Cookbook | Ingredients | Recipes | Cuisine of the United States | Dessert Simple Buttercream (sometimes "American Buttercream", "Mock Cream", or "Butter Icing") is a type of icing used inside cakes, as a coating, and as decoration. 200 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract 450g (4 cups) sifted powdered sugar 30 ml (2 tablespoons) milk Cream together butter and vanilla using a mixer. Beat in powdered sugar one cup at a time, scraping sides and bottom of bowl regularly. Mixture will be very dry. When all the sugar is incorporated, add milk and beat until incorporated. To make chocolate buttercream, add 150g (3/4 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder or 3 1-oz squares (84 g) unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, and increase the milk to 45-60 ml (3-4 tablespoons). To make lemon buttercream, omit milk and add zest and juice of 1 lemon. This is the simplest version of a recipe that has many. One of the most common changes is to substitute margarine shortening for some or all of the butter. This is prevalent especially in commercial kitchens because it is cheaper and it increases the stability of the icing at room temperature and makes it easier to work with, especially in large quantities or for long durations. Buttercreams made with unsalted butter, however, provide a more delicate texture and superior flavor and mouthfeel (texture) to buttercreams made with vegetable shortening.
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