FAQs
If you're planning on using it in the next week or so, buttercream frosting does need to be refrigerated until you need it. Simply place it in an airtight container and let it come up to room temperature before using it. Once your buttercream has warmed up, re-whip it to bring it back to a fluffy consistency.
How do you store homemade buttercream frosting? ›
To store frosting in the fridge, transfer it to an airtight glass or plastic food container. Buttercream frosting stored in the refrigerator should last for at least seven days.
How long can buttercream frosting sit out? ›
In general, buttercream can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Does cake with buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated? ›
A decorated cake with buttercream frosting can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to refrigerate a decorated cake, place it in the refrigerator unwrapped until the frosting hardens slightly. It can then be loosely covered with plastic. Buttercream frosting can be frozen.
How far in advance can I make buttercream frosting? ›
Buttercream can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 3 months. Let it come to room temperature then re-whip with an electric mixer until light and fluffy again.
What happens if you refrigerate buttercream frosting? ›
Buttercream Frosting is a tasty delicacy that stays well in the refrigerator or freezer but hardens after being chilled or frozen. Buttercream frosting is typically made with butter and sugar. It is a tasty delicacy that stays well in the refrigerator or freezer but hardens after being chilled or frozen.
Why doesn't buttercream need to be refrigerated? ›
With the buttercream frosting you described, the butter isn't an issue, and — perhaps surprisingly — neither is the milk. The small amount of milk is stabilized by the large amount of sugar and considered safe at room temperature for two to three days.
Does homemade buttercream need to be refrigerated? ›
If your buttercream recipe is made with all butter, it will need to be refrigerated. An all-butter recipe may melt off your cake once it's reached room temperature. If you're making a pure white buttercream with no butter and just shortening, it can stay out at room temperature for up to 2 days.
What kind of frosting does not need to be refrigerated? ›
If you have a buttercream recipe that calls for milk, substitute it with water, and if it calls for butter substitute it with shortening. Shortening is generally kept on the shelf, so it doesn't need to be refrigerated.
Can you decorate a cake with buttercream the day before? ›
Yes, you can. It's best practice to decorate the cake as close to the day of serving as possible, but it will also store well in the fridge. If the icing or frosting has any perishable ingredients, we recommend storing the cake in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible.
How to store a frosted cake overnight. To store a buttercream cake overnight, use plastic wrap to cover all areas of your cake and store it at room temperature in a container. If your cake is frosted with cream cheese or ganache, make sure to cover it and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can I store buttercream frosting at room temperature? ›
American buttercream (buttercream made with butter, milk and confectioner's sugar) can usually be kept at room temperature, in an airtight container, for 2-5 days as long as the temperature isn't too warm.
Can I decorate a cake 2 days in advance? ›
Can I decorate a cake two days in advance? Generally yes, as long as you store it properly. Make sure that it's a freshly baked cake and that you didn't bake it days before you decorate it though. A cake generally needs to be served within 3-4 days from it being baked, or it's just not very fresh.
Can I frost with buttercream the day before? ›
If you wish to make buttercream frosting in advance it can be made a day or two earlier (at most) and kept covered in the fridge. Allow the frosting to reach room temperature for about an hour or two before use and quickly plump it up with your mixer for a few seconds.
How do you keep buttercream from sweating? ›
After frosting the cake, put it in the freezer for an hour. An hour isn't long enough to develop condensation from the moisture in the freezer but it is long enough to set the frosting. Once the frosting is cold and firm, take the cake out and wrap it in plastic.
Will buttercream stiffen in fridge? ›
Does buttercream icing harden in the fridge? It can. That's why I always suggest covering any type of cake with a cake holder or some type of covering like plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will ensure that no hardening of the frosting or the cake occurs, even after several days in the fridge.
Can you leave a buttercream cake unrefrigerated? ›
An uncut frosted cake that's been frosted with buttercream, fondant, or ganache can last at room temperature for up to five days. Keep it covered with a cake keeper or a bowl to protect it from dust or other particles.
What buttercream do professional bakers use? ›
Swiss meringue buttercream is probably the most standard buttercream for pastry professionals. It is incredibly smooth, making it an extremely popular choice for icing cakes. Compared to American buttercream, it has a much stronger butter flavor, but is considerably less sweet.
