Best Italian Meringue Buttercream Recipes

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Pour egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment; beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, increase speed to medium-high, and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook until syrup reads 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when placed on a flat surface.
• Increase mixer speed to high and pour syrup in a slow and steady stream down the side of the bowl, beating until meringue is no longer steaming, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in butter one cube at a time until buttercream reaches a soft and spreadable consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and 2/3 cup water to a boil. Continue boiling until syrup reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage).
• Meanwhile, place egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff but not dry; do not overbeat.
• With mixer running, add syrup to whites in a stream, beating on high speed until no longer steaming, about 3 minutes. Add butter bit by bit, beating until spreadable, 3 to 5 minutes; beat in vanilla. If icing curdles, keep beating until smooth.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, combine 3/4 cups sugar sugar and water. Bring to a boil; cook over medium-high heat until a thermometer reads 250° (hard-ball stage), 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, using a stand mixer, beat egg whites in a large bowl on high speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved and soft peaks form. , Slowly pour hot sugar syrup over egg whites while beating continuously. Continue beating on high until mixture cools to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes., Gradually add butter, a few tablespoons at a time, beating on medium after each addition until smooth. Beat in vanilla.

BONNIE BUTTER CAKE WITH ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. Grease & flour a pan; 13x9x2 or two 9 inch round or three 8 inch round layer pans.
• 3. In large mixer bowl beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Beat 5 minutes on high speed scraping bowl occasionally.
• 4. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
• 5. On low speed mix in flour alternatively with milk. Do not over beat.
• 6. Bake oblong pan 45 minutes, layer pans 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. ***Note*** I have chosen to make three 8 inch layers.
• 7. Make Italian Merguine Buttercream Frosting. You will need to use your stand mixer. ***Note*** I have cut the original recipe in half for my cake. Half the recipe will frost the cake easily. If your decorating a cake then double this recipe.
• 8. In the large bowl of your stand mixer with the wire wisk attachment add the egg whites. Beat for two minutes.
• 9. In a sauce pan bring water and sugar to a boil. Boil for seven minutes. This is your syrup.
• 10. Slowly add the syrup to the egg whites with the mixer going on high. Continue to beat for 10 minutes.
• 11. Remove your wire whisk attachment and add your paddle attachment. With mixer on high speed adding the butter a few chunks at a time until all butter is added. Stop the mixer and scrap bowl twice.
• 12. Add vanilla. Beat again.
• 13. Use 1/2 cup of frosting and add 2 tablespoons of raspberry seedless jam. I also added a tablespoon of Chambord! Using 1/2 cup of the frosting add 2 ounces of melted sweet chocolate. Make sure the chocolate is cooled down before adding to the frosting. Beat.
• 14. Cut one cake in half to make two layers. Spread the raspberry frosting on one cake and place the other half back on top. Do the same with the chocolate.
• 15. Now we have two cakes each with a filling. Place a cake on your favorite cake plate.
• 16. Use 1/2 cup of the frosting spread this on the cake. Place the other cake on top of this cake.
• 17. Gently frost the rest of your cake with the remainder of the frosting.
• 18. NOTE: Double the frosting recipe if you making a layer cake.

SARAH'S ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Pour egg whites into the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment; beat at medium speed until frothy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Combine remaining 1 cup sugar and water in a small saucepan. Attach a candy thermometer to the saucepan and place over low heat. Cook until syrup reaches 244 degrees F (117 degrees C) or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball.
• Increase mixer speed to high and pour syrup in a slow and steady stream down the side of the bowl, beating until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-high and continue beating until meringue is stiff and the sides of the bowl feel barely warm, 3 to 4 minutes more.
• Beat in butter 1 tablespoon at a time until smooth. Switch to the paddle attachment, add vanilla extract, and beat on high until buttercream is light and fluffy, 4 to 7 minutes.

MR. BROWN'S ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Boil 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water over medium heat until it reaches 245. As it cooks begin meringue so it's ready when syrup is done.
• Whip egg whites with a wire whisk in a stand up mixer on high until soft peaks form. About 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup sugar. Beat.
• Slowly pour the hot syrup into the meringue steadily with the mixer still on high.
• Beat the frosting for 7-10 minutes until the outside of the bowl is room temperature.
• Beat in butter by the tablespoon. The butter will deflate the frosting a bit.
• Add in desired flavorings.
• Flavorings.
• Chocolate: 1/2 cup melted and cooled chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Coconut: 1 teaspoon coconut extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Coffee: 1 teaspoon espresso powder or 3-5 tablespoons strong coffee.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH HONEY

Steps:

