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CHOCOLATE SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM ICING

Dan Lepard
This is a swiss meringue buttercream, made by heating the egg whites and sugar in a bain marie. This produces a rich and fluffy chocolate buttercream.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Icing
Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Egg Whites 125g
  • 225 g Sugar
  • 175 g Unsalted Butter Room Temperature
  • 150 g Melted Chocolate Dark at least 50%

Instructions
 

  • Place the egg whites and sugar in the stainless steel bowl of your food mixer and stir over a pan of water (making sure the base of the bowl does not touch the water) at a moderate heat until the mixture is hot and the sugar dissolved (around 65C). The sugar and heat kill off any bacteria and effectively sterilise the mixture.
  • Then attach it to your food mixer and whisk for about 5 minutes until very thick, holding its shape and cooled.
  • Melt the chocolate (either in the microwave or over a pan of water) and allow it to cool a little. Add this to the meringue and beat it in, until fully mixed.
  • Beat the butter into the meringue in small cubes. Stop whisking when the butter is thoroughly mixed through and the mixture has thickened.
  • If it starts to look coarse and rough, then warm it slightly in the microwave and beat it again until creamy.
  • If the cream is too runny, chill it for a few minutes and then beat it again to thicken.