It cannot be this hard!

If its too runny just add more powdered sugar

When it comes to adding the cream/milk after creaming your sugar and butter only use the recipe as a very vague guide. Add the cream a little at the time and just watch the texture of the icing. Different temperatures and humidities impact on icing as can the type of butter/shortening you use. Buttercream certainly isn't like making a cake and you don't need to be strict with the recipe.

Use pure cane powdered sugar. That will help with the grittiness.

Not sure what type of mixer you are using, but I cream my butter & shortening together with the flavoring and then add my icing sugar slowly. When all ingredients are well blended in, whipping cream too, I put my KA stand mixer on medium speed and just let it run for 10 minutes. That stops the grittiness because the the sugar has time to dissolve and the whipping cream stiffens up. When the weather is warm or humid I put the icing in the fridge for a bit after to stiffen up the butter or it can get runny.

Good Luck don't give up, you'll get it with practice.

Ashley - I would suggest using this method/recipe (sugarshack's): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4ibkH0V_4
http://cakecentral.com/recipe/sugarshacks-icing-and-tips

I use 1/2 butter and 1/2 hi-ratio shortening and add 1t salt (cuts the sweetness) with the liquids while creaming the fats - this buttercream is a dream to work with.

Good luck!!

When my buttercream is too sweet, I make a small container of salt water and add some to the buttercream a tsp at a time until it tastes better.

Here is my recipe and it comes out perfect each time. I use only name brand powered sugar not the western family or any generic kind, it tends to be way gritty.

1.5 sticks of salted sweet cream butter
4 cups powdered sugar ( roughly)
1/3 cup canned milk or regular milk (canned is just easier to have on hand and i feel make better frosting)
2 tsp vanilla or whatever flavoring

In your mixer beat the butter until nice and smooth, do not scrape the edges. turn mixer off. add powdered sugar, milk and flavoring. Turn mixer onto stir or low and let everything incorporate. then turn the mixer to a higher speed. Scrape the edges and mix more. Add more powdered sugar if needed. or milk if needed. Hope this works as well as it works for me!

I use this recipe too and add salt to cut down on the sweetness. I don't use butter with my hi-ratio but I wish I did. But it's about 100 degrees here right now so I am afraid. Anyway, keep experimenting. I had the same trouble as you for the LONGEST time. Every time my frosting was too sweet, too greasy, soft, gritty, runny, etc. But I just played with different combinations to see what went wrong.

P.S. One time I use lard! By accident of course. I also didn't serve it to anyone. But I did waste a bunch of ingredients. You live and learn. Eventually you'll get it.

I've also noticed in additional to salt, a little citrus like lemon or lime helps to cut the sweetness.

I would also recommend using the paddle attachment instead of the wisk.

Try gourmetcake's recipe for Crusting Chocolate Fudge Buttercream. The Fudge recipe is absolutely AMAZING, and to create a vanilla buttercream just omit the cocoa powder. It is such a simple recipe and the results are fantastic. And for for someone like me who is usually opposed to a buttercream made with Crisco (this one is half Crisco, half butter), that is saying a lot!!!!

I have this basic buttercream recipe that I use all the time and so far it works perfectly for me....pls do try it and let me know about the the outcome...


Ingredients

3 large egg whites ( room temperature)
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces at room temperature

MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS


*****Procedure*****

In a large clean heatproof bowl, combine the egg whites and sugar. Set the bowl over ( but not touching) simmering water in a sauce pan and heat the mixture, whisking constantly with a wire whisk, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture is very warm to the touch ( about 160F on an instant-read thermometer) about 2 mins. Remove the bowl from the saucepan. Using an electtric hand mixer on high speed, beat the egg white mixture until it is fluffy, cooled to room temperature, and holds stiff peaks (the mixture should not look too dry) about 6 minutes.

With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the salt and the butter, a few pieces at a time beating well after each addition continue doing this until all of the butter has been added. If the frosting appears to separate or is very liquids after all the butter is added, continue to beat on high speed until it is smooth and creamy 3 to 5 mins more... Buttercream can be stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator in air tight container bring to room temperature before using....



Please let me know of the outcome thanks...