to hate bastarding icing sugar

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

I loathe the stuff. I have just made a lovely three-layer lemon cake with buttercream icing it was lovely since you ask

But the buggering sugar goes everywhere when you make the buttercream with the electric handwhisk and I hate having to wash up the food processor between the cake batter and the icing, only for it to get dirty again.

I may never use icing sugar again - at least until next time I the baby I'm having wants cake.

[NewAtThisMalarky]

Why don't you use a bowl and a wooden spoon? I wouldn't have considered using a whisk for buttercream, it's so quick to mix by hand.

[trixymalixy]

I don't use any kind of electric device either. I think I just use a fork to mix it.

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

But that takes so long and makes my arm hurt

Besides, it's also the feel of the stuff and the horrible paper packet

[flippinada]

Yanbu .

What I find helpful is the beat the butter using the whisk until it goes really soft then beat in the icing sugar a bit at a time. This reduces obnoxious flying everywhere-ness of the stuff.

[flippinada]

Excuse me for random missing words.

[Bue]

You need to simultaneously cover the bowl with a tea towel while you mix, to contain the cloud. Admittedly this is probably easier with a stand mixer but you should still be able to hold one in place using a hand mixer.

[Bejeena]

This is why I go outside onto the balcony to all my sifting and mixing of flours and icing sugar. Yes my neighbours probably think I am off my trolley but I don't care!

[Bobyan]

Lowers voice to a whisper... Betty Crocker.

[MrsCosmopilite]

Right:
Warm the bowl you're making the buttercream in (either put it in a low temperature oven for a few minutes until it's warm to touch, or swill out with boiling water and dry it off)
Cut the butter into little tiny pieces with a knife
Now SLOWLY spoon in the icing sugar and mix with a wooden spoon OR a warmed metal fork.
If the icing is at all lumpy add a very small quantity of water (or milk, or lemon juice, depending on what flavour cake).
No lumps, and far less icing sugar clouds.

[Veryunsure]

I mix it in until it won't fly everywhere then get the whisk on it!

[MikeLitoris]

This is why I have a kenwood with a splash guard thingy.

Chuck it all in, start it off slowly. Once its incorporated abit turn It up to maximum and leave for 5 mins.

Amazing light fluffy buttercream.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

You have to soften the butter first. The first time I baked since school I forgot this bit. The kitchen was covered with a thin film of sugar and I ended up with more white stuff up my nose than an Eighties stockbroker.

Let the butter get to room temperature and then beat it with a wooden spoon until it goes lighter in colour.

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

Bobyan wash your mouth out with soap that stuff tastes like chemicals!

Justfornow it was soft. Really, really soft. I think it's my crap Tesco electric hand mixer to be honest. It's got 7 speeds, from very fast to supersonic.

I like the tea towel trick, I will try that. I'd love a Kenwood, but DH would do this

[MikeLitoris]

My very lovely mum bought me mine. My buttercream is now the stuff of legends.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

7 speeds . Mine has 2.

[heymammy]

I've got an electric mixer just like that Comtesse except it is Russell fecking Hobbs! Settings from 1-7 and speed 1 is practically supersonic

[MyCatHasStaff]

try this

[piprabbit]

Standing in a cloud of sugar, breathing in the sweet yumminess.

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

I put the butter and icing in the food processor. Saves achy arms, and a kitchen and baker covered in icing sugar.

[Tailtwister]

I know what you mean OP, icing sugar gets everywhere. If you have a stand mixer you can put a tea towel around it until the icing sugar is incorporated.

[bisley]

You need to try swiss meringue buttercream. No icing sugar and soooo much nicer.

[silverten]

That is genius, Greenandcabbage. Do you use the main bit or the liquidiser bit?

[RafaellaNhaKyria]

The kitchen was covered with a thin film of sugar and I ended up with more white stuff up my nose than an Eighties stockbroker

I properly laughed at that I'm a baker and I hate the bastarding stuff too!

[SamuelWestsMistress]

I've recently discovered that I can't make buttercream icing taste nearly as good as Betty Crocker. This suits me fine because it means I get to fantasise about smearing it allover naked Matt Smith there is never any of that dusty sticky mess of which you speak!

[Housewife2010]

I have a Kitchenaid. It comes with a plastic bowl cover which slots on & prevents any mess when using icing sugar.