Times a Month! in love!
Hi Lindsey, I recently bought a kenwood major stand mixer but the bowl is not glass bowl or stainless steel bowl. It’s a plastic bowl! And i think hot sugar syrup will surely melt my bowl, don’t you think? And is it okay if i make it using hand mixer instead?
Hi Zunun! I would not make this in a plastic bowl for several reasons. The first is that unless you are absolutely positive the plastic is heat resistant over 400 degrees, it might melt as you can imagine. The second is that, even if the plastic is rated over 400 degrees, it is very hard to clean all the oil out of a plastic bowl over time, which means your meringue may be flat. I just looked on kenwood’s site and I didn’t see a stand mixer with a plastic bowl. Are you sure? You can certainly try to make this with a hand blender, but I would make sure you have a deep glass or metal bowl and you have someone pour it while another person uses the hand mixer. You want to be especially careful that the hot syrup doesn’t hit the whisk and splatter sugar all over you and your friend. Maybe you are incredibly strong but I would get too tired making this recipe with a hand blender. You have to make the meringue, then operate the blender on high speed while pouring the hot syrup then you have to beat it until it cools and then you have to continue to beat it to add the butter. All in all it sounds like a bad idea but the French used to make this by hand before there were hand and stand mixers, so if the French can do it… 😉
Yes I’m sure! I hope I can post a pic of my mixer here. It is a Kenwood Classic Major KM630. Thank you for your reply. I think I need to buy the stainless steel bowl for this model of kenwood mixer.
Hi Zunun! I just googled the model and I see the plastic bowl. If there is a metal option that would definitely be worth the investment so that you can make meringues, this buttercream, marshmallows (!), egg foam based cakes like this one for example, etc. Egg whites also whip up better in metal and the metal will last forever! Anyways. Happy baking!
I love the delicate flavor of Italian buttercream but it does not hold up well in the heat I learned the hard way I used it for a wedding cake for a summer wedding and it started to melt and I had to make emergency repairs during the reception
Hi Tracy! Unfortunately no buttercream holds up well in the heat; it is butter after all! 🙂 Freeze it before you transport it, then refrigerate it and take it out at the latest time possible.
So I saw the comment about Buttercream not holding up in warm weather, which does make sense, so what frosting does? I am making cupcakes for my nieces tea party bridal shower, and I want to frost them with something that will be fluffy, light, not too sweet and hold up to warm (maybe even hot) New Mexico weather. We want to create a beautiful display that everyone can enjoy looking at and drooling over until the luncheon part of the party is over. 🙂 going for the classic elegant tea party style, hats and all. Anyway, I have been scouring the web and pinterest, and am just not finding what I want. I have found some incredible frostings, like this one, that I can’t wait to try, but nothing that is going to survive a July outdoor bridal shower. Please help me!
Oooo Girl! Unfortunately the main ingredient in buttercream is BUTTER! And butter and July don’t mix. Of all the types of buttercream, this one is the best for withstanding heat. The Italian meringue make it more stable. If you are hell-bent on an outdoor display, I would freeze the cupcakes and set them up immediately prior to guest’s arrival. This will help maximize the time you have before they start to melt. They will also be nicely tempered before guests eat them, which is always good. This buttercream is best consumed at room temperature. Happy baking!
Hey girl! How many cupcakes were you able to frost with a single batch of this?
Hi Amanda! It depends on how much you are putting on each one. 24 is a good, safe bet if you are using a nice amount but not, say, as much as I use in photos!
Hey Lindsey! Thanks for the demonstration! Is it possible to halve this recipe?
Absolutely!!!
hi..
should we sandwich the cake with this same cream? or is it only for the frosting outside the cake?
Of course you can absolutely use this between the layers!
Omg.I was wasting my time with regular buttercream frostings.I was embarrassed to give them away because they tasted greasy.now I will be sooo proud of my cupcakes. It wasnt difficult.this tutorial was amazing and frosting is luxurious darling ! Thank you.
Aww thank you, Ann Marie!!! I think luxurious is the perfect description! Happy baking!
