Buttercream is known for its thick, luxurious, decadent texture, as well as its pristinely sweet flavor. Buttercream is a relished commodity among cake lovers everywhere. Furthermore, people enjoy using this frosting in unique and inventive ways. Like any condiment, buttercream has its own set of advantages in the culinary world.
Is buttercream really better than its arch nemesis, fondant? Fondant is revered because it molds to any shape or texture, allowing bakers to sculpt a number of designs into their cakes. Taste wise, however, it does not compare to the lush and delicious buttercream icing frosting.
What You Should Know About Buttercream
Buttercream is an icing that contains a few primary ingredients. Its major ingredients include shortening and confectioners/sugar. In some variations of buttercream, egg whites are added for a more luxurious consistency. Overall, buttercream has a whipped and lightweight texture.
There are many advantages to using buttercream. Because it is so cloudy and soft, it is very easy to store in a pastry bag. For this reason, it works great for decorative cake projects, including piping borders, icing flowers and much more. You can even write messages using buttercream, tinting in a variety of colors.
Buttercream icing frosting is a much richer concoction than fondant, as it contains more fat. As a result, buttercream is often deemed more delicious than its arch rival is. Even the process of making homemade buttercream is somewhat easier than fondant, as you can modify the proportions of the buttercream with greater ease.
Buttercream is so flavorful, it can be used in innumerable ways to spice up your pastries. For example, you can add it to fruit puree for a richer and more decadent mixture. It also works well cake filling, in addition to the top coat of icing. It can be added to cookies, cupcakes, and muffins, as well, for a delicious touch of creamy goodness.
It is important to note that buttercream is more lightweight and delicate than fondant. As a result, it should be kept at a decent temperature to prevent it from melting. Generally speaking, however, it is not the best icing for sculpting.
Fondant
Fondant is considerably less rich than buttercream, merely containing some sugar, corn syrup, and water. It is usually melted into a clay-like substance. Because of its clay texture, it is malleable to touch and easy to shape and sculpt for decorative purposes.
Generally speaking, people prefer the taste of buttercream because it is rich and creamy. However, fondant tastes strikingly similar to candy, which is fairly unappetizing to most. When fondant is not stored at the proper temperature, it can easily lose its polished appearance. Furthermore, it works horribly for both piping and filling.
