Can You Freeze Buttercream Frosting
Bakers can benefit from freezing cake layers in advance, but can you freeze buttercream frosting? Absolutely! Making buttercream before you need it is a surefire way to make life easier.
How Long Can You Freeze Buttercream Frosting
One of the greatest benefits of freezing buttercream is that it extends its shelf life. You can freeze it for a few weeks. When you store frosting at room temperature, it expires faster. Bacteria growth is faster at room temperature. For this reason, storing frosting in the freezer is a good option for planning.
Alternatively, this is a perfect solution for leftover frosting. It creates less waste. Plus, you can save it for a small batch of cupcakes or cookies. Ingredients can be expensive, so repurposing extra buttercream to make a dessert is best.
How To Freeze Buttercream Frosting
Storing buttercream is easy. Using the proper equipment will prevent you from experiencing issues. I prefer to make American buttercream with unsalted butter because it’s stable. Swiss meringue requires more care. A candy thermometer is necessary to ensure the egg whites are at the correct temperature. Other factors can contribute to your Swiss Meringue breaking. If you’re comfortable with Swiss meringue, go for it. Otherwise, use a less technical buttercream recipe.
While some ingredients can be stored in a freezer bag, it’s not ideal for frosting. Doing so can result in freezer burn. It’s challenging to remove buttercream frosting from the bag as well. Instead, transfer the buttercream frosting into a freezer-safe, food-grade container. Label it with the date and flavor before storing it in the freezer.
How To Thaw Frozen Buttercream
To thaw the frozen buttercream keep the frosting in the refrigerator the night before it’s needed. Set the container out in the morning. Leave it out until the frosting has thawed completely. It should have a creamy texture.
If your frosting isn’t smooth, mix it in your stand mixer on the lowest setting. After this step, you can start icing the cakes.
How To Store Frosting In The Refrigerator
You can refrigerate buttercream if you don’t want to freeze it. To store buttercream frosting in the refrigerator, the process used to freeze buttercream still applies. For best results – use a silicone spatula to transfer the buttercream into a container. This tool is ideal for scraping down the sides of the bowl. Make sure there’s enough room for the frosting. A refrigerator with too much food may force you to frost the cake sooner than planned.
I recommend storing buttercream frosting in the fridge for up to one day. Alternatively, even though the frosting is not frozen, let it thaw at room temperature. The buttercream will become soft enough to dip your spatula into it.
Some cake-decorating styles require more frosting. With vintage cakes, you may need a small batch of frosting for the additional piping. It’s more efficient to have a day dedicated to decorating. In addition, I like to freeze cake layers before frosting. For an in-depth explanation of my process for making layer cakes, check out my blog post on how to bake a layer cake.
Freezing or refrigerating your buttercream makes it easier to decorate with multiple flavors. A Vanilla cake with chocolate cake lettering requires two recipes. Making the buttercream in advance saves time. Plus, the setup is faster. The only thing you need to focus on is fitting the piping tips into a bag, filling, and decorating. It’s that easy!
When you feel overwhelmed by the amount of frosting you need to decorate a cake, rest assured that you can freeze buttercream frosting to make life easier.
