Cherry Buttercream No-Grit Recipe

Best Canned Cherries for Cherry Buttercream

There are several types of canned cherries you can use for making cherry buttercream, each offering a unique flavor profile:

1. Black Cherries: These are typically dark red and offer a rich, sweet flavor, perfect for a pronounced cherry taste.
2. Maraschino Cherries: These sweetened cherries come in a bright red color, adding a distinct sweet flavor and vibrant color to the buttercream.
3. Morello Cherries: These dark, sour cherries are often used in baking and provide a deep cherry flavor with a bit of tartness.
4. Amarena Cherries: These small, dark Italian cherries are preserved in syrup, offering an intense cherry flavor with a slight tartness.

Each type can give your cherry buttercream a different flavor and color, so you can choose based on your preference and the desired outcome for your dessert.

Ingredients in Cherry Buttercream

350g Confectioner's Sugar (12.3 oz): This finely ground sugar dissolves easily, providing a smooth texture to the buttercream. It's essential for achieving the desired sweetness.

100mL Hot Water or Milk (3.4 fl oz): This liquid helps dissolve the confectioner's sugar. Using hot water keeps the buttercream lighter, while milk adds a richer flavor.

2 Teaspoons Vanilla: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the cherry buttercream, adding a warm and aromatic touch.

250g Unsalted Butter, softened (8.8 oz): Unsalted butter is the base of the buttercream, providing a rich, creamy texture. It should be softened to room temperature for easy mixing.

½ - 1 Cup Canned Cherries, drained: The cherries add a natural fruity flavor and color to the cherry buttercream. The amount can be adjusted based on how strong you want the cherry flavor to be.

Pink food color (optional): If you want to enhance the pink hue of the cherry buttercream, a small amount of pink food color can be added. This is optional and based on personal preference.

How To Make No-Grit Cherry Buttercream

1. Prepare the Sugar Mixture

• Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, mix 350g (12.3 oz) confectioner's sugar with 100mL (3.4 fl oz) hot water or milk and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved. The hot liquid helps in dissolving the sugar quickly, ensuring there are no gritty particles.

• Strain the Mixture: Pour the sugar mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a jug to remove any remaining lumps. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth consistency. Set the strained mixture aside to cool completely before adding it to the butter.

2. Mix the Butter

• Soften the Butter: Ensure that 250g (8.8 oz) unsalted butter is softened to room temperature. This will make it easier to mix and achieve a creamy texture.
• Beat the Butter: Place the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. You can also use a hand mixer. Mix the butter on low to medium speed for 2 to 5 minutes until it becomes light and creamy.

3. Combine the Sugar Mixture with the Butter

• Slowly Add the Sugar Mixture: With the mixer running on low speed, slowly drizzle the cooled sugar mixture down the side of the bowl into the butter. Pouring slowly is crucial to prevent the mixture from splitting. If added too quickly, the butter and sugar mixture might separate.

• Mix Until Smooth: Continue mixing for an additional minute once all the sugar mixture is incorporated. This ensures that the butter and sugar mixture is fully combined and smooth.

4. Add the Cherries

• Blend the Cherries: Drain ½ to 1 cup of canned cherries. Use a stick blender or food processor to blend the cherries until smooth. This blended cherry puree will add flavor and color to the buttercream.

• Incorporate the Cherries: Add the blended cherries to the buttercream mixture. Mix on low speed until the cherries are fully incorporated and the cherry buttercream has a uniform pink color. This should take about 1-2 minutes.

• Add Food Coloring (Optional): If you prefer a more vibrant pink hue, add a small amount of pink food color and mix until well combined.

My Top Tip for Cherry Buttercream

Make sure the butter is at room temperature before you start. Softened butter blends more easily, creating a smooth and creamy texture. If the butter is too cold, it won’t mix properly, and if it’s too warm, the buttercream can become too soft and runny. Leave the butter out for about 30-60 minutes before you start, or cut it into small pieces to speed up the softening process.

Serving Suggestion for Cherry Buttercream

Prepare the Cupcakes: Bake your favorite chocolate cupcakes and let them cool completely before decorating.

Create a Filling: Scoop out a small amount from the center of each cupcake using a knife or a cupcake corer. Reserve the scooped-out pieces.

Add Cherry Juice & a Cherry: Drizzle a small amount of cherry juice from the canned cherries into the hollowed-out center of each cupcake. This adds extra cherry flavor and moisture. Place a whole canned cherry into the hollowed-out center of each cupcake. This provides a delightful cherry surprise in every bite.

Top with Chocolate Sauce: Add a small amount of chocolate sauce or ganache on top of the cherry in the cupcake center. This adds richness and complements the cherry flavor.

Pipe the Cherry Buttercream: Using a piping bag fitted with a 1M piping tip, pipe a generous swirl of cherry buttercream onto each cupcake. Start from the outside and work your way in, creating a beautiful swirl.

Drizzle with More Chocolate Sauce: Drizzle additional chocolate sauce or ganache over the piped cherry buttercream for an extra touch of decadence.

Garnish: Sprinkle grated chocolate over the top of each cupcake. Optionally, top with chunks of chocolate Cherry Ripe candy bar for added texture and flavor.

More No-Grit Buttercream Recipes

• No-Grit Nutella Buttercream
• Biscoff No-Grit Buttercream
• No-Grit Mocha Buttercream
• Honeycomb Buttercream No-Grit