Help Please! Airbrushing And Italian Meringue Bc
Decorating By sugarpuppet Updated 29 Apr 2014 , 10:56pm by DeniseNH
Can IMBC be airbrushed? I've tried it before and it doesn't take the color well, normally resulting in the color beading up on top of the icing. I figured the fat content is too high... but I've seen posts where people have answered yes, you can. If that's true, I'm not really sure what I'm doing wrong. I do pop the cake in the fridge for the bc to firm up first, so I guess that could be a factor I hadn't considered.
My recipe is:
3 lb 12 oz sugar
1 cup water
2 cups light corn syrup
3 cups egg whites
9 lb butter
1 T salt
1 T vanilla
If not, which icings can be successfully airbrushed? I know american bc can be, but are there any others? I find american bc to be overly sweet and the texture less appealing than imbc.
Thanks in advance!
I too use IMBC and have had to luck airbrushing it but I belong to a cake club with members who always airbrush theirs. I don't get it either. I'm sure the color would be very delicate????? Interested in seeing what others say about this. Thanks for posting.
I have VERY lightly airbrushed on IMBC, like just a light spray of pearl sheen. I would not airbrush on IMBC to achieve an even color. It will bead because of the fat.
I do not use crusting BC but I believe you can airbrush on that with more success.
What is it that you're trying to do specifically? Are you trying to color the cake by airbrushing or are you going for a specific effect like ombre?
I don't think your recipe has anything to do with airbrushing on IMBC, but I did want to ask you about your recipe.
Why do you use corn syrup? It seems like that's an extra step that wastes time, money, and dirty dishes. Corn syrup is typically not in IMBC recipes I have seen and I can't imagine why it would be necessary.
For a simple IMBC recipe you can check out this video, and it's easy to scale up to make the large quantities like the recipe you posted above.
http://cakecentral.com/b/recipe/cakeloves-italian-meringue-buttercream
AIt beads up, it's like trying to spray water on oil, doesn't work. Not for any discernible detail anyways.
I've seen people insist that they can successfully do this, but have yet to see any photos of this so called successfully airbrushed meringue bc. I saw an example in a thread awhile back, but it didn't look nice to me. You just need to either use fondant or an American buttercream, for results that will make both parties happy.
AWell. I won't comment on what others can do. But when I tried it it beaded up and looked horrible.
AIt just [I]doesn't[/I] work, they are "opposing" mediums. The fat in the mbc's doesn't dry or create a surface for anything water based to cling or grip to, or adhere to, or stick to, or whatever you want to describe it as. The example I remember was some bizarre splotchy pastel colored something. You could see it separating, and just looked unappetizing.
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It just doesn't work, they are "opposing" mediums. The fat in the mbc's doesn't dry or create a surface for anything water based to cling or grip to, or adhere to, or stick to, or whatever you want to describe it as. The example I remember was some bizarre splotchy pastel colored something. You could see it separating, and just looked unappetizing.
wow--was it this?
http://cakecentral.com/t/764229/can-i-paint-on-smbc/15 posts 16, 17 18?
Nope. Thanks, guys! I was pretty sure it wasn't going to work out, but I figured why not ask the pros. :)
So, am I to assume the only airbrushable icing out there is American Buttercream? I'm not too familiar with crusting buttercreams as I don't use them, so I'm not sure if there are several (hopefully better tasting) crusting types.
This is the cake I've been asked to do, except with a very bright dark purple instead of yellow. It looks to me that they've airbrushed it based on the darker colors on the ridges, but I could be wrong (I hope I'm wrong!). The bride wants it done with IMBC, so I just want to make sure american bc is the only option in achieving this specific look before breaking the news.
LeanneW, this is the recipe my chef taught me. The corn syrup (or glucose) is used to "stabilize the crystal structure" according to wiki. I have a scale and measure the water, sugar and corn syrup in the same pot so it doesn't add any dishes. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the corn syrup, but I also don't have to temp my syrup. Thank you for the suggestion!
the yellow sprayed cake would be a no brainer to airbrush in smbc -- i mean i could sure do it no problem-o--
AOh you're right, you can aim an airbrush at an SMBC covered cake and spray it all right. But I stand by what I said, that I haven't seen one that looks decent. Don't try to play some poor me game with me K8, YOU are the one who posted a link to your cake, not me.
This might be an option. My example is rough textured, but I bet you get the idea. Just make a small amount, cause you only need it for the outer layer. (and if this isn't anyone's cup o' tea, no big deal!)
AI'm thinking the only option is very similar to your cake, azcouture, which is beautiful btw. I was thinking have a small amount of vibrant purple bc in a piping bag and squish a blob of it here and there as i use a small angled spatula to "wash" it into the white bc that will have been already used to ice the cake.
