Help With Hot Weather and Buttercream!

[the_artful_dodger76]

I made a cake last week, and for the first time had issues with my buttercream melting right off the cake. I have four cakes to make this week, and the weather is TERRIBLY hot and humid. Is there any buttercream recipe that works best in hot humid weather or any tips anyone can give to avoid buttercream cake-tasrophies?

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

[likitiki]

What recipe did you use that melted off?

[the_artful_dodger76]

It was just the basic Wiltons' recipe.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp
4 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp milk

I've never had a problem with before, even last summer, but now I'm a little paranoid. I really don't want 4 cake-tastropies.

[Rezzycakes]

This hot humid weather is a killer for us cakers!! Are you doing cakes for outdoor events? If not, and I know it makes it a long tedious process, but how about freezing in between steps? Like freeze the cake a bit, then the filling, then the crumb coat..etc..?

[the_artful_dodger76]

2 of them are for outdoor picnics....

[2sdae]

for outdoors after may I insist on all shortening recipes, butter ones melt. It's simple science, butter melting turns to water and oil destroying your icing and turning it into watery sweet goo.
Shortening has more heat resistance and high ratio is even better.

[the_artful_dodger76]

Do you have an all shortening recipe you would recommend?

[2sdae]

For all shortening I use sugar shack's recipe on here.

[the_artful_dodger76]

Thank you!!

[blakescakes]

Originally Posted by the_artful_dodger76

It was just the basic Wiltons' recipe.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp
4 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp milk

I've never had a problem with before, even last summer, but now I'm a little paranoid. I really don't want 4 cake-tastropies.

You can replace the butter in this recipe with shortening and it should be fine. Add a bit of butter flavoring (Wilton makes it in small bottles)--1 tsp or so--and you should be fine. If you can get your hands on a non trans-fat free shortening (hi-ratio is best), it will be a much better result. All Crisco is trans-fat free, but some of the store brands still contain trans-fats.
HTH
Rae