This is my favorite vanilla frosting. It is a classic buttercream for wedding cakes, light and fluffy and not too sweet. Many brides call me a year later to tell me that their top wedding cakes, served for their anniversaries, taste just as good a year later. The loftiness is divine, the smooth buttery texture oh so fab and it is an easy frosting to work with if the kitchen isn't too hot.

I've searched all my photo files and don't find any photos for the steps of this recipe. Looks like I'll have to whip up another batch and take some pictures. There are 2 main steps to getting this right but it is simple to make. I wouldn't recommend making this parve as the butter is important. Yes, make this frosting and be sure to close your eyes as you savor the light, airy clouds of buttercream.

Ingredients:

Step 1:

• 1 cup egg whites (no yolks at all)
• 3 cups of sugar

Step 2:

1 pound (2 cups) unsalted butter (must be unsalted) at room temperature

2/3 cup unsalted margarine (yes, this is margarine for stabilizing) at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

In a very clean mixing bowl, add the sugar and egg whites and place bowl over a pot of simmering water. Using a spatula (or a gloved hand like I do), heat the mixture to 140' while stirring constantly. I like to use a candy thermometer as it is important to reach this temperature. This will cook the eggs enough. Do not overcook or you'll have strings of eggs in your frosting.

When the mixer comes to temperature, put the mixing bowl onto the stand at beat at medium high speed with the balloon whip attachment until the mixture is cool. It'll be very smooth and light. It must be totally cooled. This could take 10 or more minutes.

When the Swiss meringue is cool, keep beating as you add the chunks of butter and margarine. The mixture may breakdown if the butter is too cold or hard. No worries, keep beating and it'll come together. It should be light, fluffy and without any lumps. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. At this point the frosting is ready to use. If it, for some reason, got too hot, chill it for a few minutes. If you refrigerate the frosting for too long, the butter will harden. No worries, bring to room temperature and beat again if necessary to make it fluffy. Love this stuff!

Basket weave using real buttercream frosting.

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Comments:

Souzan: I do not have crisco here in Australia. Margarine makes it topo soft? Could I use just butter?

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Leah: Actually, butter might make it too soft. I don't use Crisco shortening here, just the unsalted margarine. I usually stress in the summer if a wedding cake is real buttercream and it is hot out. I wouldn't be comfortable with only butter; might taste better but I don't need more headaches and freaking out! Try it on a cupcake where you don't need the stabilizing and see what happens. Oh, and let me know :-).

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Souzan: Hi Leah, Thanks for reply. I tried butter, as you said it gets soft. I resolved that by keeping my buttercream in the fridge as I worked and beating it in a small bowl if need be. More work, great result. I also tried margarine. It tasted lighter which is even better. Yet it still needed the refrigerator. So, my conclusion is that 'Temperature' is the key. The buttercream flowers turned very nice. Thanks again. God love you!

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Leah: You just have to remember that if you are transporting a cake and it is hot out, the frosting will soften. That is why I don't use all butter.

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