How to Make Super Black Buttercream

Have you ever wondered how to make super black buttercream to frost your cakes? Buttercream is a versatile and delectable frosting, capable of transforming any baked treat into a work of edible art. While an array of colours can be easily achieved, attaining a deep and captivating black shade often poses a challenge. 

In this post, I’ll share with you the secrets behind creating super black buttercream using the immersion blender method – a technique that promises to simplify the process, ensuring a super black buttercream that leaves a lasting impression.

While others use the microwave method (i.e. microwave the buttercream in short intervals, stirring well after each interval; the warmth from the microwave will aid in dispersing the colour and deepening the shade), I find that the immersion blender method gives the best and fastest results.  

Ingredients/Tools 

• buttercream of your choice, the one that I used the most is Swiss Meringue Buttercream
• black gel-based or oil-based food colouring
• an immersion blender 

Directions

How to Make Super Black Buttercream

Prepare the Swiss meringue buttercream according to this recipe, ensuring it reaches a smooth and fluffy consistency.

If you want to add less food colouring, make chocolate buttercream. It’s always easier to make black buttercream if you start with a darker frosting base. For my Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe (made out of 4 egg whites), add 120 g of melted dark chocolate. Melt the chocolate, let it cool to room temperature and mix it in with a spatula or the paddle attachment of your mixer.

Once the buttercream is ready, transfer it to a mixing bowl or a bowl that is safe to use with an immersion blender.

Begin adding the black gel food colouring to the buttercream. Start with a small amount and mix it in thoroughly. Gradually add more food colouring until you reach a dark grey colour. 

Then, insert the immersion blender into the bowl, making sure the blades are fully submerged in the buttercream.

Blend the buttercream using the immersion blender on low to medium speed for 20-30 seconds. Move the blender around the bowl to ensure all parts of the buttercream are thoroughly mixed.

Monitor the colour as you go and add more black gel food colouring if needed. Adjust the amount of colouring based on your desired level of blackness. Continue blending until the colour is fully incorporated into the mixture.

Stop blending once the colour is even and the buttercream has reached the desired consistency and colour intensity.

By using an immersion blender, you can efficiently combine the ingredients, emulsify the butter and liquid, and disperse the black food colouring particles. This results in a smooth, well-mixed, and intensely black buttercream. 

The Science Behind Using an Immersion Blender to Make Super Black Buttercream 

The science behind using an immersion blender to achieve super black buttercream lies in the emulsification process and the dispersion of the black food colouring.

1. Emulsification: Emulsification is the process of combining two immiscible substances, such as fat (butter) and liquid (milk or heavy cream), into a stable mixture. In the case of buttercream, the immersion blender helps emulsify the butter and milk/cream together, creating a smooth and creamy base. The high-speed blending action of the immersion blender breaks down the butter particles and incorporates air, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.
2. Dispersion: Dispersion refers to the even distribution of particles (in this case, the black food colouring) within a medium (the buttercream). Achieving a super black colour in buttercream can be challenging because black food colouring tends to be concentrated and can create streaks if not properly dispersed. The immersion blender helps disperse the black food colouring evenly throughout the buttercream by breaking down any clumps and distributing the colour particles more uniformly.