Are you looking for a professional buttercream frosting recipe that is shelf-stable? This non-refrigerated frosting recipe is the perfect baker’s frosting recipe to use in your cottage foods home bakery business because it contains no dairy products and tastes delicious!
Cottage foods approved recipes
The question I get asked most by cottage foods bakers is how can I make my recipes taste like they should when we can’t use the ingredients we love? While it’s true that selling baked goods from your home means making changes and adhering to the cottage foods laws, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to recreate your favorite recipes using nonperishable ingredients.
You just need new cottage foods bakery-friendly recipes instead. That’s why I’m super excited to share this recipe today.
Jump to RecipeMy professional baker’s frosting recipe
If you’ve been around my website before, you probably know that I used to own and operate a chain of cupcake shops.
We were known throughout the midwest for our buttercream frosting and people went BANANAS for it!
The recipe that I’m sharing today isn’t the same (because that one had butter and milk) but the baker’s technique is the same.
Is buttercream shelf-stable
Shelf-stable foods are those that can safely be stored at room temperature in a sealed container. This recipe has no dairy ingredients that require refrigeration, so once you mix the recipe you can store it unrefrigerated for up to 7 days.
How do I make grocery store style buttercream frosting
Customers love the taste of Grocery store-style frosting. This tastes like grocery store bakery frosting because it is whipped. Grocery store whipped icing recipe uses shortening and flavorings instead of real butter.
The technique of whipping frosting is great because:
- It makes it easier to ice cakes
- It increases the volume and goes further
- Customers love it!
What is the most stable buttercream frosting
Ask any baker and they will probably tell you that they have different frostings for different uses. One of the types of frosting I often needed was heat-stable frosting.
Summertime weddings that get set up outside require cakes and cupcakes that can hold up to warm weather.
This recipe holds up well in warm weather and is perfect for things like outdoor summer weddings or selling cupcakes at the farmer’s market.
Does Buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated
This non-refrigerated frosting recipe can be stored at room temperature in a sealed container.
To save time, it can also be mixed in bulk and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
How to add flavor to buttercream frosting
If you’d like to change the flavor of this buttercream frosting you can! Just mix it according to the recipe directions, and then add your flavoring of choice.
My favorite flavorings are baker’s emulsions. An emulsion is like an extract but instead of the flavoring being suspended in an alcohol base, it is suspended in a water base.
This is great for frosting flavoring because you do not cook the alcohol out of the recipe as you would with baked goods.
Lorann Oils makes the best emulsions! Here are a few of my favorites:
- Almond- love this in cookie frosting!
- Princess Cake and Cookie- give your frosting a wedding cake flavor!
- Cheesecake-for cottage foods safe cream cheese frostings.
- Coffee- perfect for that rich mocha flavor.
- Butter- use as a base for the vanilla frosting.
- Lemon – Amazingly intense natural lemon flavor.
You can also combine the flavor oils for a more unique taste. I like Princess, Lemon, and Almond for a signature wedding cake flavor.
A word of caution, the flavors are very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Start with just a drop or two and add more if needed.
Hi-ratio shortening for a creamier frosting
I like to use a high ratio shortening whenever I can because it acts more like real butter in the recipe. If you can find high ratio shortening, you will get a glossier and smoother frosting by using that in the recipe.
If you can’t get high ratio frosting, then you can substitute a more traditional shortening like Crisco. It will work for the recipe, but won’t have the same creamy mouthfeel and texture.
Shelf Stable Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
- Mixer with whip attachment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sweetex High Ratio Shortening 8 oz
- 7 cups Powdered Sugar 2 lbs
- 2 tbsp Water
- 1 tsp Loranne Princess Cake and Cookie
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Using your mixer with the paddle attachment, whip the shortening on medium speed for about 5 minutes or until very light, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the Loranne flavoring, water and salt and mix to combine.
- Add the powdered sugar, a few cups at a time and mix until all the powdered sugar has been combined.
- Remove the paddle attachment and switch to a whip attachment. Whip the frosting mixture on medium until it is very light. This is the trick to making it taste like bakery frosting, so don;t skip the whipping part!
- The frosting is now readty to us. If you prefer a thinner frosting for icing cakes, just add 1 tsp of water at a time until you have your desired consisitacy.
- Frosting can be stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed container for several weeks. You can also freeze the frosting in smaller qualtities and defrost at room tep=moerature as needed.
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a professional baker’s frosting recipe that is similar to grocery store frosting, then give this a try! You’ll love the convenience of non-refrigerated ingredients, and your customers will love that it tastes like their favorite bakery-style whipped frosting.
Don’t be discouraged if you are a new cottage baker and your list of prohibited ingredients doesn’t allow you to bake like you are accustomed to. Just swap out your old recipes for new cottage bakery-friendly recipes like this one!
If you liked this recipe let me know in the comments and I’ll share my shelf-stable cream cheese frosting and chocolate baker’s frosting recipe too!
I loved the recipe for the Shelf Stable Buttercream Frosting. I would love the shelf stable cream cheese and the chocolate bakers frosting also.
Being in Florida we always need Frostings that hold up in the heat !
Thank you J. Armstrong
Hi Janis! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I’ll work on another post with some yummy variations very soon!
Would love the cream cheese and chocolate frosting recipes! Thanks for this one.