Hi, this looks delicious. Would like to know if is resistant to the heat? I live in a very hot area, the temperature can be from 34 ° C, will resist the IMB? Greetings from Venezuela
Hi Gigi! That is awfully hot for any buttercream. You must remember it is butter and butter melts in that high of temperatures. If you freeze the cake with the icing it will stand up to that heat longer than other buttercreams but it will eventually melt. Happy baking!
Thank you for this awesome tutorial! It tastes amazing and looks gorgeous! All the finicky steps made it seem like it would be time consuming but it really didn’t take long either 🙂 you rock!
Hooray, Briana!!! The extra detailed descriptions do make it seem like it will take longer than it does! I am so glad you liked it! What did you make with it!? Happy baking!
I just made this recipe tonight. The tutorial was great and very easy to follow. It tastes amazing! I’m just concerned about piping with it tomorrow…..it seems to not be stiff enough. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Michele,
I’m so sorry I am just now seeing your comment now – I have been very busy at work. I am sure you found that after you refrigerated it overnight and then rewhipped it the next morning that consistency was perfect. IMB can always be fixed by putting it in the fridge. Please let me know how it went! Happy Baking!
Hi, great tutorial. I live in the Philippines where the temperature is just really a killer to buttercream. I was so happy when i put in the butter because for the first time in all the recipes i’ve tried, it didn’t just automatically turn to soup. But after a while it just did, and i couldn’t pipe it anymore. I’ve always just had to make american buttercream, which is not as good.
Do you have any tips on how to make this sturdier in hot/humid climates? Thank you very much!
Hi Mik! Hot and humid is the nemesis of buttercreams! At the end of the day it is still predominantly butter and there isn’t as much sugar as American buttercream to stabilize it, which is why it tastes waaaaaay better.
In the future I suggest you work with smaller quantities. Put only half in your piping bag and keep the rest in the refrigerator, then temper the one in the fridge and rewhip it. If the buttercream gets too soft as you pipe (which can happen just from the heat of your hands) then chill it and rewhip. This buttercream is incredibly stable and you can freeze it or refrigerate it and still whip it back up. You aren’t going to find a more stable (non-American) buttercream, so you just need to work with it and it’s faults! Happy baking!
When I make buttercream, I always make Swiss. These beautiful photos of your Italian Buttercream are pushing me to give it a try. My question for you is, why do you squeeze the butter?
I do not have a stand mixer do you think this could be achieved with an electric hand whisk?
Hi Daisy – it is possible but it is very dangerous. The sugar syrup is 235 degrees F when you pour it in and if you hit the whisk, then it will spray all over you and sugar burns are some of the most painful. As a professional cook, trust me, I know from experience. 🙂 Perhaps try the Swiss Meringue Buttercream which is safer to try with a hand blender but still silkier and tastier than traditional American Buttercream..
Hi Lindsey,
After looking at many IMB recipes, I see that this is the only one that has a second addition of granulated sugar in to the egg whites before adding the syrup. Have you tried the traditional way of only using a syrup? Is this really better? This is not a full Italian meringue, rather a hybrid French and Italian, right?
Hi Ron, It is a true Italian meringue because the whites are “cooked” by the sugar syrup and in a French meringue the whites are not cooked at all until they are baked. I add a portion of the sugar to the egg whites to stabilize them, so that when you do add the softball syrup, it decreases the odds of deflating the meringue or giving your meringue that “egg taste”, which happens when the syrup is too hot or poured in too fast. The sugar stabilized meringue also decreases the odds that you will overwhip the whites while waiting for the sugar to reach soft ball stage. I have made it without adding sugar to the whites and it was the same, but this recipe is trying to make a tricky pastry technique closer to foolproof for people who aren’t professional bakers. Hope that answers your question!
Can you use champagne in your Italian Meringue Buttercream
So last night I made the candied orange peel from elsewhere on your page (also candied grapefruit pee, I want to give them as christmas gifts but they might not last that long), and it was late at night so I just put them in the syrup in the fridge and thought I’ll reheat, drain, and add the crystallized sugar later.
But I’m also making orange french macarons and looking for something that would be as orangy as lemon curd is lemony for the center… And now I’ve this syrup that the was cooked down in the oranges (so tastes amazing) how do you feel about reheating it to softball stage and using that?
