We often hear people say that frosting and buttercream are the same things, but this is not always true! Frosting traditionally consists of a combination of sugar, milk or cream, corn syrup, vanilla extract and, in some cases, egg whites. On the other hand, buttercream is made with just butter (or shortening), confectioners’ sugar, and flavourings.
#Frosting
The frosting is the final touch to a cake, turning it into an irresistible dessert. But what exactly is frosting? Frosting can be made from butter (or shortening), confectioners, sugar, and milk or cream. Some people also add flavourings like vanilla extract or other extracts like almond, lemon, orange or mint. The consistency of frosting varies depending on how stiff you want the finished product; if you are making a thicker layer for decorating purposes, then adding more sugar will create that desired thickness.
#Buttercream
Buttercream frosting is a type of icing that is typically made from butter, sugar, and cream or milk. It can be flavoured with vanilla extract for flavour, but it doesn’t have the same amount of fat as other types of frostings like cream cheese or ganache. Buttercream works best on cakes that are iced with a thin layer because it melts easily.
- Frosting and buttercream come in a variety of flavours, including chocolate, vanilla bean, strawberry cream cheese, lemon curd.
- Buttercream is richer than frosting because it contains butter or shortening, which adds richness to the recipe.
- The texture of frosting will vary depending on what’s added to it: too much milk/lemon juice can make it creamy, while corn syrup makes for a stiffer frosting that holds its shape well. This isn’t an issue with buttercream as there are no additives used!
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Which is Better? Frosting or Buttercream
Bakery owners, both new and experienced alike, are often torn when deciding whether buttercream or frosting is the better option for cake orders. Buttercream is generally denser than frosting and has a richer flavour. However, many people find that their cake tastes more like buttercream than frosting.
So which is better? There isn’t a single answer to this question. It all comes down to personal preference and what you’re looking for in your cake. The frosting’s moisture content makes it easier to decorate with, but buttercream can be more aesthetically pleasing if whipped until fluffy enough. Buttercream also does not have the same restrictions on flavours compared to traditional Frostings – adding flavor extracts as vanilla or almond will make for an unforgettable taste! However, some find that they are torn between the two because of the increased richness of buttercream as opposed to frosting’s lightness.
It really depends on what you want out of your bakery experience: do you prefer lighter cakes with less sweetness? or do you enjoy rich cakes with a lot of sweetness.
