What you'll learn
Buttercream Foundations: Basic ratios for American, Swiss, Italian, and French buttercreams; key differences in texture, sweetness, and stability.
Temperature Control: How to handle ingredients (room-temperature vs. chilled butter, sugar syrup stages) to prevent graininess or separation.
Flavoring & Infusing: Incorporating extracts, fruit purées, ganache, or cocoa; balancing sweetness and fat without compromising consistency.
Coloring Strategies: Best practices for gel vs. powdered colors; preventing “bleeding” or streaking when blending multiple hues (e.g., ombré or watercolor effects).
Spreading & Smoothing: Techniques for achieving glass-smooth sides (bench scraper, icing turntable, hot spatula method) and avoiding common marks or air pockets.
Piping & Decorative Textures: Creating rosettes, ruffles, ruffles, basketweave, petals, and multi-tone piping (hidden two-tone tips, reversible bags).
Stabilizing for Warm Climates: Adjusting recipes (adding meringue powder or corn syrup) so buttercream holds shape in humid or warm environments.
Troubleshooting Common Issues: Fixing grainy buttercream, curdled mixtures, overly soft or too-stiff icing; rescue methods (re-creaming, adjusting sugar syrup).