Hi Erica! Definitely store the candied fruit in the syrup before you toss it in sugar – but next time you can store it at room temperature. It will be easier to drain!
As for your macarons, those sound delicious! You could always make orange curd by just replacing the most of the lemon juice with orange juice. As for your idea – I feel like that will work (and is a fantastic idea!), but there is a different ratio of sugar to water. Maybe add a bit more sugar to get to the total weight needed in the recipe. Then heat it to softball stage. Good luck! Please let me know how it goes! Or I just might try it myself because I’ve been candying a lot of orange for stollen at work. Happy baking!!!
Thanks so much!The comments are so many so I couldn’t read them all to find what I am looking for.I hope I won’t make you repeat the same things.Here is my question:How long can you leave a cake with IBM out?I want to leave it overnight in a temperature of 15-18C.Is it going to be ok to eat?Is it going to stay the same stable?Thank you in advance!
Hi Alkioni, Don’t forget the main component of buttercream is butter! That temperature range isn’t going to cause it to melt but it is definitely warm enough that bacteria can grow. Is there no way you can leave it in the refrigerator and then take it out several hours before the event? IMB definitely tastes best at room temperature, so I always leave it out prior to serving. Happy baking!
Can you substitute meringue powder for the egg whites or do you have to use the egg whites? BTW this does look so fantastically “AWESOME”!!! I always buy CK buttercream icing. I love the flavor of it. A bit sweet but, love it. The problem is that it’s way too expensive. If I could copy the taste, I’d make it myself. It’s time I experience something different & yours looks so good. That pic on the spoon, oh my gaud!! ++SOLD++ I have to try it. One more question, does it work well with fondant? I hope you get this & respond. It looks like it’s been a while since any comments.
Can you substitute meringue powder for the egg whites or do you have to use the egg whites? BTW this does look so fantastically “AWESOME”!!! I always buy CK buttercream icing. I love the flavor of it. A bit sweet but, love it. The problem is that it’s way too expensive. If I could copy the taste, I’d make it myself. It’s time I experience something different & yours looks so good. That pic on the spoon, oh my gaud!! ++SOLD++ I have to try it. One more question, does it work well with fondant? I hope you get this & respond. It looks like it’s been a while since any comments.
Hi Dawn! Thank you so much for your sweet comments! I ALWAYS use this buttercream under fondant. I think it provides the smoothest coating. Swiss meringue is also a good option for under fondant. I have never substituted meringue powder for the egg whites. You could certainly try! If you do, let me know how it goes. Happy baking!
Hi,
I have made IMBC quite a few times no troubles. But when I made a batch last week in preparation for a cake it went funny. I took it from fridge to come to room temperature but it just felt really slippery, oily/greasy. It wasn’t curdled or split it just didn’t seem right. I did beat to made smooth but when crumb coating a cake it would slide and just felt so buttery when rubbing between fingers. The taste was normal but the texture also felt slippery. Any ideas why or is this normal?
Hi Hollie! It could have been too tempered. I have left my IMB out at room temperature for too long and it does what you are describing. You should be able to refrigerate it and then rewhip. This can also happen if your room is hot or humid (mine was both that day when this happened to me.) IF that is the case, just keep going in and out of the refrigerator. It’s a pain but necessary. Happy baking!
Does this buttercream have to be refrigerated? I am asking because competitive baking often requires that the finished product does not require refrigeration or have any uncooked dairy or eggs.
Hi Sarah, I’m not sure what you mean by “competitive baking”. It does need to be refrigerated because it contains butter.
I love this you make this look so easy. I can’t wait to try it. Can you use the carton egg whites for this recipe.
Hi Linda, You most certainly can, but just know that they whip up faster and are less stable than ones you separate from the eggs. All that means is that you need to be a bit more careful with your timing. Happy baking!
I am SOOOOOO doing it! Thankyou😍😍😍😍
Hahah! Get it girl! Happy baking!
Do you think this recipe would be good if I added crushed oreos to the recipe and put it on a oreo cake? I’m looking for a less sweet buttercream recipe to do this with. Thanks 🙂
Hi Carlena, I think that would be FANTASTIC! In fact, I think I might have to try that myself!
