Martha's Swiss meringue buttercream is a delicious and versatile frosting that can be used to top cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. It is made with egg whites, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract, and has a light and fluffy texture that is not too sweet. This frosting is also relatively easy to make, and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you are looking for a classic buttercream frosting that is sure to impress, Martha's Swiss meringue buttercream is the perfect choice.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
QUICK SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
Use this Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe for our Number-Themed Mini Birthday Cupcakes, "Who's Counting?" Birthday Cake, or Pastel Layer Cake.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Time 30m
Yield About 10 cups (enough for 7 dozen Number-Themed Mini Birthday Cupcakes, 1 "Who's Counting?" Birthday Cake, or 1 Pastel Layer Cake)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat sugar, egg whites, and salt in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisking, until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
- Return bowl to mixer, and whisk, gradually increasing speed from low to medium-high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Switch to a paddle attachment. Beat until air bubbles are gone, 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Beat in food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired color is achieved. (If making more than 1 color, divide buttercream and work in batches.)
MARTHA'S SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
Famous for its smooth, silky texture and a flavor that is not saccharine, Swiss meringue buttercream is perfect for desserts like layer cakes that need a lot of frosting and could run the risk of tasting too sweet. The finished buttercream will be stable-meaning it won't separate and turn grainy-and is easy to work with: it spreads over cakes like a dream, takes well to food coloring, and can be piped into all sorts of creative designs.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Time 30m
Yield About 6 1/2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water to a simmer. Meanwhile, combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Set bowl over (not in) pan of simmering water and whisk until whites are warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. (Test by rubbing between your fingers; mixture should feel smooth.)
- Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture has cooled completely, about 12 minutes.
- Reduce speed to medium-low; add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating to incorporate fully after each addition. (Don't worry if buttercream appears curdled at this point; it will become perfectly smooth again with continued beating.) Beat in vanilla.
- Switch to paddle attachment and beat on lowest speed to remove air bubbles, 3 to 5 minutes. If using buttercream the same day, cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until ready to use.
- If not using the same day, transfer buttercream to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat with paddle attachment on lowest speed until smooth and pliable, about 10 minutes.
SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
This all-purpose buttercream has an ultra-silky, stable texture that spreads beautifully over cakes and cupcakes, and can be piped into perfect peaks and patterns.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Yield Makes about 5 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).
- Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.
- With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, whisk in vanilla. Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day. If not, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.
- To tint buttercream, reserve some for toning down the color, if necessary. Add gel-paste food color, a drop at a time (or use the toothpick or skewer to add food color a dab at a time) to the remaining buttercream. You can use a single shade of food color or experiment by mixing two or more. Blend after each addition with the mixer (use a paddle attachment) or a flexible spatula, until desired shade is achieved. Avoid adding too much food color too soon, as the hue will intensify with continued stirring; if necessary, you can tone down the shade by mixing in some reserved untinted buttercream.
LEMONY SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Use this buttercream to frost "Whisk Kid" blogger Kaitlin Flannery's colorful Rainbow Cake.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Yield Makes enough for one 9-inch-round six-layer cake
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Make the filling and crumb coat: Cook egg whites and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; mix on high speed until mixture is room temperature. With the mixer on medium-low, add butter, one piece at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Remove whisk attachment and switch to paddle attachment. Increase speed to high and beat until buttercream comes together, about 5 minutes; beat in lemon extract.
- Make the frosting: In a clean saucepan and bowl of an electric mixer, repeat process in step 1.
SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FOR CUPCAKES
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Yield Makes about 9 cups, enough for about 28 cupcakes
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place sugar and egg whites in the heat-proof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and egg whites are hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Test by rubbing the mixture between your fingers; it should feel completely smooth.
- Transfer bowl to mixer stand. Using the whisk attachment, beat on high speed until mixture has cooled completely and formed stiff and glossy peaks, about 10 minutes.
- Add the butter, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated after each addition. Don't worry if the buttercream appears curdled after all the butter has been added; it will become smooth again with continued beating. Add vanilla, and beat just until combined.
- Switch to the paddle attachment, and beat on the lowest speed to eliminate any air pockets, about 5 minutes. If using buttercream within several hours, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature in a cool environment. Or transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator, up to 3 days. Before using, bring buttercream to room temperature, and beat on the lowest speed with the paddle attachment until smooth, about 5 minutes.
SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
Use this Swiss Meringue Buttercream to make our Meringue Bouquet Cupcakes.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Yield Makes 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Combine sugar and egg whites in mixer bowl, and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture registers 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.