Hi Karen, I’ll put that on my list of recipes to publish ASAP! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thank you SO much for this shelf-stable Buttercream. I’m debating starting my own cottage business and your tips & experience are very helpful. I’m looking forward to seeing your shelf-stable cream cheese frosting recipe. =)
This is a great recipe and super helpful for me! I would love to get the shelf stable cream cheese frosting and chocolate baker’s frosting too! Thank you VERY much!!!
Hi Kristy, so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I’ve got a part 2 to this post coming soon!
Hi Natalie, so glad you are enjoying my blog! There has never been a better time to start a home-based bakery! You can also join my Facebook group for home bakery business tips. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/474052560472378 p.s. Shelf-stable cream cheese and chocolate recipe coming soon!
I am so relieved to have found your web site!
I’m starting a Cottage Bakery and some of the cookie sandwiches I make would have required cream cheese-but you saved the day.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
P. S. You know I’ve booked marked this.
I would love to get the shelf stable cream cheese frosting and chocolate frosting. I am giving this a try right now!
Thank you so much for this recipe.. I’ll love to have the stable cream cheese and chocolate frosting recipes please.
Hi! Thanks for posting this recipe to the Cottage Bakers Facebook page. I’m doing 200 mini cupcakes for a June wedding and need a frosting that’ll stand up to the heat! Does this have a firm texture that’ll be suitable to pipe onto cupcakes in the classic rose design? And one final question: I am looking for a shelf-stable cream cheese-tasting frosting to pipe onto red velvet cupcakes. Do you have one you’d be willing to share? Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Hi, I am getting ready to make your icing, it sounds great and exactly what I need.
Could you also email me your Cream Cheese and Chocolate Frosting recipes?
Thank you so much
Dawn
I’ll be publishing that highly requested recipe soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hi Becky, This frosting does hold up well for piping all sorts of patterns. I’ll be publishing that highly requested recipe soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hi Kofo! I’ll be publishing that highly requested recipe soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hi Jennifer, So glad you found this blog post useful. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ll be publishing that highly requested recipe soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hi Sonja, What a nice comment! So glad you found this blog post useful. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Kristy, I’ll be publishing that highly requested recipe soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
I found this buttercream and tried it for the first time. the only downside was that after following it by weight, it was very dry, thankfully the tip of extra water really helped out. smooth, soft and indeed tasted like the ones you get at the supermarket. Thank you for sharing this and I look forward to seeing more from you
I can’t wait to try this as a filling for macarons. My daughter in law loves them, but she lives in Florida, so shipping them takes a few days, but this sounds perfect. Thank you!
Thank you so much for posting cottage food safe recipes. I haven’t been charging for cakes because I didnt think I could!
Hi Melissa, So glad you enjoyed the Shelf Stable Buttercream Frosting recipe. If you’d like to learn more about selling your baked goods legally, you can check out this article.
Thank you for this recipe. I need a recipe that can hold up in a warm environment. Thank you. I am interested in the cream cheese and chocolate recipe too. Thank you
I just ordered the shortening. I can’t wait to try your shelf stable recipe frosting perif recipe. I absolutely would love to have your cream cheese and chocolate frosting shelf stable recipe as well thank you in advance
Hello! Did you ever post your recipes for the chocolate & cream cheese shelf stable frostings? I searched the website but couldn’t find them. I would love to have them if you would be so kind as to email them to me. Thanks so much.
Have you posted the shelf stable chocolate buttercream recipe somewhere? I didn’t see it on the website…
I am new to cottage baking and would love to have your shelf stable chocolate buttercream and cream cheese frosting recipes. I will be looking for your Facebook page and look forward to following you for more tips and recipes.
Thank you for sharing!
The recipe worked amazing. I am a cottage food baker and trying to find shelf stable APPROVED frostings (and still taste good) has been a challenge. Thank you for this recipe. I haven’t been able to find your chocolate or cream cheese shelf stable recipe. Could you please email me the recipes? Thank you ❤️
Hi all! Is this icing stiff enough to pipe cupcakes with? Does it give it a smoothe finished look or a greasy?
Just what I have been looking for. Great recipe. Thank you.
Look forward to your cream cheese frosting recipe.
This is too good, I couldn’t keep myself from tasting and re-tasting…a little addictive! I would sure like to have your cream cheese and chocolate recipe versions as mentioned in the original post of this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I can’t find the shelf stable chocolate frosting or cream cheese frosting you mentioned – can you point me in the right direction?? Thanks!
I’d love the chocolate buttercream recipe! Thank you! Debra
Can’t wait to give this a try.
Trying this today! Would love the chocolate and cream cheese recipe! So appreciate you and all of the incredibly helpful information you share with us!! Has helped me take the leap into a cottage food bakery!
Thank you!
Can you send me the shelf stable recipes for chocolate buttercream and cream cheese frosting….Thank u!
Your suggested shortening isn’t available. What would be a good substitute?
Where do you find the ratio content on the shortening can? Also, I would love to have the shelf-stable chocolate buttercream and cream cheese frosting recipes! Thank you!
I’m so excited to try this recipe! I’m new to the home bakers clan and am looking for more shelf stable recipes. Is there anyway I could get your shelf stable chocolate and cream cheese frosting recipes please?!
Just tried this frosting, it turned out great. Would love to get other shelf stable frosting recipe you have.
I would also love your shelf stable cream cheese and chocolate recipes.
I am so happy I discovered your site – would love the chocolate and cream cheese frosting recipe please! Thank you!