How do you soften buttercream after being in the fridge? ›
First you need to thaw it or bring it back to room temperature. Second, you need to re-whip it to get a smooth consistency again. Whether the buttercream has been stored in the fridge or freezer, you can simply take it out and let it come to room temperature on the counter.
What is the most stable frosting? ›
Italian meringue buttercream, also known simply as Italian buttercream, is the most stable of all of the buttercreams but also the most difficult to make. This style of buttercream gets its name because it starts out with the process of making Italian meringue.
Refrigerating your cakes
Kept in the fridge, cake with buttercream or ganache topping will last for 3-4 days. If the cake has custard, cream, cream cheese or fresh fruit it will last 1-2 days at most.
Is it better to frost a cake the night before or day of? ›
Q: Can I frost a cake the day before? A: You sure can! An unsliced, frosted cake will be just as delicious the next day. The only exception would be a cake frosted with any fresh whipped cream frosting.
Why is my buttercream falling off my cake? ›
Why is My Buttercream Drooping and Wilting? If your buttercream looks like it's falling off the cake or your piped decorations begin to droop, it's very likely the temperature in the room is too hot, causing your buttercream to melt.
Can I frost a cake the day before? ›
Absolutely, you can frost a cake the day before you plan to serve it. But keep in mind, any cakes frosted with dairy-based ingredients, such as cream cheese, butter, or heavy cream, should be refrigerated. They should not sit out overnight.
Should I put my cake in the fridge before decorating? ›
That's right, you won't be frosting your cake at room temperature; a chilled cake is essential before applying any frosting. "This step is the most important. Not chilling the cake will result in a non-straight cake. It can be lopsided, or even fall," explains Smith.
Does buttercream taste better the next day? ›
Yes, but with some reservations. Buttercream will have the best taste and consistency when enjoyed the same day it was made. It's easy to make it the morning before you serve, and it will last several hours when covered in plastic wrap and kept at a cool room temperature.
How do you keep buttercream creamy? ›
Cold cream.
cold, whipping cream not only adds a creaminess to the frosting, but it also helps regulate the temperature of the frosting. The cream whips along with the butter, making the buttercream lighter, fluffier and creamier.
What is the most stable buttercream in hot weather? ›
American buttercream (ABC) is made with powdered sugar, butter, and liquid. It's very sweet, creamy, and the most stable in warm temperatures due to the high amount of sugar. Swiss meringue buttercream (SMBC) is made by combining meringue with whipped butter and extracts.
Why do you add boiling water to buttercream? ›
If you've made your buttercream and it's on the firm side, you can always add a couple of tablespoons of cooled boiled water to soften the consistency and make it easier to spread. Chill buttercream that is too soft for 15-20mins to achieve a firmer consistency.
How long does homemade buttercream last? ›
Wilton Industries reports that a basic buttercream can remain covered and at room temperature for about two days, but it may crust up a little. However, if you're looking to have your frosting on hand for a week, you must refrigerate it.
Whether you have some leftover buttercream or you just want to make your frosting ahead of time, it's easy to store buttercream for later use! Buttercream keeps very well, when stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for 3-4 months.
How do you keep buttercream frosted cake fresh overnight? ›
How do I store a frosted cake overnight? Make sure the cake is covered in either plastic wrap or in a cake box and store it at room temperature overnight. If the cake was made with perishable frosting or filling, store the cake, covered, in the refrigerator.
Can I make a buttercream cake 3 days in advance? ›
Most fillings and buttercream frostings can be made up to three days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the filling or buttercream before placing the lid on the container to prevent it from picking up fridge odors.
Can buttercream icing be kept covered at room temperature for 2 weeks? ›
American buttercream (buttercream made with butter, milk and confectioner's sugar) can usually be kept at room temperature, in an airtight container, for 2-5 days as long as the temperature isn't too warm.
Can a buttercream cake be left out of the fridge overnight? ›
How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.
Can you frost a cake buttercream night before? ›
To work ahead, you can always frost the final layer of the buttercream, add any ganache drips, and store the cake overnight in the refrigerator. Then finish the rest of the decorating the day the cake is due to keep those berries looking fresh.