All Natural Tinted Buttercream Recipes

NATURALLY COLORED BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: 5 WAYS

Steps:

• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the powdered sugar and blend on low speed until well blended, then increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about another 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of almond milk. Continue to beat adding the additional tablespoon of almond milk, or more, if needed for spreading consistency.
• Add the natural dye powders to color. If coloring a small amount start with 1 teaspoon for the fruit powders or 1/4 teaspoon for the matcha, spirulina and turmeric and increase to get desired color. To color a whole batch start with 2 tablespoons for the fruit powders, 1 tablespoon for the matcha and spirulina, and turmeric and increase for desired color.

QUICK AND ALMOST-PROFESSIONAL BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• Cream room temperature butter with a hand mixer, the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, or a wooden spoon until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract.
• Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, and beat for thirty seconds until smooth or until desired color is reached.

ALL-NATURAL TINTED BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Beat butter on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla, milk, and salt and beat until buttercream is smooth. (At this point, buttercream can be covered and refrigerated up to 3 days; before using, bring to room temperature and beat on low speed until smooth.) Use food colors to tint as desired.

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).
• Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.
• With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, whisk in vanilla. Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.
• (Optional) To tint buttercream (or royal icing), reserve some for toning down the color, if necessary. Add gel-paste food color, a drop at a time (or use the toothpick or skewer to add food color a dab at a time) to the remaining buttercream. You can use a single shade of food color or experiment by mixing two or more. Blend after each addition with the mixer (use the paddle attachment) or a flexible spatula, until desired shade is achieved. Avoid adding too much food color too soon, as the hue will intensify with continued stirring; if necessary, you can tone down the shade by mixing in some reserved untinted buttercream.
• Using a flexible spatula, fold 4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see page 323), into buttercream mixture in step 3, along with the vanilla extract.
• Mix 2 tablespoons good-quality instant espresso powder (do not use instant coffee) with the vanilla extract, and add in step 3.
• Split 1 vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into a food processor (reserve pod for another use); pulse with the sugar in the recipe until combined, then pass through a fine sieve to separate the larger pieces (discard these). Heat vanilla-bean sugar with the egg whites in step 1.
• Beat in 1 container (6 ounces) fresh raspberries (or other berries) after all butter has been added, until buttercream is streaky (do not overbeat).