I may just have to do a mock up. Partly because I'm a perfectionist and don't want to give the bride something that isn't exactly what she asked for... and partly because I'm genuinely curious.
AIt's fun to do, and always comes out a little differently. I make sure where the color is going to be, to not fill it in as thickly with the uncolored SMBC, so there's more room for the colored smbc when I go to spread that on. I've even made pretty straight stripes before too. It's just such a cool effect, because no matter what, it will be a bit streaky in areas and give it a real "handmade", imperfect look. Try it, have fun!
Here's one I made for a get together I went to with some of the local photogs in my town, this is carved SMBC, and coloring.
And this was the colored smbc stripes I mentioned
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I may just have to do a mock up. Partly because I'm a perfectionist and don't want to give the bride something that isn't exactly what she asked for... and partly because I'm genuinely curious.
Yes! This is exactly what you should do!
Also, you can airbrush with colored cocoa butter too. Lisa Berczel is an expert in this area! Here is a video with Lisa by Grex airbrush: http://cakecentral.com/b/tutorial/airbrushing-with-cocoa-butter
Here is her Craftsy class in which she covers cocoa butter airbrushing as well as many other things : http://www.craftsy.com/class/the-art-of-airbrushing/418
Also, I would like to say again, airbrushing on IMBC or SMBC is possible. I would not take a white BC cake and try to airbrush it solid red or anything like that. Light misting, and using multiple coats that dry in between will make it more successful. You can use petal dust mixed with alcohol which will dry faster that airbrush color.
I think the image that you included would be possible with IMBC. But testing it would be the best thing. When you do your test try and spread the BC on a board and create the same texture, then prop it up vertically so you can see exactly how it will behave.
Good luck.
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LeanneW, this is the recipe my chef taught me. The corn syrup (or glucose) is used to "stabilize the crystal structure" according to wiki. I have a scale and measure the water, sugar and corn syrup in the same pot so it doesn't add any dishes. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the corn syrup, but I also don't have to temp my syrup. Thank you for the suggestion!
If your recipe works for you then that's awesome! Don't fix it if it isn't broken!
You can avoid sugar crystal in others ways too, like brushing the sides of the pot with water, putting a lid on the pot so the condensation runs down the sides of the pot, and of course not stirring it while it cooks. I've never had an issue with crystals, also, syrup for IMBC isn't as fussy as other candy making type things. A few crystals won't kill your IMBC.
BTW, this cake was made by Jana's Creative Cakes, and it is made with SMBC. http://janascreativecakes.com/
Dang, carved bc huh? I've never even thought of that! Gorgeous and fun. :) Now I just have to find an unsuspecting customer to push this design on... lol.
ADefinitely more fun than airbrushing, and more enjoyable to eat than layers or liquid that are kind of floating on top, I would imagine. Post some pics of your results! And the carving...I have big plans for that method, I've been meaning to put together something about it since I developed it. Haven't quite gotten there...been too busy.
Leannew, that is all very great advice and thank you again! I was self taught then brought into a kitchen where I do the recipes exactly how the chef wants them, so sometimes I know perfectly well "how", but have to do my own research into "why".
Also, I'm so so so glad you said that about the cocoa butter. I had a fleeting memory of using a can of red cocoa butter spray and wondered if it might work but then remembered the awful can only had one setting and it was "spray like heck all over everywhere". If I could use that in an airbrush, though, we may have a solution.
I'll be sure to test traditional airbrush, cocoa butter, and just blending colored bc into white and let you know what happens (with pictures!).
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https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=643520672345002&id=110414962322245&set=pb.110414962322245.-2207520000.1396569761.&source=42
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=729939480369787&id=110414962322245&set=pb.110414962322245.-2207520000.1396569761.&source=42
Here's one I made for a get together I went to with some of the local photogs in my town, this is carved SMBC, and coloring.
And this was the colored smbc stripes I mentioned
The carved BC is awesome, especially where you can see the other color peeking through in the words! Would love to see a tutorial if you had time to take the photos. Those mobile shots are not bad at all. Better than ones I take with my point and shoot.
Also, AZcouture, I would absolutely love to see what the writing looks like carved, chilled, fill the letters in with a colored bc and then scrape the excess off so that it's all flush again with just the words colored. If you find the time, please show it off!
A
Original message sent by sugarpuppet
Also, AZcouture, I would absolutely love to see what the writing looks like carved, chilled, fill the letters in with a colored bc and then scrape the excess off so that it's all flush again with just the words colored. If you find the time, please show it off!
Ahttps://m.flickr.com/#/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/7201043556/
I do have this example, which was carved out and filled in, then iced flush. Not lettering, but it "does" work. I think this was the very first time I did the carving actually. The surrounding area was rough iced afterwards.
That's exactly what I meant. How great is that?! (the answer is great)
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