Less sweet buttercream needed.

[marmitedoughnut]

I want to fill and ice a two layer walnut cake but we want the filling to be not too sweet/sickly.

What is the minimum butter/sugar ratio for buttercream please? Are there any other alternatives such as condensed milk buttercream or using cream cheese etc.

Cream cheese and icing sugar grate some orange rind in

Italian Buttercream might be what you're looking for. Faffy but delicious. Or you could try the cooked frosting method, where you beat butter into a cooled paste of cooked flour, sugar and water?

The icing from this recipe is really nice www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2528636/coffee-and-walnut-cake

It's a mascarpone icing, very delicious, not too sweet. Not keen on the cake recipe itself though.

I just make buttercream by adding icing sugar to butter until it tastes how I want it to.

I just make buttercream by adding icing sugar to butter until it tastes how I want it to.

me too.

BBC Goodfood has a buttercream version with melted chocolate: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-buttercream

I did this last time using half dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate and it was less sweet. Next time I plan to reduce some of the sugar.

[they say 12 cupcakes. Hahahahahahaha. If you want more frosting to cupcake. I made half of this recipe and STILL had leftovers.]

[I am conscious that a chocolate buttercream icing probably isn't want you were looking for, but was taking the gap to mention it!]

Thanks all. I think I might give this one a go.

Italian or Swiss Meringue Buttercream are far nicer than standard buttercream and not half as sickly sweet.

A really nice buttercream can be made with Greek yoghurt - less butter and the sharp to sweet ratio is delicious x