Hi Lindsey,
I am not a trained pastry chef however I have done a LOT of baking over the years and I always love trying new recipes. I want to thank you for this recipe. I’ve been looking for alternatives to the American Buttercream and with this recipe, I’ve found it! I made this last week and injected cupcakes with it. It was a HUGE hit. Everyone wanted to know how I made the filling. So, in true chef-like spirit, I told them that it was a proprietary secret. Hehehe… again, THANK YOU!!!
Hahha! Gotta keep those pastry secrets close to the chest! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it! You’ve gotta try the chocolate variation. It’s TO DIE FOR! When I make double chocolate cakes at work, people will just eat the buttercream even if there are no more cake scraps! Happy baking!
Another excellent recipe! Your sweet potato pie was a hit at my family Thanksgiving dinner:). I was a history major, so during dessert I talked about Mary Randolph, her connection to Washington, Jefferson, and Arlington Cemetery. That led to a wonderful conversation about American history and how food gives us our cultural identity.
I’ve tested three Italian meringue buttercreams and like yours the best. It has the right.balance of butter, sugar, and egg whites.
This batch just covered my 3-layer, 6″ test cake. I’m going to use this recipe for a two tiered cake: 10″ & 6″ rounds, so I’ll definitely need to scale the recipe.
Since the cake will be for my niece’s 5th birthday, I’d like to color the buttercream in pastels. What is the best type of food dye to use in this application? I don’t use food dye in baking too often, but when I do, it’s Americolor gel.
Many thanks again for another great recipe.
Regards
Cate
Hi Cate! I am so glad you and your family get as much of a thrill out of American history and food culture as I do! For the cake you are going to do I would double this recipe. Unless you have a commercial mixer, you will need to make it twice. I also use Americolor gel coloring. In this application I would only use a gel coloring for this application. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I hope it is still helpful. Happy baking!
Just wanted to follow up on using this recipe from my niece’s birthday cake. It was a big party 65 guest. Everyone raved about the cake. One guest said her oldest son hates all icing–scrapes it off before eating cake or cupcakes. But he loved this icing! My SIL said guests were still taking about the cake days after the party.
I made 5 batches to cover and fill a two tier cake. The tiers were 10″ and 8″ rounds, 3 layers each. I piped big purple rosettes on the side of the 8″ tier. The buttercream took the Ameticolor dye beautifully. I used the entire 5 batches on the cake, but it wasn’t overkill in the least. I made butterflies from a mix of 50/50 fondant and gumpaste. With a bit of water they stuck to the side of the buttercream no problem.
The buttercream was a beautiful white that contrasted beautifully with the purple and pink cake layers. When the cake was sliced, everyone ahhh over the beautiful colors. I chilled the iced cake overnight; cake traveled nearly 2 hrs. In the car, but held up beautifully!
Can’t say enough thanks for a really great buttercream. My go to recipe now.
Couple things I learned in making so much of this buttercream.
1. Don’t use a soft butter like Kerrygold. The batches with Kerrygold were every soft and difficult to work with. I found Pulgra worked best.
2. If refrigerated over night, let it warm up on the counter for about 1 hour before re-whipping. The buttercream whipped back up looking fluffier when it was warmer.
3. Definitely change to the paddle attachment before adding the butter. I forgot to change from the whisk to paddle attachment on one batch. That batch had a lot more air bubbles in it.
Hi Cate! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply back! Your cake sounds beautiful! It’s funny, after your comment, a diner requested an “indigo” cake at the restaurant so I died this buttercream for the first time last week! It really does color beautifully with the gel coloring. Next time if you are going to travel further, I would freeze the cake first just to be safe!
Great tips! I never thought about using softer butters, but that is a good lesson learned. You definitely need to let the buttercream sit or
“temper” on at room temperature before rewhipping. Same if you freeze it. Sometimes when you do that it has a greater chance of curdling but it will always come back together beautifully in the end. Good point on the whisk. That makes complete sense!
I am so glad you and your friends and family enjoyed it!
