My Favorite Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Swiss meringue buttercream is like heaven. It’s so light and fluffy and not at all overly sweet like some frosting. I definitely prefer it over any other kind of frosting.
Ever since I first tasted SMBC I have been searching for a fool proof recipe that I love. I have found that recipe. Trust me on this one. It’s amazing.
Most people seem intimidated by SMBC because of the fact that sometimes it curdles when you’re mixing it up. You have to be patient and know that it’ll come back together. Because of the technique used in this recipe, you won’t have to worry about that here. I was a bit skeptical when I first tried this recipe, but it works every time.
I prefer to refrigerate my cupcakes after frosting them with this SMBC. This will set the frosting. Then bring them to room temperature prior to serving.
One Year Ago: Rice and Beans
Swiss Meringue Buttercream
This is my favorite Swiss meringue buttercream
Yield: Enough to frost 24 cupcakes
Ingredients:
4 oz egg whites (3-4 large egg whites or about 1/2 cups)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 lb unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp lemon extract, almond extract, orange extract, or vanilla extract
Directions:
Lightly whisk egg whites and sugar together over simmering water until egg-white mixture is hot to touch or a candy thermometer reads 140°F (60°C).
Pour hot whites into a room-temperature bowl and whip with a wire whip until double in volume on MEDIUM-HIGH speed. When the mixer stops, the meringue should not move around in the bowl. Meanwhile cut up butter into 2-inch pieces. (The butter should be slightly moist on the outside but cold inside.)
On your mixer, remove the whip and attach the paddle. Add half the butter into the bowl immediately and pulsate the mixer several times until the meringue has covered the butter completely. To pulsate the mixer, turn it on and off in a jerky motion. This forces the butter on the top to the bottom of the bowl. Add the balance of the butter and pulsate mixer several times. Slowly increase the mixer's speed, starting with the lowest speed and increase the speed every 10 seconds until you reach a MEDIUM-HIGH speed.
Continue beating until the mixture begins to look light and fluffy. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl. Reduce speed to LOW. Add flavoring and continue to beat on LOW speed for 45 seconds. Then beat on MEDIUM-HIGH speed for an additional 45 to 60 seconds.
Leftover buttercream can be placed in plastic containers with lids and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost completely (several hours) and rewhip before using.
Storage: Store the icing in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe from epicurious
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Looks great!! I love the history info too 🙂 Congrats you did an awesome job!
Love the history info and your buttercream looks so silky. Nicely done!
good job! rolls like the yule log and the pumpkin roll really aren’t too hard to make, but they’re great to bring to get togethers b/c everyone loves them 🙂
Congrats on your first “real” yule log. I wasn’t crazy about the buttercream either, though I did like the coffee flavor!
Yum! Very nice, creamy-looking buttercream. Looks delish! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I went for raspberry inside too – and agree that chocolate frosting would be tastier. Good job!
You did an awesome job, Jen!
Your log turned out so pretty – as did the mushrooms!
Way to go!
xoxo
Your log looks wonderful, so silky creamy. Happy Holidays!
Your log looks awesome. Congratulations on completing the challenge.
Very pretty! I thought this one was harder than the “Buche” I made in French class too.
I love your texturing – nice log!
Job well done. I made it with chocolate buttercream and I think it would have gone lovely with raspberry.
I love the idea of the raspberry filling with the coffee buttercream. That must have tasted incredible.
As worldly as I thought I was at the time, I never could have attempted anything this complex in high school. You did a great job with your… it looks luscious!
I hope you had a joyous holiday, and that 2008 brings you health and happiness, laughter and love.
Great bûche de Noël and I loved reading your post.
Happy Holidays!
Julius from Occasional Baker
You aced this challenge like a pro! It looks gorgeous!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Your filling looks and sounds delicious! I went with chocolate for the outside, and loved it. Great job!
A very pretty log! Well done!
Cheers,
Rosa
Nice work there. I love the combination of raspberry and chocolate – mmmm! Congrats on your challenge and happy new year 🙂
jen at use real butter
Oooh I love the idea of the raspberry in the log!