Hi, I'm a newbie caker. I'm enjoying learning to bake cakes. Unfortunately, My kids and I can't stand the buttercream frosting recipe that I have used in my Wilton cake classes. I understand that keeping to that recipe during class is important to taking the classes. I have no problem with that.

Here is my dilemma--- My son's birthday coming up and I want to make him a cake. I want to use a different frosting. My family will eat my Wilton frosting cakes but, they first take a knife and scrape off all the crisco tasting frosting. This is so sad because I spent hours making the cake only to be destroyed before eating.

Does anyone have a good recipe that doesn't taste like crisco and works well with cake decorating?

Swiss meringue buttercream! Tutorial on my blog

Good luck!

http://allrecipes.com/PersonalRecipe/63148627/Sweettreats-Crusting-Butter-Cream-Frosting/Detail.aspx I took this recipe to my Wilton class twelve years ago an the cake instructor actually asked me for the recipe. I couldn't stand Wilton's frosting recipe so I took my own. I didn't let them know until the last class.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream is awesome. It doesn't crust like the Wilton's recipe so it takes a little practice to get it smooth but as far as the taste it is yummy. It is very easy to make & if you follow the tutorial that fromscratchsf has you will have no problem.

Sweettreat101...so what is "Icing shortening" if it isn't Crisco? Are they talking high ratio? Sounds good, but I'm just wondering what the difference is in the shortening.

I have found that adults like swiss meringue buttercream but most kids don't. One day I blended it with a regular buttercream and whola! it appeals to everyone and my buttercream is what everyone raves about! However, it doesn't crust so if you're used to that kind of buttercream, here's a recipe I love. (I've never used the Wilton recipe so I apologize if this is similar).

2 sticks (1 cup or 8 oz.) unsalted butter (or use 1 stick salted & 1 stick unsalted)
1 cup shortening (8 oz.)
2 lbs confectionary sugar
2 Tbsp. milk (more or less depending on desired consistency)
1 tsp clear vanilla extract
1 tbsp. meringue powder
Hint of purple food coloring will make it white

Blend butter & shortening together. Add conf. sugar, milk, vanilla and meringue powder. Adding more milk if needed to achieve desired consistency. Blend at low speed until ing. are incorporated then at medium speed 2-3 mins.

Hope this helps!

If you can get hi ratio then use that. In CA we can't purchase hi ratio anymore it's been banned. My cake supply store sells zero trans fat icing shortening. It replaces hi ratio and is trans fat free. You can also use a store brand vegetable shortening that has at least 2.5 grams of trans fat.

To start out with, I think that Wilton's buttercream recipe is a wonderful learning tool and then move on; search for recipes by experts in books (library) or internet, join a cake club. Last but not least experiment with recipes......Swiss Meringue Buttercream, Itallian Meringue Buttercream, White Chocolate Buttercream, American Buttercream; high raito shortening and butter combo or all butter. I am positive you will find a few that will work for your taste.

My favourite ever buttercream is one I found here!

http://cakecentral.com/recipe/extra-special-buttercream-icing

It's absolutely beautiful - light, not too sweet, and none of that nasty shortening taste. I'm from the UK so I used a mixture of butter and margerine for it, as it's a lot harder to find shortening. The cream really does make all the difference. It crusts lightly and smooths beautifully I was baking cakes for Mother's Day this weekend, and my other half kept on poking his head in just to steal another spoonful!

Here's one that I LOVE and is perfect for kids...scroll down to "What buttercream do you use?"
It's the second recipe...the one with marshmallow cream in it.
( I use Kraft Jet-Puffed brand when I make it)

http://jessicakesblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/most-commonly-asked-questions.html


I recently shared the link w/ a friend in another state...she's not a decorator, just a mom who hates canned frosting...she emailed me a few nights ago raving...she said it was a HUGE hit w/ her kids.