This basic vanilla buttercream is a classic when making cakes, pastry and other desserts. It is done with whole eggs, which add a richness to the texture, that is just amazing. Perfect for demanding cakes and decorations.
Tips on how to get it right
Making traditional buttercream frosting with whole eggs is better than the frosting made with just butter, milk, and powdered sugar. For starters, there is less sugar involved.
I overcooked the eggs and the result was a disgusting, scrambled egg mess! I was not impressed. My advice to you is: don’t give up. Keep trying and trying. You learn so much from your failures. The next time it will be better, and it will continue to get better.
I hope you give this buttercream a try. It’s rich and creamy. It’s full of vanilla flavor.
Replace vanilla bean
This vanilla buttercream tastes best with real, dried vanilla pods. If you cannot get a hand on these, you can add two teaspoons of extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
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Vanilla Buttercream
Millions of little Vanilla Seeds give this Vanilla Bean Buttercream wonderful flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 whole vanilla beans
- pinch of salt
- 1 pound butter, unsalted
Instructions
- Mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla bean seeds, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer. Place the mixing bowl over a simmering pot of water. The water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Whisk the mixture constantly until it comes to 160 degrees on a candy thermometer or instant read thermometer.
- Move the bowl to the stand mixer and whip at medium speed for 5 minutes until the bowl is slightly warm to the touch. Cut the butter into 1 tablespoon sized pieces and add them one at a time with the mixer at a lower setting.
- When all the butter is added, increase the speed to medium-high and whip until smooth, light and fluffy.
- Cover and refrigerate if you are not using it right away.
- To use from the fridge, allow it to come to room temperature then re-whip it smooth.
Notes
Recipe from Baking Illustrated
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Karyn, that’s a whole lot of powdered sugar… and I love it! Pinned this recipe and I’m thinking it might just be my go-to recipe for frostings!
I’m really liking this version instead of the powdered sugar and butter one. I think it tastes better.
hi Karyn! I’m so impressed with your devil’s food cake with ricotta cheesecake! It’s beautiful looking.. by the way u mentioned tt u need the eggs for the buttercream? or only the egg whites? Thanks!
The whole egg. The yolk as well.
Um … this looks absolutely FANTASTIC!! I wonder if a baking beginner like me could manage to make this frosting???? The pictures are enough to motivate me to give it a try!! Thanks for linking up at the Cook It! Craft It! Share It! link party last night! We appreciate the support!! Have a great rest of your week!
I’m sure you could! I will admit that the first time I made buttercream with eggs, it was more like scrambled eggs… not good! But I learned and I tried again. Don’t give up!
I’m assuming it is icing sugar for this recipe correct? How long does this last in the fridge?
No. Granulated sugar. You are heating it over a double boiler and melting the sugar into a syrup.