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Sunday, July 27, 2025

Ermine (Flour) Buttercream (+ Video!)


Learn to make ermine frosting (also called flour buttercream or boiled milk frosting) with step-by-step picture directions. This flour buttercream, or boiled icing or ermine frosting – no matter you need to name it- it’s the conventional buttercream served with purple velvet cake!

 

The primary time I ever had ermine buttercream (or flour buttercream) was at Magnolia Bakery in NYC. Now I didn’t understand it on the time that I used to be having fun with it. However I knew it was totally different than all the opposite buttercreams I had loved in my life as much as that time.

It was creamier. Silkier. And positively not as candy as conventional american buttercream. I used to be hooked.

This ermine frosting has rather a lot names people. Flour frosting. Ermine buttercream. Boiled icing. Cooked frosting. It’s all the identical. And because the first title counsel it’s made with flour.

It is a cooked frosting truly, which could sound bizarre. But it surely’s truly the normal frosting to adorn purple velvet cake. Not cream cheese frosting! Huh, all these years. I’ve been consuming it unsuitable.

I additionally used ermine frosting to layer and make this Ding Dong cake. A chocolate layer cake with this ethereal frosting within the center and topped with ganache.

slice of ding dong cake with a few bites missingslice of ding dong cake with a few bites missing

Now the primary time I discovered how this was made, I used to be skeptical. A buttercream made with flour?! Kinda sounded gross to me. However principally if in case you have ever made a gravy earlier than, then this buttercream is just not that a lot totally different.  You make basically a roux frosting (milk and flour combination) that will get blended into the butter. You warmth the milk and flour collectively to create a thick paste that may then thicken your buttercream.

Now I’ve seen ermine icing made two methods. A method is the place the sugar is added into the buttercream on the finish. The opposite means (the one I’m going to point out you) the sugar is added to the milk and flour step, which supplies the sugar an opportunity to dissolve. This implies a smoother buttercream.

In the event you wait and add your sugar later, you may find yourself with a grainier buttercream. And albeit, that’s not simply not good buttercream for those who ask me. Like American Buttercreams it makes use of a creamed butter methodology and a sweetened base is blended in. Now for American Buttercream meaning confectioner’s sugar. For flour buttercream it’s the flour combination you made earlier.

red velvet cupcake with ermine frostingred velvet cupcake with ermine frosting

Why This Recipe Works

Style: Much less candy buttercream than conventional buttercream made with powdered sugar
Texture: Mild and mushy. If the sugar is added to the milk and flour step it may be easy. If it’s added individually to the butter it may be a bit grainy.
Problem Degree: Pretty Simple. A bit extra time than American Buttercream, however nonetheless pretty simple to make.
Execs: Doesn’t contain the usage of a sweet thermometer or eggs.
Cons: Makes use of flour, so not gluten free. May be very mushy, and doesn’t maintain up effectively to piping decorations, and warmth.

Substances Wanted

  • Butter – I like to make use of unsalted butter so I can management the quantity of salt. Personally I discover salted butter in frosting is simply too salty for me! Ensure you are utilizing room temperature butter.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • Milk – I used and advocate complete milk.
Ingredients To Make Ermine IcingIngredients To Make Ermine Icing

How To Make Ermine Frosting

First whisk collectively the flour, sugar, and milk in a medium saucepan. You need to warmth the combination over medium warmth till it simmers.

Make sure you whisk this consistently till it turns into thick (virtually like a pudding). This step took me about 10-Quarter-hour, so be prepared for an arm exercise.

milk poured into flour mixture for ermine frostingmilk poured into flour mixture for ermine frosting

Step 3: Whisk in your vanilla and salt.

As soon as the combination has thickened, take away it from the warmth and add in your vanilla extract and salt.

Step 4: Chill your flour combination.

This step is tremendous essential! You need to switch the combination to a bowl and canopy it with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap truly sticks to the highest of the flour combination, so a pores and skin doesn’t type on prime. Then chill it for about 2 hours till it’s utterly cooled. Don’t rush this step!

vanilla stirred into custard and then plastic wrap placed over bowlvanilla stirred into custard and then plastic wrap placed over bowl

Step 5: Cream Your Butter

You need to cream your butter in your stand mixer (or you should use a hand mixer, will simply take a couple of further minutes) till easy and creamy. Once more, make sure you use unsalted high quality butter. Low cost no-name butter truly is made with extra water and air so it means much less taste! (My favourite model is Cabot Butter).

Step 6: Add the flour combination.

Now it’s time so as to add in your cooled flour combination. You need to do that just some tablespoons at a time, mixing in between, and scraping down with a sturdy silicone spatula to ensure it’s all integrated.

Professional Tip: In the event you chill your custard or are making this step forward of time and refrigerate then enable the custard to come back to room temperature earlier than including to the butter combination. 

