Julias Classic French Buttercream Frosting Recipes

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Mix heavy cream and flour in a small bowl. Heat the mixure in the microwave for 45 seconds on high. Set aside to cool.
• In a mixing bowl, combine butter, shortening, confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract and butter extract.
• Using and electric mixer, beat on low until combined. Then beat on medium speed for 6-8 minutes.
• Next add the heavy cream mixture, and beat on medium speed for another 10 minutes. ( Mixture will appear soupy at first, but will become fluffy.)

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Continue to boil until the syrup reaches a temperature of 240 degrees F (115 C) While the syrup is boiling, beat the yolks with a wire whip or the whip attachment of a mixer until they are thick and light in color.
• As soon as the syrup reaches 240 F, pour it very slowly (in a thin stream) into the beaten yolks while whipping constantly.
• Continue to beat until the mixture is completely cool and the yolks are very thick and light.
• Whip in the butter a little at a time.
• Add it just as fast as it can be absorbed by the mixture.
• Beat in the vanilla.
• If the icing is too soft, refrigerate it until it is firm enough to spread.
• Chocolate: Melt 3 oz sweet chocolate and cool slightly (chocolate must not be too cool or it will solidify before completely blending with the buttercream).
• Blend with about one quarter of the buttercream, then blend this mixture into the rest.
• For very sweet buttercreams, use 1 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate instead of the sweet chocolate.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the egg yolks in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at high speed.
• Meanwhile, heat the granulated sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Check the temperature with a baking thermometer, which should read 239°F /115°C.
• Lower the speed of the mixer and incorporate the syrup of sugar on the egg yolks.
• Continue mixing at high speed for about 10 minutes, until the mixture cools.
• Lower the mixer speed and fold in the softened butter pieces, vanilla and salt.
• Resume high speed and mix for about 5-10 minutes until creamy and smooth.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Place the whole eggs and yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the eggs are pale yellow and thick, about 5 minutes. (The eggs will hold an indent made with your finger for a few seconds.)
• Meanwhile, pour the sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and bring to the soft-ball stage, without stirring, 240 degrees F.
• Begin whipping the eggs again on medium-high speed and slowly drizzle in the hot syrup, aiming the syrup between the side of the bowl and the beaters. Continue to whip until both the bottom of the bowl and the mixture are cool, 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should be thick, but will not form a peak at this point. Beat in the salt.
• While still beating on medium-high, add the butter, a few pieces at a time. As the butter is added, the buttercream may appear to thin out some, but it will thicken into firm peaks once all of the butter is added. Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Use right away or refrigerate in an airtight container overnight. The buttercream may need to be beaten again to smooth out before using.

JULIA'S CLASSIC FRENCH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan without stirring until it "clears." Boil until it reaches 238 degrees. In a separate bowl, combine 1 egg and the 3 egg yolks. Whisk them as you slowly pour the boiled sugar syrup from your saucepan into the bowl. Beat this mixture over hot water 7-8 minutes until it thickens. It will make a ribbon AFTER you remove it from the heat if it is thick enough. Set aside; allow to cool. Once it has cooled, add 1/2 pound of softened butter and beat it into the yolk mixture. Add 1 t. vanilla or kirsch for flavor. If the frosting separates after you add the flavors, add some more butter and continue beating until consistent. Beat until light and fluffy. Frost your cake. Julia slices her genoise cake into two layers, then sprinkles kirsch or simple syrup on the top of each piece before frosting. Reassemble cake, frost the outer portion. Voila!

FRENCH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a microwave according to package instructions. Set aside and let cool completely.
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl using an electric mixer until frothy. Drizzle in sugar mixture slowly; beat on high speed until mixture turns pale yellow and expands in volume, about 5 minutes. Add butter by tablespoon one at a time with mixer running, beating well after each addition. Frosting will become watery; continue with remaining butter.
• Mix in cooled melted chocolate. Beat on high speed until frosting thickens and becomes fluffy, about 5 minutes.

VANILLA FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, whisk together egg whites and sugar until sugar is melted and mixture reaches 140 degrees on a candy thermometer, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on high until stiff peaks form, 12 to 15 minutes. Add cream of tartar and beat for one minute more.
• Reduce speed to medium and add butter, a few pieces at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and scrape vanilla bean seeds into mixture; beat until well combined, about 2 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator; chill for 15 minutes before using.

FRENCH BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil; cook over medium-high heat until a thermometer reads 240° (soft-ball stage), 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, using a stand mixer, beat egg yolks in a large bowl on high speed until thick and foamy, 8-10 minutes. , Slowly pour hot sugar syrup over egg yolks 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. Use immediately.