I get compliments on my buttercream EVERY SINGLE TIME I make cakes or cupcakes for my friends and family. I’ve heard “does Betty Crocker know about this recipe?”, “oh my goodness, what do you put in this?”, you name it, I’ve been given it as a compliment. If that’s not enough to make you want to try it, I don’t know what is. Below is my melt in your mouth, creamy and most importantly, DELICIOUS american buttercream. I’ve also added a few tips and tricks for achieving a smooth finish on cakes for my fellow cake decorators out there. I hope these tips help you finally achieve that perfectly smooth cake tummy you’ve been hard pressed on learning.

AMERICAN BUTTERCREAM

Ingredients:  
4 sticks of salted butter
6 cups (1-2lb bag) of confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
4 Tbsp of heavy cream

Instructions:
Using slightly softened butter, whisk in stand mixer on med-high speed until smooth.  You will need to scrape your bowl a few times to ensure there are no clumps.  

Once smooth add sifted confectioners a little at a time and whisk on low until fully incorporated – scrape sides as needed.

Add vanilla and heavy cream (at this point I add a little americolor bright white food coloring to offset the yellow)
Whisk on high speed until buttercream has increased in volume and is bright white.  

I then remove whisk attachment and add paddle attachment and mix on low to remove air bubbles.  Mixing again with a wooden spoon before icing my cake.  

(I find that my butter needs to be slightly cool and soft otherwise my buttercream will not have a smooth consistency). A metal scraper is a MUST, I’ve not been able to achieve smooth sides without one.  You are able to heat metal scraper under hot water which helps smooth any air bubbles.  

After crumb coat freeze for 5 minutes, then ice cake as you normally would.  I scrape with a metal scraper until excess is removed and on the last few passes heat comb under hot water (dry scraper before scraping).  If your first coat is not 100% smooth, place cake in freezer for 5 minutes and add a second light coat of buttercream and repeat.  

I hope this helps you achieve the smooth sides you’ve been looking for.  ENJOY!