Hi I have found a yummy buttercream recipe that has shortening and a lot of fresh cream. I have to transport decorated cupcakes 1 hour away in car and they then have to sit at room temp. It will prob be between 24-30 degrees here so what I really want to know is will I make everyone sick if I use this recipe? Don't think my friends will appreciate food poisoning for their anniversary! Hope someone can help?!

If this recipe is no good is there one that can cope with heat but is still delicious!

Hi Chelle. You could use a 100% shortening + icing sugar recipe (plus flavouring of course). There is a buttercream base product called So-Lite Tropical in cake shops here that you use instead of butter. Regular bakery/cake shops use it a lot. Or you can buy a product called Bakels Whip'n'ice or some such. It is meant to be temperature safe and can sit out of the fridge once whipped, for ages.

What I would do, however, because I hate the taste of shortening, and refuse to use that fake whipped icing crap on anything I make (check out the list of 'ingredients' on the side of the carton!), is to make my usual butter, icing sugar, flavouring, cream and chocolate buttercream (ie ganache mixed into a regular buttercream). Decorate as normal. Put the cuppies in a box and into the fridge to super-chill through before you leave. They shoudl be fine in an A/C car, and then on display for several hours before eating. I would not use my meringue-based buttercream for this occasion.

HTH!

Not knowing the recipe it is really hard to tell for sure - but in general most 'b'creams' made w/shortening and powdered/icing sugar is very safe to be left UNrefrigerated for 2 weeks. I rather doubt you will make anyone sick! That is unless some kid eats a dozen of those cuppies - then they will have a tummy ache