• Pour honey into a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until a thermometer inserted into the saucepan reads 240 degrees F (115 degrees C).
• While honey is heating up, beat egg whites in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form. Slowly and gradually pour hot honey into the egg whites, keeping the mixer on medium-high speed. Keep mixer going until the bowl cools to room temperature.
• Add pieces of soft butter gradually, with the mixer still going. Add vanilla extract. Keep mixing until mixture comes together and is the consistency of buttercream, up to 10 minutes.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• 1. Set a timer for 7 minutes and pour the egg whites into the kitchen mixer with the whisk attachment. Do not start the timer yet.
• 2. Put the sugar and water into a pan. Bring it to a boil on medium-high and then start the timer.
• 3. When the sugar syrup has been boiling for 5 minutes, start the kitchen mixer on full speed and whisk the egg whites for the remaining 2 minutes. When the timer is up the sugar syrup is done about (240 degrees).
• 4. With the mixer still going on high speed slowly pour the hot sugar syrup down the side of the mixing bowl.
• 5. When all sugar syrup has been added it should look really set up, thick and full. Switch to paddle attachment to incorporate air. Set the timer for 10 minutes and beat on high speed. After 10 minutes you should have a lovely thick meringue.
• 6. Add the butter. Start the mixer on high speed and with a butter knife, cut pieces of the butter and add it to the meringue. When all the butter is added it won't take long for the mixture to turn into a nice smooth buttercream. This will take a few minutes. Be patient as it will turn into a smooth creamy finish.
• 7. After the butter is combined, slow down the mixer and add the vanilla extract. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and start the mixer again to make sure it's well mixed.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FOR PERFECT WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and 1/3 cup water to a boil. Boil until syrup reaches soft-ball stage (238 degrees.on a candy thermometer).
• In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on low until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat on medium high until stiff but not dry.
• With mixer running, pour syrup down side of bowl into egg whites in a steady stream, and beat on high speed until steam is no longer visible, about 3 minutes. Beat in butter a few pieces at a time. Add vanilla and beat until smooth. If it looks curdled at any point, keep beating to smooth out.

GENOISE WITH BUTTERCREAM-ITALIAN MERINGUE

Steps:

• To make an Italian meringue, combine 3 1/2 pounds of sugar with 1 cup water in a large, heavy saucepan and heat over high heat until the syrup reaches a temperature of 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. When syrup reaches a boil, watch carefully, as the temperature can escalate quickly.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk the egg whites, the remaining 1 pound of sugar, and the cream of tartar to medium peaks. Once the syrup has reached 240 degrees F, start to drizzle the hot sugar syrup into the meringue while the beaters are running. Continue until all of the syrup is used and then continue to whip the meringue until it cools to room temperature.
• Slowly add in the softened butter; the mixture will tend to curdle. Continue to mix until all of the butter has been incorporated; the buttercream will eventually come together, becoming a smooth mixture in the end. Make sure to scrape down the bowl from time to time while mixing. Divide the mixture into 2 large sheet pans, cover securely, and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the cake:
• Lightly spray a size 400 hotel pan or large sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray and then line with parchment paper; set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sieve the cake flour at least twice and set aside. Cream the eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl, beating until a pale yellow color. Gently fold in the cake flour. When this stage is almost completed, fold in the melted butter. Spread the genoise batter onto the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, and then remove to a rack to cool completely before frosting.
• While cake cools, make a simple syrup by combining 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a heavy saucepan over high heat; bring to a boil and then remove from the heat and let cool.
• Assembly:
• Cut the cakes into 4 equal pieces so that they will fit perfectly on top of each other. Brush the bottom cake layer with simple syrup and then brush it with framboise. Brush a thin layer of raspberry marmalade on top and then apply a layer of the buttercream-Italian meringue. Repeat 2 more times. For the fourth and final cake layer, brush it with simple syrup and then framboise, but do not apply the marmalade. Frost the top and the sides of the cake, smoothing it out until perfect.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar in water over medium heat, in a medium saucepan. Increase heat to high and boil until syrup reaches 238 degrees F on candy thermometer. Whip egg whites and salt in a large bowl using a stand mixer or hand mixer on 4th speed until stiff peaks form. When syrup reaches 238 degrees F, reduce the mixer to the 3rd speed. Slowly add the hot syrup to egg mixture, carefully pouring it down the side of the mixing bowl. Continue mixing on 3rd speed until mixture reaches room temperature or put mixture in the refrigerator until cooled. Once cooled, whip mixture on 3rd speed and add butter in small pieces, beating until smooth, then beat in the vanilla extract.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whip attachment, mix egg whites and cream of tarter on low speed.
• Combine sugar, salt, wat and corn syrup in small saucepan, cook mixture over medium heat until it reaches 238 F.
• Remove from heat, increas mixer speed to medium-high, and very slowly pour hot sugar mixture of egg whites, taking care not to pour onto the moving whip.
• Increase speed to high and whip until mixture is thick, glossy, and cooled to room temperature, 6-8 minutes.
• Add vanilla whip until just combined.
• Reduce speed to low and slowly add softened butter, one stick at a time. Scrap down sides of bowl, switch to paddle attachment, increase speed to high, and whip until mixture is thickened and completely smooth, about 10 minutes.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Have a mixer bowl with no fat in it, and a whisk, clean them with vinegar and salt, if nessecary, then rinse and dry.
• Put the egg whites into the mixer bowl with a pinch of cream of tartar, and about 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir once or twice, fit into the mixer with the whisk attachment in place and ready. Set aside.
• Grease a 2-cup glass measure with soft shortening, or use an ample quantity of vegetable cooking spray, set aside, by the stove.
• Put the sugar and water into a 4-6 cup saucepan with a lid, stirring very briefly with a spoon to ensure that the sugar has been absorbed by the water on the bottom of the pot. Turn the heat to medium, and cook until the mixture starts to simmer. Cover with a lid. Cook 1-2 minutes (2 at the most), uncover, insert a candy thermometer, and cook, without interruption, until the sugar mixture reaches 238 degrees f.
• While the sugar mixture is cooking, and keeping a steady eye on it, beat the egg whites at high or medium high intensity until this is stiff. (The object is to have the sugar mixture ready, the same time that the whites are beaten, I know that other recipes do not typically specify this process, but some do, and it's the method I learned, and am used to).
• Transfer the sugar syrup, all at once, to the greased measure.
• Pour it into the mixer, with it running, little at the time, avoiding the beaters entirely, and the side of the bowl, but allowing it (the sugar) to run gently down one spot of the side of the bowl, is preferable to having it sling on the beaters. Do not add it to fast, if there is any left in the cup, after a minute, throw it away, do not scrape it into the sauce.
• Beat the mixture for 10 minutes moderately, or until the base is room temperature. Stir in the vanilla.
• Beat in the butter, 1-2 tablespoons at the time.
• Carefully transfer to a bowl, and chill to spreading consistency if nessecary. Add a few spoonfuls of rum before chilling, if required.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Pour egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment; beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, increase speed to medium-high, and beat until stiff peaks form.n
• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook until syrup reads 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when placed on a flat surface.n
• Increase mixer speed to high and pour syrup in a slow and steady stream down the side of the bowl, beating until meringue is no longer steaming, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in butter one cube at a time until buttercream reaches a soft and spreadable consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract.n

MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM (SWISS & ITALIAN)

Steps:

• Make either a soft Swiss or Italian meringue according to the recipes I've linked. Nearly all the amounts mentioned in the recipes are correct for the base of this recipe, except for the Swiss meringue which needs 200 grams of sugar instead. https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/other-dessert/swiss-meringue.html https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/other-dessert/italian-meringue.html
• Make sure that the meringue has cooled down and the butter has softened to the same room temperature; this is essential for the success. If the butter is grainy then the butter has been too cold. Keep whisking in this case since it'll even out eventually. If the butter is melted then the meringue has been too hot and the cream cannot be saved after.
• Add the butter bit by bit as pieces as you whisk the mix. It will inevitably turn runny while the amount of butter is low but no need to be scared of that. If done correctly it's only temporary - once the whole amount of butter has been added it'll once again become stable and fluffy. Keep whisking until the cream is smooth and light.
• Add the flavoring and food coloring if desired. Meringue buttercream accepts many additions such as vanilla, mint, floral aromas, juice (50 ml / 100 grams of egg white), puree, powder and molten chocolate without much problem. All you need to do is to mix them even.
• Preserving and using it later: Meringue buttercream keeps much better than the simple meringue that it's made of. It'll keep for a few days in room temperature, a week in the fridge and three months in the freezer. The frozen buttercream is defrosted for a few hours in the room temperature. If it's newly defrosted or has been in the fridge for a long time it will become hard and snappy like butter. In this case put the dish in a comfortable warm (not hot) water bath to soften. Some liquid may separate but even then the meringue buttercream is surprisingly stable: a quick whisk will make it soft, smooth and as beautiful as new.

ITALIAN MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Put egg whites in the bowl of your stand mixer
• combine 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. reduce heat to medium and boil 7 minutes (if you have a thermometer it should be 140-145 degrees)
• after 5 minutes of boiling whip the egg whites to stiff but not dry peaks (use optional cream of tartar if you like) and add the other 1/4 cup sugar.
• with the mixer on high stream in the boiling sugar syrup slowly into the egg whites. try to get it near the edge of the bowl but not onto the bowl.
• keep beating on medium high until the meringue cools to room temp (you can now use this frosting for fluffy white frosting, great on lemon or white cake!).
• meanwhile, cut the butter into tbs and when the meringue is cooled to room temp with the mixer going add it 1 tbs at a time until they are all in.
• it might look liquidy or curdled but it will come together if you keep beating it. if its not, put it in the fridge for a few minutes then whip it again.
• it should turn into a silky smooth frosting and you can now add your vanilla or whatever flavoring you want.