Italian Meringue Buttercream

By pattie_d

Use this to frost the Baby Block Cake, or your favorite layer cake.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 5 large egg whites
• Pinch of cream of tartar
• 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Details

Servings 5
Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and 2/3 cup water to a boil. Continue boiling until syrup reaches 238 degrees.on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage).

Meanwhile, place egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff but not dry; do not overbeat.

With mixer running, add syrup to whites in a stream, beating on high speed until no longer steaming, about 3 minutes. Add butter bit by bit, beating until spreadable, 3 to 5 minutes; beat in vanilla. If icing curdles, keep beating until smooth.

From Martha Stewart Living,

January 2004