What is the difference between buttercream and Italian buttercream?
What’s the difference between buttercream and Italian meringue buttercream? Italian buttercream is meringue-based and very light, creamy, and less sweet than American buttercream. American buttercream is sweeter but has the advantage of being quick, easy to make, and sturdy.
Is Italian or Swiss buttercream better?
Swiss meringue buttercream frosting is very similar to Italian meringue buttercream in that they both use egg whites. Swiss is preferred by many bakers because it doesn’t use the hot sugar syrup and the egg whites are heated to 160 F in a double boiler to remove any salmonella risk.

What’s the difference between Swiss and Italian meringue buttercream?
Swiss meringue is smoother, silkier, and somewhat denser than French meringue and is often used as a base for buttercream frostings. Italian meringue (shown below) is made by drizzling 240-degree Fahrenheit sugar syrup into whites that have already been whipped to hold firm peaks.

Does Italian buttercream taste buttery?
What Does Italian Buttercream Taste Like? Because of its high butter content, Italian meringue frosting is rich and creamy in flavor. It’s not nearly as sweet as traditional buttercream frosting, but has a smooth, buttery flavor – perfect for pairing with a rich chocolate cake!
What are the 5 types of buttercream?
Here they are, in alphabetical order:
- American buttercream.
- Flour buttercream, also known as flour icing/frosting or ermine frosting.
- French buttercream.
- German buttercream, also known as custard buttercream or custard icing.
- Italian buttercream.
- Swiss buttercream.
What’s the difference between Italian and French buttercream?
French buttercream is a gorgeously smooth, velvety, rich buttercream. Because it’s made with an egg-yolk foam (i.e., pâte à bombe), it naturally has a bright yellow color and a higher fat content than Swiss or Italian buttercream, which are both made with egg whites.
Why is my Italian buttercream greasy?
Doesn’t matter why—if your Swiss meringue buttercream looks dense and greasy (or even tastes that way), it’s simply too cold. If the buttercream is lumpy or curdled, place the bowl over a steaming water bath.
What is Italian buttercream used for?
Buttercream, in its most simple form, is a mixture of butter and sugar that has been creamed together to make a fluffy frosting. Buttercream is used for filling, icing, and decorating cakes and pastries.