Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Level: Easy
- Yield: about 2 quarts buttercream
- Total: 30 min
- Active: 30 min
Ingredients
9 large egg whites, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 pounds unsweetened butter (6 sticks), softened but still cool
Optional flavoring: extracts, melted chocolate, liqueurs, fruit and fruit purees, broken cookies, chopped candy, nut pastes, instant coffee
Directions
- Place the egg whites and sugar in large metal mixer bowl set over simmering water. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts and the mixture is very thin and warm.
- Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Continue beating on low speed until cool, about 15 more minutes.
- Beat in small pieces of the cool but soft butter on low speed. The mixture may "curdle" before coming together. Add vanilla extract or other flavorings if desired. Rebeat occasionally while frosting the cake to maintain a smooth texture.
Cook’s Note
Make sure the bottom of the mixer bowl does not touch simmering water. Your egg whites may become a sweet scrambled breakfast dish! Finished buttercream may be kept covered and refrigerated for a week. Professional chefs prefer to use pasteurized egg whites,€“ no need to separate fresh eggs, no wasted yolks, and safer all-around. Buttercream also freezes well for up to six months. Chilled buttercream must be brought to room-temperature before beating, otherwise it will curdle. If such a disaster strikes, do not panic! Keep beating over simmering water and eventually the mixture will come together again.