spread-it-like-Nutella
(my life advice on anything and everything from love to buttercream)
Total time to make : 10 minutes Time to prep : 5 minutes
Servings : enough to pipe 12 - 16 cupcakes
For my favourite chocolate cupcake base recipe, click here
Ingredients
180g unsalted butter, at room temperate
180g icing sugar
340g Nutella
Method
Using a standing mixer or electric hand whisker, whip the room temperature butter in a large clean bowl on a low speed for a minute until it's pale and fluffy
Keeping the speed on low, add in the icing sugar a few tbsp's at a time - to avoid being covered in a huge cloud of icing smoke. Continue doing this until all the icing sugar has been added, then mix on a high speed for another minute
Add in the Nutella and mix again on a high speed until everything is mixed well, scraping down the sides as you go so it all comes together. I don't generally find this buttercream too thick to work with the addition of Nutella, but if you'd like it smoother and less thick, add in any milk 1/2 tsp at a time until you achieve the consistency that's perfect for you. For piping, I look for a toothpaste-like consistency
You can use the back of a spoon or spatula to smooth the buttercream onto the cupcakes or, follow the steps and tips here to create the perfect consistency for piping a rose
Nutritional Information
(for 1 full rose pipe or about 3 tbsp mix)
318 calories
2g protein, 30g carbs, 20g fat
Good to know:
The key to good buttercream is consistency, and my best tip is to make sure the butter is at room temperature, completely soft and spreadable before using it in the recipe. Removing the butter from the fridge and cutting the butter into cubes can help speed up the process
You may find that you have icing left over depending on the piping decoration, but leftovers can easily be stored and re-used to reduce waste
Once mixed to your desired consistency, icing can be stored in an airtight container (see picture, below) for up to 1 week in the fridge or 2 months in a freezer, defrost fully before using