- Transfer bowl to mixer; whisk on medium-high speed until whites are fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Continue to whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Reduce speed to medium-low; add butter by the tablespoon, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Buttercream can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days or frozen up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature before using; beat on lowest speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FOR FRENCH ALMOND MACARONS
Use this recipe to make our French Almond Macarons.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Fillings & Frostings Buttercream Frosting Recipes
Yield Makes 4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm (about 160 degrees).
- Attach bowl to a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat egg white mixture on high speed until it forms stiff (but not dry) peaks. Continue beating until fluffy and cooled, about 6 minutes.
- Switch to the paddle attachment. With mixer on medium-low, add butter several tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. (If frosting appears to separate after all butter has been added, beat on medium-high speed until smooth again, 3 to 5 minutes more.) Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; beat 2 minutes to eliminate air bubbles. Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth.
CHOCOLATE SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Classic meringue buttercream gets a swiss chocolate twist with this easy recipe, which perfectly pairs with a classic cupcake.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Time 25m
Yield Makes 6 1/4 cups (enough to frost one 9-inch layer cake)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Whisk together sugar and egg whites in a heatproof mixing bowl. Place over a pot of simmering water; whisk constantly until sugar is completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. With an electric mixer, whisk on high speed until cool (test by touching bottom of bowl), 7 to 10 minutes.
- Change to the paddle attachment. With mixer on medium-high speed, add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until combined. Beat in chocolate.
EASY SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
This buttercream is light and fluffy and good for those who don't like a sickeningly sweet American buttercream. Make sure you use real egg whites and not pasteurized egg whites (such as Egg Beaters®). They are heat processed and will not whip into a meringue.
Provided by Tanya Rosario
Categories Desserts Frostings and Icings Buttercream
Time 30m
Yield 48
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat 1/3 cup sugar and water over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and syrup just starts to bubble. Remove from heat.
- Pour egg whites into a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Beat in 2 tablespoons sugar. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form.
- While the egg whites are beating, return the syrup to high heat. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the syrup reads 248 degrees F (120 degrees C). Pour syrup carefully into the stiff egg whites, with the mixer running on low. Increase speed and beat until meringue is thick and shiny and the bowl is cool to the touch.
- Beat butter and confectioners' sugar in a separate bowl until smooth. Beat in meringue until thoroughly mixed. Add almond extract.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 83.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3.9 g, Cholesterol 20.3 mg, Fat 7.7 g, Protein 0.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 3.4 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM
This is absolutely the best icing I have ever made.
Provided by Bev Ottone
Categories Buttercream Frosting
Time 30m
Yield 80
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Wipe the bowl of an electric stand mixer and the whisk attachment with lemon juice to remove any trace of grease. Add sugar and egg whites to the bowl.
- Whisk sugar and egg whites together in the bowl of the stand mixer over simmering water, whisking constantly but gently, until temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C), about 10 minutes. Return bowl to the stand mixer.
- Whisk sugar-egg white mixture in the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until mixture is thick, glossy, and temperature of outside of bowl is room temperature. Change attachment to the paddle attachment and continue mixing on low speed. Add butter, 1 cube at a time; mix until silky-smooth. If mixture curdles, continue mixing and it will return to smooth.
- Pour vanilla extract and sprinkle salt into butter-sugar mixture; beat until fully incorporated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 144.3 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 30.5 mg, Fat 11.5 g, Protein 0.8 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 18.9 mg, Sugar 10.1 g
Tips:
- Mise en Place: As with all baking, it's important to have all of your ingredients and equipment ready before you start. This will help to ensure that you don't run into any problems while you're making the buttercream.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will have a big impact on the final flavor of your buttercream. Be sure to use fresh, high-quality butter, eggs, and sugar.
- Don't Overbeat the Buttercream: Overbeating the buttercream can cause it to become grainy. Be careful not to overbeat it, especially if you are using a stand mixer.
- Adjust the Flavorings to Your Liking: The amount of vanilla extract and salt that you add to the buttercream is a matter of personal preference. You can also add other flavorings, such as chocolate, coffee, or nuts, to create different variations of the buttercream.
- Chill the Buttercream Before Using: Chilling the buttercream will help it to set and make it easier to work with. You can chill the buttercream for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Conclusion:
Martha's Swiss meringue buttercream is a delicious and versatile frosting that can be used on a variety of desserts. It's easy to make, and with a few simple tips, you can create a perfect buttercream every time. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced baker, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.
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