White Chocolate Buttercream

By á-58

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 9 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 pounds unsweetened butter (6 sticks), softened but still cool
• 8 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 45mins
Cooking time 45mins

Preparation

Step 1

Place the sugar and egg whites in large metal mixer bowl set over simmering water. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts and the mixture is very thin and warm.

Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.

Continue beating on low speed until cool, about 15 more minutes.

Beat in small pieces of the cool but soft butter on low speed. The mixture may curdle before coming together. Gradually beat in the melted and cooled white chocolate.

Re-beat occasionally while frosting the cake to maintain a smooth texture.

Tips of the trade:

Make sure the bottom of the mixer bowl does not touch simmering water. Your egg whites may become a sweet scrambled breakfast dish!

Finished buttercream may be kept covered and refrigerated for a week. Professional chefs prefer to use pasteurized egg whites - no need to separate fresh eggs, no wasted yolks and safer all around.

Buttercream also freezes well for up to 6 months.

Chilled buttercream must be brought to room temperature before beating, otherwise it will curdle. If such a disaster strikes, do not panic! Keep beating over simmering water and eventually the mixture will come together again.