Cupcake help

[bimbobaggins]

I recently made cupcakes for visitors i had coming and it was a disaster. I followed the recipe to the letter and unfortunately the buttercream icing tasted just like butter. I then added in the rest of the packet of icing sugar but this made no difference.

It was very difficult to pipe out the buttercream icing because of the consistency. Id like to try again for my mothers birthday so any tips would be appreciated

Thanks

Start with the icing sugar and add the butter in - the icing sugar has the taste and you just want enough butter to give you the consistency you want!

I would worry about the recipe, just gradually ass the butter until you're happy you can pipe with it!

*wouldn't!

And ADD! do not ass the butter under any circumstances!!!!

Thank you dlwelly that makes it sound so easy.

I will give this method a try. Fingers crossed

@ gradually ass the butter

I don't like butter at all, the look of it and worse the taste and texture of it makes me heave cringe.

But, I saw something years ago, where Heston Blumenthal made 'Brandy Butter' just with brandy and butter whipped up till it was white and not at all buttery, more like cream. No icing sugar or caster sugar.

So, I tried unsalted butter and icing sugar and following the GBBO winner from way back (Holly) , I whisked for 8 minutes (in my Kenwood, not by hand)
Some vanilla, drop of warm water.
It was amazing.
Hasn't converted me to butter icing though but I could see what the fuss was about.

(Can't eat butter now anyway (minimal dairy) , but it's no loss to me)

This Buttercream icing works really well

you do need an electric beater to give it a really good long beat until it's properly fluffy.

The cupcake recipe is also very easy and nice.

You need to beat the butter until it looks like whipped cream, and use unsalted. Did you add any flavouring? It needs vanilla extract at least, or lemon is good - you can add zest, juice or a lemon extract.

Thak you can everyone for your suggestions.i didnt beat the butter at all, just tried to combine it with the icing sugar. They really were awful but im excited to try again after the tips.

Ah that explains it :)

I use a £6 handheld electric beater - works just fine.

You beat and beat and it goes very fluffy and light. Then you can put it into a piping bag or just apply with a knife/spatula. Add sprinkles etc soon after you add the icing to the cake as it can dry a little on the surface and so loose stickiness.

I don't like The Hummingbird buttercream as it is far too sweet and sickly.

I make buttercream by using slightly salted butter - I find salted butter takes away some of the sickliness, and double the weight of butter in sifted icing sugar. Usually I need to add a little bit of mlk to make the right consistency. Once it has all been incorporated it needs to be beaten with an electric beater for about 5 minutes.

mlk = milk

Thanks everyone for your recent tips. Cupcakes round two went much better than the first time. Tasted lovely. Just need to work on my piping skills now.