Cotton Candy Buttercream. This silky smooth, luscious buttercream uses no powdered sugar and has the texture of Swiss Meringue Buttercream without the egg. Perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and more, it combines butter and sweetened condensed milk to create a no-grit finish.
If you live in a warm climate, chill the sweetened condensed milk for several hours before making the buttercream. This helps ensure the buttercream doesn't become too soft during mixing and piping.
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What is Condensed Milk Buttercream?
Condensed milk buttercream, also known as Russian Buttercream, is a type of frosting made by combining butter and sweetened condensed milk. Unlike traditional American buttercream, which typically uses powdered sugar, condensed milk buttercream achieves its sweetness and silky texture from the sweetened condensed milk. This buttercream is known for its smooth, luscious consistency and the absence of any gritty texture.
Key Characteristics:
- Silky Texture: The absence of powdered sugar means no grittiness, resulting in a smooth, silky finish.
- Simple Ingredients: Only requires butter and sweetened condensed milk, making it easy to prepare.
- Versatile: Can be used for various desserts like cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and more.
- Flavor Flexibility: Can be easily flavored with different extracts or essences, such as vanilla, chocolate, or cotton candy.
- Color Customization: Gel food coloring can be added to achieve any desired hue.
Ingredients in Cotton Candy Buttercream
Unsalted Butter
Quantity: 500g (1.1 lbs)
Unsalted butter serves as the base of the condensed milk buttercream. It provides a rich, creamy texture and a neutral flavor that allows the sweetness of the condensed milk and added flavors to shine. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in your frosting, ensuring a perfectly balanced taste. Soften the butter to room temperature before mixing to achieve a smooth, fluffy consistency.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Quantity: 305g (10.7 oz)
Sweetened condensed milk is a key ingredient that adds sweetness and a smooth, silky texture to the buttercream. Unlike powdered sugar, it dissolves completely, preventing any gritty texture. This ingredient also helps to stabilize the buttercream, giving it a luscious, spreadable consistency. If you live in a warm climate, chill the sweetened condensed milk for several hours before use to ensure the buttercream doesn't become too soft.
Teal Gel Food Color
Quantity: A few drops
Gel food coloring is used to add vibrant color to the buttercream without altering its texture. In this recipe, teal is suggested, but you can use any color to match your theme or preference. Gel food colors are more concentrated than liquid food colors, providing a more intense hue with just a few drops. Mix thoroughly to ensure the color is evenly dispersed throughout the buttercream.
Cotton Candy Essence
Quantity: A few drops
Cotton candy essence adds a fun, nostalgic flavor to the buttercream, reminiscent of carnival cotton candy. The amount you use will depend on the strength of the brand you choose. Start with a few drops and adjust to taste. This essence provides a unique twist to the traditional buttercream, making it perfect for themed cakes and desserts. Mix well to ensure the flavor is evenly distributed.
How To Make Cotton Candy Buttercream
Step 1: Prepare the Butter
Start by placing the softened butter in a mixing bowl. Softened butter is easier to whip and will create a smoother texture in your buttercream. If your butter is too cold, it won't mix well, and if it's too soft or melted, the buttercream may be too runny. The ideal softness is when the butter yields slightly to pressure but is not greasy or oily.
Step 2: Whip the Butter
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed. The goal is to whip air into the butter, making it light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving the smooth, airy texture of the buttercream. The mixing time can vary, but it usually takes about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure even mixing.
Step 3: Add Sweetened Condensed Milk
Add the chilled sweetened condensed milk into the mixing bowl with the whipped butter. If you live in a warm climate, chilling the condensed milk helps to maintain the buttercream's consistency, preventing it from becoming too soft.
Step 4: Mix Thoroughly
Continue to beat the mixture on medium speed for at least 2 minutes. This step fully incorporates the sweetened condensed milk into the butter, creating a smooth, homogeneous mixture. The buttercream should be creamy and have a consistent texture without any lumps.
