Hey there, baking enthusiasts! Today, I’m excited to take you on a journey through the delightful world of buttercream frosting and show you how to make fresh fruit flavored buttercream frosting. Picture a luscious, velvety frosting with a burst of fruity goodness that will take your cakes and cupcakes to a whole new level of deliciousness. So, let’s get started!
What is Buttercream?
For those new to the baking game, let’s start with the basics. Buttercream frosting is a heavenly blend of softened butter, powdered sugar, and other flavorings whipped together to create a smooth, creamy, and fluffy icing that’s perfect for decorating cakes and cupcakes. It’s not only delectable but also versatile, making it a go-to choice for bakers worldwide.
Buttercream comes in different variations, such as American buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, and Italian meringue buttercream. Each has its unique characteristics, but all can be infused with natural fruit flavors to elevate your desserts to a whole new level!
What Kinds of Fruits Do NOT Mix Well Into Buttercream Frosting?
As much as we adore the idea of adding all fruits under the sun to our buttercream frosting, some fruits might not play well with its creamy texture. Fruits with high water content like watermelon or cucumber may cause the frosting to become runny, leading to a cake decorating disaster. If you want to incorporate those kinds of flavors into a buttercream, I would suggest using some kind of flavoring extract rather than the real fruit.
Also, citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes can be quite tricky, as their high acidity can curdle the buttercream, resulting in an unappetizing texture. However, you can make these if you don’t use high quantities of acidic juice. Also, if you whip the mixture on a high speed, and spread out that acidic juice quickly, you reduce the chance of your dairy curdling.
What Kinds of Fruits Do Mix Well Into Buttercream Frosting?
Fear not! There are a plethora of fruits that blend harmoniously with buttercream frosting, elevating its flavor and making it absolutely divine. Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are excellent choices due to their intense flavors and natural sweetness. They also have a firmer texture, making it easier to incorporate into the frosting.
Peaches, and mangos are also fantastic options that add a tropical twist to your treats. In essence, fruits with a balance of sweetness and moderate moisture content work best with buttercream.
Cherries can also go nicely into a buttercream. Whether using fresh, frozen, or even canned cherries, they can lend a delightful tartness and rich color to your frosting. Just be sure to pit and chop fresh cherries before incorporating them.
The trick is to choose fruits that complement the overall flavor profile of your cake or cupcakes. For instance, pairing a rich chocolate cake with a raspberry-infused buttercream can create a tantalizing taste experience that leaves your taste buds dancing with joy!
How to Add Natural Fruit Flavors into Buttercream Frosting
Now comes the exciting part – adding those tantalizing fruit flavors into your buttercream! Here are some simple and delicious ways to do it:
Start by selecting your favorite fruits and make a puree on the stove. Add your fruit (cut up in small-ish pieces), sugar, a little water and a little lemon juice to a saucepan. Heat on medium until almost-boiling. If it boils a little bit, that’s not a big deal, but you do not want a heavy, rolling boil.
Wait until most of the water evaporates and the mixture thickens to a syrupy consistency. Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool slightly. Then, blend the mixture into a smooth puree using a blender (I prefer an immersion blender that you can stick right in the saucepan). You can then strain the puree to remove any seeds if your fruit had large seeds
Next, whip up a batch of your traditional buttercream frosting and mix in the fruit puree until well combined. The result? A burst of natural fruit flavors in every bite!
A note about zest: While we mentioned earlier that citrus fruits can be problematic due to their high acidity, their zest, on the other hand, can add a tantalizing aroma and essence to your frosting. Simply grate the outer colorful peel of the fruit (avoiding the bitter white pith) and mix it into the buttercream. Lemon zest, for instance, can add a delightful zing to vanilla buttercream.
Remember, adding fruit flavors to buttercream might require some experimentation to find the perfect balance. Start with small quantities and gradually adjust to achieve the taste you desire. You can also combine multiple fruit flavors to create delightful custom combinations that cater to your palate.
Furthermore, consider pairing the infused buttercream with complementary cake flavors to create a harmonious marriage of tastes. For instance, strawberry buttercream pairs wonderfully with a vanilla or chocolate cake, while lemon buttercream complements a light and fluffy lemon cake perfectly.
In conclusion, adding fresh fruit flavors to your buttercream frosting opens up a world of possibilities for your baking adventures. Whether you’re creating a celebratory cake or a batch of cute cupcakes, these fruity-infused frostings will undoubtedly steal the show. Get ready to receive compliments galore as your desserts become the talk of the town! Happy baking!
