Martha Stewarts Grand Marnier Italian Buttercream Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• 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.

Steps:

• In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix together sugar and 2/3 cup water. Bring to a boil and do not stir. Cover and boil until no sugar crystals remain, 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and continue boiling until syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. When sugar mixture has reached 240 degrees, add 1/4 cup to bowl of mixer, drop by drop. Slowly add remaining sugar mixture and continue beating until cool, 7 to 10 minutes.
• In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until fluffy. Add creamed butter to cooled egg white mixture, 3 tablespoons at a time, whisking well after each addition. Frosting should become thick and creamy. If egg mixture is too warm, frosting may remain thin; set bowl over ice and stir until thickened. Add Grand Marnier and mix until well combined. Use frosting immediately.

Steps:

• Combine sugar and water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and let boil 3-5 minute until sugar dissolves, uncover and continue boiling until syrup reaches 238° 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 salt, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff but not dry; do not overbeat.
• When syrup reaches 240 degrees pour 1/4 cup of syrup into egg white mixture. With mixer running, add syrup to whites in a stream, beating on high speed until no longer steaming, about 3 minutes. Add rest of syrup slowly and beat for 8-12 min., or till cool, so butter will not melt.
• In seperate bowl cream butter. Add butter bit by bit, beating until spreadable, 3 to 5 minutes; beat in vanilla and Grand Marnier. If icing curdles, keep beating until smooth, may still be too warm. Use Immediately!

Steps:

• Cream butter (until lightened in color and fluffy) in a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) on medium high speed.
• Reduce speed to medium, and add sugar in 1/2 cup at a time.
• Mix in vanilla and Apricot Whip.
• Use immediately or refrigerate airtight up to 3 days and stir before using.

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water to a simmer. Meanwhile, combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Set bowl over (not in) pan of simmering water and whisk until whites are warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. (Test by rubbing between your fingers; mixture should feel smooth.)
• Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture has cooled completely, about 12 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium-low; add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating to incorporate fully after each addition. (Don't worry if buttercream appears curdled at this point; it will become perfectly smooth again with continued beating.) Beat in vanilla.
• Switch to paddle attachment and beat on lowest speed to remove air bubbles, 3 to 5 minutes. If using buttercream the same day, cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until ready to use.
• If not using the same day, transfer buttercream to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat with paddle attachment on lowest speed until smooth and pliable, about 10 minutes.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and 1/3 cup water to a boil. Boil until syrup reaches soft-ball stage (238 degrees.on a candy thermometer).
• In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on low until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat on medium high until stiff but not dry.
• With mixer running, pour syrup down side of bowl into egg whites in a steady stream, and beat on high speed until steam is no longer visible, about 3 minutes. Beat in butter a few pieces at a time. Add vanilla and beat until smooth. If it looks curdled at any point, keep beating to smooth out.

Steps:

• GOLDEN CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Generously grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with waxed or parchment paper. Grease paper.
• In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add vanilla.
• Add flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour, mixing on low speed.
• Bake in prepared pans for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; invert onto cooling rack. Cool completely.
• GRAN MARNIER BRUSHING SYRUP.
• Stir together sugar and water. Bring to boil. Set aside. Cool. Add Grand Marnier.
• Using a pastry brush, soak cake thoroughly, at least twice with this syrup.
• WHITE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING.
• Cream butter and shortening with mixer.
• Add vanilla.
• Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating on medium speed.
• Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often.
• When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk or water and beat at medium speed until ready to use.
• FOR ASSEMBLY.
• Place one golden cake down.
• Spread a layer of Smucker's Strawberry Preserves on cake.
• Spread layer of buttercream icing on top of preserves.
• Add second cake layer on top.
• Frost with remaining buttercream frosting.
• Decorate as desired.

Steps:

• Put butter in bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium; add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well, about 5 minutes total. Add vanilla and salt. Raise speed to medium-high; beat until smooth, about 1 minute more.