Low-FODMAP Opera Cream Frosting aka Low-FODMAP Ermine Frosting Recipe; Gluten-free, Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What does Ermine frosting taste like? ›

What Does Ermine Frosting Taste Like? Despite seeming very odd and maybe even off-putting, ermine buttercream is silky smooth and quite light. It reminds be a lot of Swiss Meringue Buttercream. It doesn't taste at all like flour and has nice vanilla flavor.

How stable is ermine frosting. Ermine is surprisingly stable. And when I say that, I'm talking about pressure stability (how well it holds as a cake filling) and temperature stability (high heat and humidity.)

Made with flour, sugar and milk in a pan to form a sweet paste, then add whipped butter and vanilla it whips up to a firm icing that is creamy and moreish while still holding its shape for piping. It's super easy to knock up, stores well, and you can use it to pipe or spread or fill any cake.

The good thing about ermine is with the minimal butter used and roux base, you get a stable buttercream that lasts longer in warmer climates. And, not only is Ermine stable but versatile too!

Here is the breakdown of Ermine frosting:

If it's added separately to the butter it can be a bit grainy. Difficulty Level: Fairly Easy. A bit more time than American Buttercream, but still fairly easy to make. Pros: Doesn't involve the use of a candy thermometer or eggs.

Ermine frosting is made from a cooked milk and flour paste. It's also known as milk frosting, flour frosting, flour buttercream, and American buttercream—though it's not to be confused with the sugary, egg-based frosting of the same name.

Troubleshooting: If the frosting feels dense, stiff, greasy, or curdled, it is likely too cold; to warm, briefly set over a pan of steaming water, just until you see the edges melting slightly, then re-whip. If the frosting feels soft and loose, it is likely too warm.

Frosting curdles: There's too much moisture, causing the butter to “break.” Frosting is greasy: This frosting is sensitive to heat. If you're decorating with the frosting and it starts to get soft and greasy, pop it in the refrigerator until it cools down a bit and firms up, 10-30 minutes.

If your ermine frosting looks curdled, split, or grainy, the most likely problem is that either your butter was too cold or your flour mixture was too cold. Don't worry, there's still hope! Keep whipping it (this could take several minutes or longer) and most of the time it will eventually come together.

How does ermine frosting differ from other frostings? Unlike Italian and French buttercreams, which are made with eggs (whites only in the case of Italian, whole eggs in the case of French) and sugar syrup, ermine frosting is egg-free, and it eliminates the fussy step of streaming hot syrup into a running mixer.

Why is it called ermine frosting? ›

Named after the snow white animal, ermine, per MasterClass, the frosting was popular with bakers not only because it didn't need plenty of sugar for it to taste good, but because it was rich, smooth, creamy, and tasty.

If the frosting is too soft, place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, before rewhipping again. Repeat placing it in the fridge in increments if necessary. Ermine frosting takes color well. I prefer to use gel color, but you can use powdered color as well.

American Dreamy Buttercream

This is a less sweet and smoother alternative to traditional American buttercream, which uses a high ratio of powdered sugar mixed into butter.

In conclusion, there are many alternatives to buttercream frosting that you can use to ice your cake. Ganache, cream cheese frosting, whipped cream frosting, fondant, and meringue frosting are all excellent options that are easy to make and delicious to taste.

If your ermine frosting looks curdled, split, or grainy, the most likely problem is that either your butter was too cold or your flour mixture was too cold. Don't worry, there's still hope! Keep whipping it (this could take several minutes or longer) and most of the time it will eventually come together.

Some of the most popular frosting flavors are chocolate, vanilla and buttercream. Other people enjoy more exotic frosting flavors like white chocolate raspberry, strawberry shortcake, or orange cream.