{"id":2970,"date":"2021-12-02T11:56:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T16:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bakingnook.com\/?p=2970"},"modified":"2022-10-15T09:31:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T13:31:00","slug":"fixing-grainy-buttercream-frosting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bakingnook.com\/fixing-grainy-buttercream-frosting\/","title":{"rendered":"Fixing Grainy Buttercream Frosting: Tips for Smooth Frosting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Buttercream frosting is great for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. However, if you are not careful with the buttercream frosting recipe, then it may turn out grainy or hard. If this happens to your icing, I am going to provide some tips that can help fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule, buttercream frosting will become grainy if you use unsifted powdered sugar. This type of sugar contains cornstarch which absorbs the liquids inside the mixture if it’s not thoroughly ground. Once the liquids get absorbed, they will form small clumps that will make the icing grainy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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I have also had my buttercream frosting turn out grainy and hard, so I understand how frustrating it can be. Learning how to fix and prevent grainy buttercream frosting enabled me to create a smooth frosting that works on almost every one of my cakes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is My Buttercream Not Smooth?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your buttercream is not smooth because you have used unsifted powdered sugar, or your butter wasn’t softened. Unsifted powdered sugar will have clumps while hard butter will attract the powdered sugar to create large chunks within the mixture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are the two major reasons why your buttercream frosting will turn out hard or grainy<\/p>\n\n\n

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*By the way,<\/strong> I recently wrote an article that talks about Why Your Buttercream Frosting is So Runny.<\/a><\/strong> This article talks about how to fix runny frosting by making it thicker.<\/strong> You can check out this article here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s explore some more reasons for grainy buttercream frosting…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Used Unsifted Powdered Sugar<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, the most common reason for grainy buttercream frosting is that you used unsifted powdered sugar or did not sift it thoroughly enough. This will cause your icing to have air bubbles and become lumpy.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always recommend using a fine mesh sifter,<\/strong> which helps make sure there are no clumps of sugar in your powdered sugar when mixing with the butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*By the way,<\/strong> if you’re looking for a great Sifter to break down the clumps in your dry ingredients<\/strong>, I found the perfect Baking Sieve Cup Stainless Steel Sifter.<\/a><\/strong> This sifter is great because it can sift through large amounts of dry ingredients at a much faster rate than regular handheld sifters. You can check out this Sifter Sieve Cup on Amazon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Used Low-Fat Butter or Margarine with an Extended Shelf Life<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I have had grainy buttercream frosting before because of ingredients that were not stored in proper conditions. When using unsalted sweet cream butter, you need to keep it cold at all times,<\/strong> and when storing your powdered sugar, make sure that it is in a cool dark place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to soften your butter before using it for frosting since hard butter can create big clumps within the mixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Butter with extended shelf life or margarine does not perform as well for buttercream frosting because it has more water and less fat in the ingredients, <\/strong>which means your icing will be softer when you add it to your buttercream recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Grainy Buttercream Being Mixed More Thoroughly!<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You Used Icing That is Too Soft<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Icing that is too soft can also cause air bubbles and a grainy texture<\/strong> to your buttercream frosting. This will make the mixture harder with small lumps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have this problem, then I recommend putting the icing in the fridge for 15 minutes<\/strong> before using or adding more sugar if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Butter Wasn’t Softened<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is another major reason for grainy or lumpy buttercream frosting. When you are mixing your icing, the cold chunks of butter need to be able to blend together with the powdered sugar and liquid ingredients,<\/strong> which is where a stand mixer comes in handy because it can help fix this problem as well as mix everything properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*By the way,<\/strong> I wouldn’t be able to fix my runny buttercream frosting if I didn’t have the right type of mixer. <\/strong>For this situation, I used a 5-Speed Electric Hand Mixer<\/a><\/strong> which can get the job done! You can check out the Hand Mixer I use on Amazon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Fix Grainy Buttercream?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule, you can fix grainy buttercream by mixing it for 2 minutes more in a stand mixer. This will help dissolve the clumps to make the frosting smooth and creamy. Another option would be to add more liquid ingredients like milk or cream, especially if your buttercream is too grainy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Add Some Milk To The Grainy Buttercream!<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

*Side Note:<\/strong> I recently wrote an article about How To Properly Store Leftover Buttercream Frosting.<\/a><\/strong> This article talks about the right ways to store and freeze buttercream frosting to make it last.<\/strong> You can check out this article here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mix The Frosting More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides the reasons mentioned above, clumps often occur when you stop mixing too early. If you stop too early, the ingredients will not thoroughly combine. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may want to mix your buttercream frosting until it is smooth. To do this, I recommend using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on high speed for about two minutes!<\/strong> Check the frosting again and continue if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*By the way,<\/strong> I recently wrote an article that talks about Why Your Buttercream Frosting Became Curdled.<\/a><\/strong> This article breaks down how to fix and prevent your buttercream frosting<\/strong> from becoming curdled. You can check out this article here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add Some Milk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Milk always does it for me. If your frosting is lumpy or grainy, then add some milk to it, one tablespoon at a time,<\/strong> until the consistency becomes smooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would start with two tablespoons and see how that turns out before adding more if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put Your Buttercream In The Fridge Before Using It<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Putting your frosting in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes <\/strong>can also help fix grainy icing because it will cool down everything and give you some time to whip up anything that is lumpy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, I recommend only mixing at medium speed when your butter is cold. You can also consider mixing the cold frosting by hand!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*By the way,<\/strong> you might also want to know How To Mix Batter Without a Mixer.<\/strong> I recently wrote an article talking about The Right Ways of Mixing Batter By Hand,<\/a><\/strong> which you can check out here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give It Time To Rest<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you used unsifted powdered sugar in your frosting, you can leave it overnight to give the powdered sugar crystals to melt. <\/strong>You will then whip it some more at a slow speed to get it smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This option is for bakers that are particularly not in a big hurry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Make Buttercream Icing Smooth?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule, you can make buttercream icing smooth by using softened butter and well-sifted powdered sugar. This will prevent big chunky clumps in your buttercream mixture by keeping it smooth. Also, be sure to whip your buttercream properly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video for fixing grainy frosting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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