Our Best Italian-Style Buttercream
Erin Jeanne McDowell
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- about 4 cups
- Prep Time
- 5 Minutes
- Cook Time
- 20 Minutes
Italian buttercream is lighter in color and texture than - style buttercreams. It is similar in look, taste, and texture to
Ingredients
- 5 (180 g) large egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon (<1 g) cream of tartar
- 1 3/4 cup (350 g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (170 g) water
- 2 cup (454 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (7 g) vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) fine sea salt
Featured Video
Our Best Italian-Style Buttercream
Bake It Up a Notch is a column by Resident Baking BFF Erin Jeanne McDowell. Each month, she'll help take our baking game to the next level, teaching us all the need-to-know tips and techniques and showing us all the mistakes we might make along the way. Today, a very sweet lesson in all things frostings, icings, and glazes.
Directions
- Step 1
Place the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
- Step 2
Combine the sugar and water in a medium pot and stir over medium heat until it comes to a boil. When it begins to boil, stop stirring and attach a candy thermometer to the pot (if any sugar crystals have washed up on the sides, brush them away using a pastry brush dipped in cool water). Continue to cook the syrup until it reaches 240° F (final desired temperature).
- Step 3
As soon as the sugar hits 230° F, begin whipping the egg whites on medium-high speed. The goal is to have the egg whites at soft peaks when the sugar reaches the 240° F.
- Step 4
With the mixer, add the sugar syrup in a slow, steady stream. Continue to whip on high speed until the mixture reaches stiff peaks and the bowl is longer noticeably warm to the touch. The meringue should be smooth and glossy, not clumpy or dry.
- Step 5
With the mixer still running, gradually add room temperature butter in 1 tablespoon (14 g) chunks. Continue adding and mixing until all of the butter is incorporated and the buttercream is light and smooth.
- Step 6
Beat in the vanilla and salt and mix to combine. The buttercream can be used immediately or refrigerated in an airtight container.