This site uses only a few technical cookies necessary for its operation. By continuing to browse, you accept their use.
To find out more...
To find out more...
Butter cream
Butter cream is made with egg yolk, sugar syrup and, of course, butter. These days it has fallen rather out of fashion, probably because it's very rich, but it still has its aficionados. Here is the classic plain version, which you can lighten and flavour as you wish.
348 K 3.7/5 (48 reviews)
60 min.
Easy
2.10 €
700 g
6 IngredientsLast modified on: October 13th 2010
For 700 g, you will need:
- 1
180 g butter - 2
150 g caster sugar - 3
3 tablespoons water - 4
6 egg yolks - 5
3 egg whites - 6 100 g caster sugar
- Total weight: 685 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 50 min.
Cooking: 10 min.
All in all: 60 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - ⌛ 10 min.
Take 180 g butter out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour before using.
Heat 150 g caster sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small pan over high heat, and bring up to 120°C (250°F), using an electronic thermometer if possible to check.
Heat 150 g caster sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small pan over high heat, and bring up to 120°C (250°F), using an electronic thermometer if possible to check.
Stage 2 - ⌛ 3 min.
Meanwhile, tip 6 egg yolks into a bowl and beat on high speed.
Stage 3 - ⌛ 5 min.
When the sugar syrup has reached 120°C (250°F), reduce the mixer speed and pour the syrup fairly quickly (30 seconds maximum) onto the egg yolks.
Try to avoid the syrup landing on the beaters or it will splash everywhere.
Try to avoid the syrup landing on the beaters or it will splash everywhere.
Stage 4 - ⌛ 10 min.
Leave the mixer beating for a further 10 minutes or so to cool the mixture.
Stage 5 - ⌛ 10 min.
After this time add 180 g butter a little at a time while still beating on slow speed, until the butter is completely incorporated.
Stage 6
The butter cream is ready.
Stage 7 - ⌛ 5 min.
Stage 8 - ⌛ 10 min.
Fold the beaten egg whites into the cream to lighten the texture while keeping the original flavour.
Stage 9 - ⌛ 5 min.
You can then add the flavouring of your choice like praline, a liqueur, or chocolate chips.
Remarks
The cream should be stored in the fridge in a sealed container. Take it out 1 hour before using to allow it to soften.
Butter cream is out of favour in modern patisseries, for one thing it's full of calories, and these days the taste is for less rich foods. But also, I fear, beacause it is so easy for a poor baker (whether industrial or not) to make a bad butter cream by mixing margarine with sugar and artifical flavouring. This awful cream eventually put customers off all the good butter creams, which is a shame, as I know people who would give anything for a decent real butter cream with praline for example.
Butter cream is out of favour in modern patisseries, for one thing it's full of calories, and these days the taste is for less rich foods. But also, I fear, beacause it is so easy for a poor baker (whether industrial or not) to make a bad butter cream by mixing margarine with sugar and artifical flavouring. This awful cream eventually put customers off all the good butter creams, which is a shame, as I know people who would give anything for a decent real butter cream with praline for example.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
How much will it cost?
- For 700 g : 2.10 €
Change currency:
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Some other recipes using this recipe
Succès praliné (praline meringue)
The "succès" (success) is a classic of traditional French patisserie, made with two layers of almond meringue filled with praline butter cream. It's very rich and a little old-fashioned these days, but still has many faithful fans. The original recipe comes from the master chef Gaston Lenôtre, and...
394 K 34.1 4 hours 20 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Butter
Like these other recipes: Creamy Comtoise artichoke gratin, Breton Sandwich, Galette Charentaise, Oatmeal and chocolate shortbread, Chicken breasts in a potato crust, ... See them all 498
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Strawberry Charlotte, Strawberry, kiwi and mascarpone verrines, Apricot and pistachio clafoutis, Caramelised apple custards, Rhubarb tart, ... See them all 376
Egg yolk
Like these other recipes: Steamed leeks with morel sabayon, Sicilian Epiphany Pie, Fish in white wine, Finger biscuits, Blanquette of veal, ... See them all 76
Water
Like these other recipes: Yeast-based flaky dough (for croissants), Cassoulet, Italian Meringue, Hummus, "Buttonhole" quail eggs, ... See them all 141
Other recipes you may also like
Toasted almond cake
A layer cake, with toasted almonds in the chocolate part. July 5th 2016259 K4.4 2 hours 2 min.
Preserved tomatoes
Softer than dried tomatoes, they can be used as a kind of chutney in pasta dishes for instance, or simply served to accompany an aperitif. February 21th 2011362 K4.8 5 hours 6 min.
How to choose an avocado well
It is not so easy to choose a good avocado, tasty and well ripe. Here are some tips to help you. June 28th 2011202 K4.4 1 min.
Strawberry sorbet
The secret of a good strawberry sorbet is to use first class strawberries, very ripe and full of flavour, so do choose them with care. This recipe shows you how to lighten the texture of the sorbet by incorporating air. July 9th 2014104 K4.6 35 min.
Bread with Tomato
This tomato-flavoured bread, the famous "pan con tomate" of our Spanish friends, is ridiculously simple, but such a treat! It only takes a few minutes to prepare and makes a delicious aperitif snack. November 8th 201570 K4 6 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-04-19)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.