I have to say that thats my favorite icing to make under the fondant. It hardens nicely so you can get those sharp edges. I dont like american sugary icings with exception of cream cheese icing which has small amounts of sugar. This one can be sweet but I am using the Morena pure cane raw sugar which cuts some of the sweetness and it just taste yummy. Many of my friends from Europe said the same thing, not fan of icings but they can eat this one. Its light and fluffy. The only suggestion I will make is make sure that you have candy thermometer! I used just general thermometer and first time I was lucky but second time I had little crystals of overcooked sugar in my icing. It was crunchy but tasted like toffee so it was not too bad, but make sure you do not overcook it.
But I do have question. I have the icing in the fridge for 2 months now. Do you think I can still use it?
Hi Lenka! This is my favorite icing as well to use as the exterior of cakes or under fondant. The crystals don’t come from overcooking your sugar so much as your sugar crystalizing while it is heating up. When sugar melts its physical state changes and if a sugar crystal is introduced to this melted sugar it could cause the entire batch to recrystalize. I like to think of it as if sugar “wants” to be in crystal form and we are coaxing it into a different state. The slightest interruption or contamination will cause it to revert back to its natural state. This is why you never stir a wet caramel after the initial wetting of the crystals and you take great care to use a clean pot and wash all the sugar crystals from the sides of your pot.
You can still use it, but in the future if you want to store it that long, freeze it! Happy baking!
Please Help! Second time I tried this and it’s giving a hard time. My meringue came out perfect after is not longer hot I added the first piece of butter and the meringue went down it is no longer stiffed… I’m following all your instructions but I don’t know. Wants going on. Maybe is my mixer which is just a regular stand mixer and not kitchen aid. There’s is any way I can fix this to frost my cake. HELP please! thank you
Hi Alba, It is normal for the meringue to deflate as you add the butter. Just keep going! Once all the butter is added you can switch back to the whisk attachment to whip it up. If it is soup and too soft, put the entire bowl in the fridge for a little bit and beat it with the paddle, then switch to the whisk. The chill time will harden the butter and your buttercream will be perfect! Happy baking!
Would this buttercream work well for a tiered cake?
Absolutely! It is what I use for all my professional cakes. Happy baking!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, all the way from Australia! It worked perfectly on my first try using your recipe and methodology. I truly appreciated how you took the time to spell out every step in detail, with photos. This will definitely be my buttercream of choice going forward! Thanks! x
I am so glad you liked it, Katrina!! What did you make with it?
Hi Lindsey, it turned out great! Thanks much for the recipe.
If I cover my cake with the Italian buttercream, can I store it in room temperature or refrigerator for few days before finishing it with my fondant decorations on the day I need it?
Thanks..
Hi Ramya, I would store it the in refrigerator and then add your decorations. The frosting is way too soft to apply fondant when it is warm. Bakers often freeze their cakes before covering in fondant to get the crisp edges and smooth sides. Happy baking!
Do you think this frosting will break if I add lemon juice and lemon zest? Should I use lemon curd instead?
I do think it will break if you add lemon juice but zest should be fine. I use lemon extract. I have made french meringues where I add the zest to the sugar first and then allow the oils to flavor the sugar. That might also work for the part of the sugar you add to the meringue. A lemon oil (food grade) might also work. Happy baking! Be sure to report back!
Hi i just made your IMB but it’s my first time making a merengue and it seems thick and buttery 🙁 and not at all white it’s more yellowish, did I mess it up ?
Hi Mel, I’m sure you didn’t unless you changed the quantity of ingredients. Switch to the whisk and whip it until it is light and fluffy! Happy baking!
Hi! Help. I forgot the other half of the sugar! I’m on the last stage now and I just realised. Haha. What should I Do? It’s sweet enough…i think. What’s my options? Thanks so much.
Hi. Help. I forgot to add thge other half of sugar! Will it be stable enough if I don’t add it. I mean it’s sweet enough I think…
No worries! If you already forgot to add it, then presumably you’ve already combined the sugar syrup into the meringue. The stabilizing properties are to keep your egg whites from over-whipping while you are waiting for your sugar syrup and also to keep the eggs from scrambling while you add the syrup. It isn’t necessary, just cheap insurance. Happy baking!
great b/c recipe love it , my question is how if used as a crumb covering how long will the cake keep once covered with fondant .
Hi Diane, The cake will keep 1 week in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer. Just know that it will lose moisture over time and it could start to take on the flavor of the fridge. Happy baking!