Step 5: Add Cotton Candy Essence
Begin by adding a few drops of cotton candy essence to the mixture. The exact amount will depend on the brand and your personal taste preferences. Mix well and taste the buttercream, adding more essence if necessary. This step adds the distinct cotton candy flavor to your buttercream.
Step 6: Add Gel Food Color
Add a couple of drops of gel food color to the buttercream. Gel food coloring is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Mix thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed throughout the buttercream. If you prefer a more intense color, you can add more drops, mixing after each addition until you achieve the desired shade.
Step 7: Mix Until Fully Combined
Mix the buttercream until you evenly disperse the color and flavoring. This ensures that every part of the buttercream has the same taste and appearance.
Step 8: Knock Out Air Bubbles
Massage the buttercream with a silicone spatula for a couple of minutes to knock out larger air bubbles.
Use a silicone spatula to gently massage the cotton candy buttercream in the mixing bowl. This step helps to knock out any larger air bubbles that may have formed during mixing. Smoothing out these bubbles will give you a more consistent texture, which is especially important if you plan to pipe the buttercream.
Fay's Top Tip for Cotton Candy Buttercream
The most important tip for making Cotton Candy Buttercream is to ensure that both the butter and sweetened condensed milk are at the right temperature. Soften the butter to room temperature for easy mixing. Chill the sweetened condensed milk, especially in warm climates, to maintain a firm consistency.
This temperature balance prevents the buttercream from becoming too soft or runny, resulting in a smooth, fluffy texture perfect for decorating and piping. Properly managing these temperatures is key to achieving the ideal consistency and stability of your buttercream.
How To Use Cotton Candy Buttercream
Your cotton candy buttercream is now ready to use! It's perfect for decorating cupcakes, layering and decorating cakes, piping borders, filling macarons, sandwich cookies, whoopie pies, and more. Store any unused buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to two months. Before using, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip to restore its smooth, fluffy texture.
When I made this fabulous Mermaid dessert, I knew my Cotton Candy Buttercream would be perfect for it! The full step-by-step instructions and recipe for this gorgeous Mermaid Biscuit Cake are coming soon to the blog. In the meantime, check out the full video tutorial on my YouTube channel.
EDIT TO ADD: The full step-by-step Blog post on how to make this gorgeous Mermaid Cookie Cake is now LIVE!
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Common Questions for Cotton Candy Buttercream
Yes, you can make this buttercream ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to two months. Bring it to room temperature and re-whip before using.
If you don't have cotton candy essence, you can substitute it with another flavoring of your choice, such as vanilla, almond, or any other extract that complements your dessert.
Cotton Candy Buttercream (Russian Buttercream) Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 500 g (1.1 lb) butter unsalted and softened
- 395 g (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk chilled
- gel food color teal
- cotton candy essence
EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the softened butter to a mixing bowl.
- Mix until light and fluffy. This can take 5 or more minutes, so be patient.
- Add the full can of chilled sweetened condensed milk to the butter.
- Mix for 2 minutes or more until well combined.
- Add a few drops of cotton candy essence, adjusting based on the strength of the brand you are using.
- Add a couple of drops of gel food color. Teal is suggested, but any color will work.
- Mix until fully combined and the color is evenly dispersed.
- Massage the buttercream with a silicone spatula for a couple of minutes to knock out larger air bubbles.
NOTES
- Chill Condensed Milk: If you live in a warm climate, chill the sweetened condensed milk for several hours before use to prevent the buttercream from becoming too soft.
- Soft Butter: Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Flavor Adjustments: Adjust the amount of cotton candy essence based on personal preference and brand strength.
- Food Coloring: Use gel food color for a more vibrant hue without affecting the texture.
- Storage: Store in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to two months. Bring back to room temperature and re-whip before using.
- Uses: Perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes, piping borders, filling macarons, cookie sandwiches, and whoopie pies.
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