How to make perfect coffee buttercream icing. Ideal for cupcakes, macarons and layer cakes – especially coffee & walnut cake.
One of my all-time favourite cakes is coffee and walnut. If I spot it in the cake cabinet in a cafe it takes a serious amount of willpower not to sneak it onto my tray. In my opinion, the key to a great coffee and walnut cake is a really good coffee buttercream, so I’ve been busy in the kitchen getting mine just right.
To get the coffee flavour into my buttercream I prefer to use instant coffee rather than stuff made in a proper coffee machine. The simple reason for this is that it’s the easiest way to get a really intense flavour into your buttercream. You dissolve it in the minimum amount of water possible to get as much coffee in as you can without making your buttercream too runny.
- Make sure you leave your butter out of the fridge to soften before attempting to make buttercream, otherwise it’ll be tricky to get it really smooth. I usually take mine out a couple of hours before I’m planning on using it.
- Make sure you let your coffee cool completely before adding it to the buttercream (otherwise it’ll melt the butter).
- Add the coffee very gradually and beat each addition in before adding more. This will help ensure that you get a nice smooth buttercream.
- Beat your buttercream on a low-medium speed. It’s tempting to turn the speed up high to get it made quicker but you’ll end up with lots of air bubbles. If you can, try and mix it by hand for a really smooth consistency.
- If your buttercream is still a little too thick once you’ve added all your coffee, add a little milk to get it to the right consistency.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, make sure you have all of the equipment needed.
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Weighing Scales- Measuring Spoons
- Knife – to cut the butter
- A small bowl or cup – to mix the coffee and water in
- Electric Mixer (or a bowl and hand mixer or wooden spoon)
- Sieve
- Piping Bags – if you’re planning on piping the cupcakes
- Piping Nozzle – To pipe the cupcakes as shown in the pictures and video you’ll need a JEM 1B nozzle.
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Coffee Buttercream
INGREDIENTS
- 250 g softened butter
- 500 g icing sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp instant coffee granules
- 1½ tbsp boiling water
RECIPE VIDEO
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix the instant coffee granules (3 tbsp) with the boiling water (1½ tbsp) and then set aside to cool.
- Cut the butter (250g) into cubes and then beat on a low-medium speed until soft. Gradually add the icing sugar (you add it gradually to stop it flying everywhere) and beat until fully combined.
- Add the vanilla extract (¼tsp) and add the coffee a teaspoon at a time, beating in each addition before adding more.
- Check the consistency of your buttercream. It should be soft and perfect for piping at this point. If it’s still a little stiff then beat in a little milk.
- Decorate your cakes (or just eat if off the spoon because it’s yummy!).
NOTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Free From/Suitable For…
- Suitable for Vegetarians
- Gluten-Free
- Egg-Free
- Nut-Free
- Soya-Free
The ingredients for this recipe are commonly available free from all these allergens. However, please ensure you double-check allergen information for all ingredients.
I’m sharing this recipe with the following blog challenge… #CookBlogShare with Hijacked by Twins.
Elaine says
26 July 2019 at 3:00 pmJust made this to go on a coffee and walnut cake, texture and flavour is lovely. I doubled up and still worked well, will definitely use this recipe again. Thank you x
Chloe Edges says
13 July 2019 at 3:23 pmI’m back to this recipe for the 6th or 7th time. I’m using it to make myself a coffee birthday cake. I’m making extra because I know how much I’m just going to eat with a spoon. Its my birthday and I’ll eat excessive sugar and butter if I want to!!!
Rose says
9 May 2019 at 5:59 amHey can it be made in advance and frozen?
Charlotte Oates says
9 May 2019 at 2:49 pmIt can be frozen, but I find that the texture goes a little stiff and fudgy if I do and will not pipe well.
Ava Rose says
12 April 2019 at 1:07 pmCan u use espresso instead of coffee granules?
Charlotte Oates says
12 April 2019 at 4:12 pmYou can, but it won’t have the same intense coffee flavour.
Rose Goodey says
11 April 2019 at 6:29 pmWhat is Icing Sugar??
Charlotte Oates says
12 April 2019 at 4:20 pmIt depends what country you’re in.
In the UK – This is icing sugar.
If you’re in the US then it’s called powdered sugar.
If you’re in a different country, then let me know which one and I’ll look up the equivalent name for you.
Cheri says
24 March 2019 at 2:58 pmBeen making this for 50 years. We always put it on spice cake. Wonderful!
Twila says
13 February 2019 at 9:30 pmAmazing coffee flavour and super easy! Definitely a new family favourite!