Julias Classic French Buttercream Frosting Food

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Place the whole eggs and yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the eggs are pale yellow and thick, about 5 minutes. (The eggs will hold an indent made with your finger for a few seconds.)
• Meanwhile, pour the sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and bring to the soft-ball stage, without stirring, 240 degrees F.
• Begin whipping the eggs again on medium-high speed and slowly drizzle in the hot syrup, aiming the syrup between the side of the bowl and the beaters. Continue to whip until both the bottom of the bowl and the mixture are cool, 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should be thick, but will not form a peak at this point. Beat in the salt.
• While still beating on medium-high, add the butter, a few pieces at a time. As the butter is added, the buttercream may appear to thin out some, but it will thicken into firm peaks once all of the butter is added. Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Use right away or refrigerate in an airtight container overnight. The buttercream may need to be beaten again to smooth out before using.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE

Steps:

• Use buttercream right away, or transfer to a large zipper-lock bag, press out the air, and seal. Buttercream can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to several months. (The main issue with longer storage in the freezer is odor absorption, not spoilage.) Rewarm to 72°F and re-whip before using.
• Troubleshooting: If warmer than 74°F (23°C), the buttercream will be soft and loose; pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes and re-whip to help it thicken and cool. If colder than 68°F (20°C), the buttercream will be firm and dense, making it difficult to spread over cakes and slow to melt on the tongue, creating a greasy mouthfeel. To warm, briefly set over a pan of steaming water, just until you see the edges melting slightly, then re-whip to help it soften and warm. French buttercream can be fixed according to the same rules for Swiss buttercream. For more information, see the troubleshooting guide and video here .

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Cook the sugar: Without stirring, bring the sugar mixture to a gentle boil and use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature. The sugar needs to reach 240°F (115°C). This should take no longer than 6 minutes.
• Whip the egg yolks: While the sugar comes to temperature, get to work on the egg yolks. Add egg yolks and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk the yolks over medium speed until they are a very pale yellow color and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Store the buttercream: Use the buttercream as desired immediately or store for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the refrigerator.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a heavy nonreactive saucepan, add water, then add sugar, corn syrup, and cream of tartar. The last 2 help keep the sugar from crystallizing. (Candy thermometer. Non-negotiable!)
• Put the pot on high heat. It's going to be there for a while. Be patient and keep your eye on it. Don't go walking away and watching TV or something.
• Put yolks and eggs in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and turn to high. Just let it go! Eggs will triple in volume and go to "ribbons stage." You can't overwhip!
• Wait on the sugar-looking for 230°F, aka "soft ball." When it happens, be ready to move quickly. Turn off the mixer and add the xanthan gum, turn back up to medium.
• Remove the thermometer from hot sugar. Lift with two hands. Rest the lip of the saucepan on the edge of the mixer bowl.
• Slowly tilt and pour sugar in a sloooow steady stream down the side of the bowl. Don't go too fast! If you do there will be chunks of scrambled eggs in your buttercream.
• Once sugar is all in, turn the mixer to high. Beat until cool. Gauge this by putting the inside of your wrist to the outside of the bowl. It's more accurate than your hands. Switch out the whisk for the paddle. Next we're adding the butter. It's too heavy for the whisk and you'll end up breaking your stand mixer if you stay with the whisk.
• Start cutting the butter into thin pieces-you could shave it with a cheese slicer if you'd like. Add butter piece by piece-pain in the derriere, yes, but we're making an emulsion.
• See, if you dump all the butter in at once, the butter and eggs will never combine properly, and you'll have a "broken" buttercream. You'll be able to identify this easily-it'll be a chunky, watery, hot mess.
• If your buttercream does break, you can fix it! Turn to medium high, then add a little more butter, piece by piece, until fixed. Or try adding a little guar gum! This is very strong, so add a pinch and beat for a minute, then check.
• Once your butter is added, turn the mixer to medium high to add some air-10, 20 seconds at most. Quelle Magnifique! It should be fluffy and make you want to eat it with your fingers.
• Once you have your base, there's so many ways to flavor it! Coffee powder! Vanilla beans! Dutch cocoa! Peanut butter! Caramel! Ham! Ok, maybe not ham. Party pooper.
• Congratulations! You did it! You made French buttercream! You are a god amongst men!
• Fin

JULIA'S CLASSIC FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan without stirring until it "clears." Boil until it reaches 238 degrees. In a separate bowl, combine 1 egg and the 3 egg yolks. Whisk them as you slowly pour the boiled sugar syrup from your saucepan into the bowl. Beat this mixture over hot water 7-8 minutes until it thickens. It will make a ribbon AFTER you remove it from the heat if it is thick enough. Set aside; allow to cool. Once it has cooled, add 1/2 pound of softened butter and beat it into the yolk mixture. Add 1 t. vanilla or kirsch for flavor. If the frosting separates after you add the flavors, add some more butter and continue beating until consistent. Beat until light and fluffy. Frost your cake. Julia slices her genoise cake into two layers, then sprinkles kirsch or simple syrup on the top of each piece before frosting. Reassemble cake, frost the outer portion. Voila!

QUICK VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
• Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Mix heavy cream and flour in a small bowl. Heat the mixure in the microwave for 45 seconds on high. Set aside to cool.
• In a mixing bowl, combine butter, shortening, confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract and butter extract.
• Using and electric mixer, beat on low until combined. Then beat on medium speed for 6-8 minutes.
• Next add the heavy cream mixture, and beat on medium speed for another 10 minutes. ( Mixture will appear soupy at first, but will become fluffy.)

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Continue to boil until the syrup reaches a temperature of 240 degrees F (115 C) While the syrup is boiling, beat the yolks with a wire whip or the whip attachment of a mixer until they are thick and light in color.
• As soon as the syrup reaches 240 F, pour it very slowly (in a thin stream) into the beaten yolks while whipping constantly.
• Continue to beat until the mixture is completely cool and the yolks are very thick and light.
• Whip in the butter a little at a time.
• Add it just as fast as it can be absorbed by the mixture.
• Beat in the vanilla.
• If the icing is too soft, refrigerate it until it is firm enough to spread.
• Chocolate: Melt 3 oz sweet chocolate and cool slightly (chocolate must not be too cool or it will solidify before completely blending with the buttercream).
• Blend with about one quarter of the buttercream, then blend this mixture into the rest.
• For very sweet buttercreams, use 1 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate instead of the sweet chocolate.

CLASSIC BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Place butter, shortening, milk, vanilla, salt and one pound of sugar in large bowl.
• Beat at low speed until combined.
• Gradually add the other pound of sugar.
• Stop and scrape sides.
• Beat on high until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Keep covered with plastic wrap to prevent crusting.
• Chocolate Buttercream: For each pound of sugar used in the butter cream, allow 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 3 tablespoons butter and 0.125 teaspoon salt.