French Buttercream | The Recipe Critic


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French buttercream is an expensive frosting made with egg yolks as the bottom and easy syrup for sweetness. This provides the frosting a {smooth} custard-like texture. This frosting is nice for piping as a result of it holds its form nicely!

For many recipes, you need to use French buttercream rather than American buttercream. You would strive French buttercream with my white, Lemon blueberry, or lavender cupcakes.

Side shot of french buttercream piped into a small glass jar.

Causes You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Texture: French buttercream is extremely {smooth} and creamy. Using egg yolk offers it a custard like texture.
  • Taste: French buttercream is much less candy than American buttercream, which makes use of powdered sugar. Additionally it is an amazing base for added flavors.
  • Magnificence: Once you use French buttercream, you’ll wow your entire company!

What’s French Buttercream?

French buttercream is a wealthy and creamy frosting made with egg yolks. The egg yolk base lends to its decadent texture and yellow coloration. Not like American buttercream, which makes use of powdered sugar for texture and sweetness, French buttercream makes use of cooked sugar syrup.

What Elements Do I Have to Make French Buttercream?

Take your dessert sport to the following degree with this silky-smooth French buttercream! Utilizing only a few easy elements, you’ll be able to create a elaborate, gourmand twist on the basic buttercream. For precise measurements, scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the publish.

  • Egg yolks: Egg yolks stabilize the frosting. Additionally they add a wealthy, creamy, custard-like taste.
  • Granulated Sugar: When cooked right into a syrup, sugar helps emulsify the butter, so it mixs completely with the egg yolk, creating a wealthy texture.
  • Water: Used with sugar to cook dinner into syrup.
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides depth of taste and stability to maintain its form.
  • Salt: Enhances all the flavors and completely balances the sweetness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Offers a heat, inviting taste. You’ll be able to substitute for various flavors and extracts.

What Are the Totally different Sorts of Buttercream?

There’s one other world of buttercream exterior of the straightforward American buttercream recipe that mixes butter and powdered sugar. Try the record under to see what units all of them aside from each other.

  • Swiss Meringue Buttercream makes use of egg whites blended with sugar to create a meringue, then mixed with butter. The feel resembles French buttercream, however the taste is much less wealthy.
  • Italian Meringue Buttercream is just like Swiss buttercream. The distinction is you cook dinner the sugar right into a syrup after which mix it with the egg whites. It’s the most troublesome to make however seems silky {smooth} with simply the correct quantity of sweetness.
  • German Buttercream makes use of pastry cream blended with butter as a base. Its taste is divine, and its texture is {smooth} and extra custard-like.

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

Steps to Make French Buttercream

Observe these directions step-by-step to make sure your buttercream seems good. There’s additionally a ideas part under that you could reference when you have any questions!

Sugar Syrup

  1. Boil Sugar & Water: Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan or skillet and warmth over medium-low warmth till boiling.
  2. Cut back Warmth: Cut back the warmth and proceed to cook dinner the sugar whilst you put together the eggs.
A candy thermometor reaching 240 degrees Fahrenheit. A candy thermometor reaching 240 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make the Whipped Cream

  1. Whip Egg Yolks: Pour the egg yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer. Whip at medium-high velocity with the whisk attachment till the yolks are thick and foamy.
  2. DO NOT overheat the sugar: I like to recommend utilizing a sweet thermometer to know when the sugar reaches 240 levels Fahrenheit. As soon as it has, you’ll be able to take away the pan from the warmth and switch the mixer on to low velocity. Slowly and thoroughly drizzle the new sugar syrup in a gentle stream into the egg yolks as they whip.
  3. Whip Sugar & Egg Yolks: As soon as all of the sugar has been integrated into the eggs, proceed to whip at medium velocity till the bowl feels cool to the contact.
  4. Add Butter: Add the butter one tablespoon at a time. Permit the eggs to soak up every tablespoon earlier than you add the following.
  5. Vanilla: Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Proceed to whip on medium velocity till the buttercream is {smooth} and shiny.

Suggestions for French Buttercream

Be sure to observe these useful ideas to make sure your buttercream seems good!

  • DON’T overcook the sugar: Don’t cook dinner the sugar past 240 levels Fahrenheit! Overcooking causes the sugar to harden when it touches the cooler egg yolks, stopping the yolks from absorbing it.
  • Check sugar doneness: Sugar syrup have to be on the tender ball stage. You’ll be able to check your sugar syrup with out a thermometer by dropping a small spoonful right into a glass of chilly water. If it dissolves, it’s not prepared but. If it hardens, it’s overcooked. It’s prepared if the syrup types a tender ball, will be squished between your fingers, and stays sticky.
  • Low Velocity: To keep away from flinging scorching syrup, hold your mixer on low when pouring the syrup into the eggs.
  • Butter: The butter ought to be tender sufficient to go away an indent along with your finger however NOT squish your finger via. Utilizing the inaccurate temperature may cause your buttercream to curdle.
  • Refrigerate: If the buttercream isn’t cooling down after including the sugar syrup, place the bowl within the fridge for a couple of minutes, then whip it once more.

Overhead shot of french buttercream in a bowl. Overhead shot of french buttercream in a bowl.

French Buttercream Storing Directions

If you’re fortunate sufficient to have some leftover French buttercream, right here is the way to retailer it correctly.

  • Within the Fridge: Since this buttercream tends to get tender and soften, hold it at room temperature for only some hours. Retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 7 days.
  • Within the Freezer: French buttercream stays recent for as much as 3 months within the freezer.Go away it within the fridge in a single day to thaw utterly earlier than softening it and whipping it earlier than use.

Re-fluff directions: To re-fluff chilled buttercream, let it sit at room temperature for an hour, then whip. You can even half-melt it in a double boiler earlier than whipping.

Side shot of french buttercream being piped onto a cupcake that is on a pink cake stand with other cupcakes. Side shot of french buttercream being piped onto a cupcake that is on a pink cake stand with other cupcakes.

Extra Enjoyable Frosting Variations to Attempt

This French buttercream will impress your company with its style and texture! It’s vital in your frosting assortment. If you wish to strive one thing new and develop your frosting expertise, listed below are some frosting choices to discover.

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  • Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan or skillet and warmth over medium-low warmth till boiling. Cut back the warmth and cook dinner the sugar whereas making ready the eggs.

  • Add the egg yolks to the bowl of a stand mixer and whip medium-high with the whisk attachment till the yolks are thick and foamy.

  • When the sugar reaches 240 levels Fahrenheit, take away the pan from the warmth and switch the mixer on low velocity. Slowly and thoroughly drizzle the sugar syrup into the egg yolks as they whip.

  • As soon as all of the sugar has been integrated into the eggs, proceed to whip at medium velocity till the bowl feels cool to the contact.

  • Add the butter one tablespoon at a time, ready for every tablespoon to be absorbed into the eggs earlier than including the following.

  • Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Proceed to whip on medium velocity till the buttercream is {smooth} and shiny.

Energy: 1361kcalCarbohydrates: 102gProtein: 9gFats: 105gSaturated Fats: 63gPolyunsaturated Fats: 5gMonounsaturated Fats: 29gTrans Fats: 4gLdl cholesterol: 762mgSodium: 52mgPotassium: 86mgSugar: 100gVitamin A: 3529IUCalcium: 92mgIron: 1mg

Diet info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.



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