Step 7: Cream Till Easy.

Now simply let your mixer go! Or if you’re utilizing a hand mixer. Get that exercise in now.

custard stirred into frostingcustard stirred into frosting

Step 8: Go forward, frost, and luxuriate in 🙂

You should utilize this boiled icing instantly or maintain it in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days in your fridge.

In the event you don’t plan to make use of it earlier than that, then go forward and freeze it. You’ll simply must let it thaw in a single day within the fridge after which re-whip once more in your stand combination till it’s the proper consistency.

How To Use This Icing

Like I mentioned earlier, this boiled ermine icing goes nice on purple velvet cupcakes. However I used it on my conventional vanilla cupcakes or strive on chocolate cupcakes. However you actually can use this scrumptious frosting for any layer desserts or cupcakes that requires conventional buttercreams. 

You possibly can strive it with chocolate whoopies pies! I additionally use it to layer with this Ding Dong cake recipe which is a chocolate cake layered with this ermine frosting and topped with ganache.

Recipe Ideas

  • Ermine frosting is pretty mushy, so for those who do frost a cake or cupcakes with it don’t maintain exterior in heat situations.
  • Use softened butter to make this icing (or actually any icing). You need softened butter to get a easy buttercream.
  • Be certain that your flour paste is totally cool earlier than utilizing it. You can also make this a day forward to avoid wasting your self a while! Simply enable it to come back to room temperature earlier than including to the butter combination in any other case it might trigger it to curdle.
  • If the combination does curdle, maintain mixing the buttercream till it smooths out. This might take a number of minutes.

Storage Directions

Ermine frosting can be advantageous at room temperature, so long as it’s not too heat for a couple of hours (however due to the milk I desire storing within the fridge). Any longer and I desire refrigerating within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days. You might must let it soften earlier than utilizing or re-whip.

It’s also possible to freeze for as much as 3 months in an freezer bag, or container. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than utilizing. It’s also possible to learn my How To Retailer Leftover Buttercream publish!

Recipe FAQ’s

Why is my ermine frosting runny?

That is most likely as a result of your butter was too heat, or mushy. Or your flour custard was too heat being added as effectively. The custard needs to be at room temperature earlier than being added.

What does ermine icing style like?

It makes use of much less butter and is much less candy than a standard American frosting made with butter and powdered sugar.

Why is my ermine frosting greasy?

This most likely means the frosting is simply too chilly. Be certain that when including the custard it’s cooled to room temperature (not chilly!). And in case your frosting is greasy I like to recommend whipping it once more in your stand mixer. It’s also possible to strive heating barely over a double boiler, however watch out it doesn’t get too heat and soften.

Extra Recipes To Attempt

If you’re craving extra frosting, then make sure you strive my tremendous well-liked recipe for peanut butter cream cheese frosting! I adore it on a chocolate layer cake.

And naturally you may’t go unsuitable with a cream cheese frosting. It’s nice on purple velvet cupcakes!

  •  Over medium warmth, whisk flour, milk, and sugar in a saucepan and warmth to a simmer. Stir ceaselessly till it turns into very thick (virtually like pudding). 4 1/2 tablespoons all goal flour 1 cup (227 grams) complete milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Take away from warmth, whisk in vanilla and salt. Pour right into a bowl to permit it to chill utterly. Put plastic wrap on the floor to maintain a pores and skin from forming. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt

  • Use a mixer to cream butter till mild and fluffy, scraping the edges of the bowl often, about 5 minutes. 1 cup (227 g, 2 sticks) unsalted butter

  • With the mixer on medium, add the cooled flour combination slightly bit at a time. Proceed to beat till the combination turns into mild and fluffy. The buttercream will resemble whipped cream.

  • Storage: Ermine frosting can be advantageous at room temperature, so long as it’s not too heat for a couple of hours (however due to the milk I desire storing within the fridge). Any longer and I desire refrigerating within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days. You might must let it soften earlier than utilizing or re-whip. It’s also possible to freeze for as much as 3 months in an freezer bag, or container. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than utilizing. It’s also possible to learn my How To Retailer Leftover Buttercream publish!
  • This buttercream is pretty mushy, so for those who do frost a cake or cupcakes with it don’t maintain exterior in heat situations.
  • Be certain that your flour paste is totally cool earlier than utilizing it. You can also make this a day forward to avoid wasting your self a while! Simply enable it to come back to room temperature earlier than including to the butter combination in any other case it might trigger it to curdle if it goes in chilly. If the combination does curdle, maintain mixing the buttercream till it smooths out. This might take a number of minutes. 

Serving: 0.5cup | Energy: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.9g | Protein: 1.1g | Fats: 16g | Saturated Fats: 10.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 43mg | Sugar: 17.7g

 



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