Bettercreme vs. Buttercream: Differences & Which One to Use?
No cake is ever quite complete without some icing on top. Certainly, it makes even a regular, boxed cake look glamorous and exquisite. And there exists different options to decorate a cake with. Two such options are Bettercreme and buttercream. So, are these two similar products? If not, how do they differ from each other?
Buttercream is a popular type of frosting whereas Bettercreme is a specific brand of icing. Buttercream is invariably made with butter while Bettercreme does not involve any. Typically, buttercream has a thicker and fluffier consistency compared to Bettercreme. Bettercreme is a superior option if you need naturally flavored and colored frosting.
Frosting and icing may look similar on the surface but they can differ greatly in terms of ingredients and use. And knowing when and how to use either can give your baking an elegant flourish. And in this article, we are going to discuss this very topic and see how buttercream and Bettercreme are different.
Bettercreme vs. Buttercream: Differences
Ingredients
The biggest difference between these two products is in the ingredients used to make them. Rich’s Bettercreme is made with a combination of cream cheese, corn syrup, water, table sugar, and various preservatives and artificial flavoring. All of these ingredients are whipped to create a light and thin consistency.
In contrast, buttercream is made by whipping butter and sugar. You can add other elements such as cream cheese, heavy cream, or regular milk as well as vanilla extract or beans to create more flavoring. But you can make the buttercream for your baked goods just from those two initial ingredients.
Preparation
Buttercream is a staple element in the world of bakery. it can easily be made at home for your cakes and cookies. As such, it does not have any artificial flavoring or preservatives. Additionally, if it is homemade, you can experiment and vary the nature of the frosting to your liking.
Bettercreme, on the other hand, is a product of the Rich Products Corporation. They add a lot of different artificial preservatives, thickeners, and flavoring. Their products come to set. So, you cannot remove any of its ingredients but you can add some to adjust the flavors to your liking.
Taste and Texture
The first difference you may notice between Bettercreme and buttercream is in their consistency. This is down to their preparation. Buttercream tends to be thicker and fluffier compared to Bettercreme.
Buttercream can also taste creamier compared to Bettercreme. This will depend largely on the amount of fat present in the product. Bettercreme utilizes only cream cheese while buttercream can incorporate both cream cheese or heavy cream and butter. This gives buttercream a creamier and richer taste profile.
Another advantage of Bettercreme is that it comes in a few different flavors and colors, including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon, caramel.
Use
Typically, buttercream is much more spreadable due to its fluffier consistency. This allows you to decorate the entire cake with this frosting. You can easily spread the cream with a spreader or even a spoon and give your cakes an elegant flourish.
In comparison, Bettercreme is also spreadable after whipping. It sets very quickly and becomes more compact. So, you either have to pour it onto your cakes with a piping bag or scoop it with a spoon. This is why Bettercreme icing is generally poured on top with a swirl with the help of a piping bag.
Bettercreme utilizes both high fructose corn syrup and regular sugar. This can make them taste sweeter than most homemade buttercream where you can control the level of sugar you put in.
Nutrition
In a 10 gram serving of Bettercreme, which is basically 2 tbsp, you get 35 calories in total. In that same amount, you have a total of 2.5 grams of fat, most of which is saturated. You also have 4 grams of carbohydrates that are entirely added sugars.
Now, the nutritional value of buttercream is going to vary depending on how you specifically make it. And there is no one set in stone to make the buttercream. [1]
But in general, buttercream tends to have more fat in its preparation. This is because buttercream often incorporates two separate sources of fat – butter and your choice for another dairy product such as heavy cream, cream cheese, or milk.
This will give the buttercream a higher calorie content than Bettercreme, which will have less cholesterol as well. However, the sugar in Bettercreme is unchangeable and a lot of it is high fructose corn syrup.
In contrast, buttercream does not have to be made from corn syrup. In fact, you can make it without adding any sugar and use natural or artificial sweeteners instead. You can also tone down the sweetness depending on the sweetness of the dessert you are going to frost.
How to Use Bettercreme?
Bettercreme is ideal for topping a carrot cake or a cupcake. And the best way to do this would be to use a piping bag.
Place the cream inside the bag and gently squeeze it on top of your chosen pastry. Give it a swirl to get that trademark look. Remember to keep the sugar level in mind. If Bettercreme is too sugary for you, then do not add it to desserts that already have a lot of sugar.
How to Use Buttercream?
You can use buttercream in a couple of different ways. You can use it in between the layers of a multi-layered cake as well as on the top. You can use it to coat the entire cake. You can even try doing both.
You will require a cake stand to get a nice even coating on the cake. If you do not have a dedicated cake stand, then use anything that has a high platform and allows you to easily rotate the cake.
Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting all over your desired pastry. Scoop a generous amount of frosting on top of the cake and use the spatula to spread it evenly.
Alternatively, you can use a piping bag if you have a rotating cake stand. Simply squeeze the frosting out while turning the stand. This will give an even layer of frosting which you can then smoothen out with the spatula.
Bettercreme Vs. Buttercream: Which One to Use?
This will depend on the nature of your pastry and how you want to decorate it. If you are looking to only coat the top of a cupcake, then Bettercreme is probably the better choice. Since it is icing, it will set quite quickly.
If you are planning on coating the entire cake and/or the layer in between, then use buttercream. You will have a much easier time spreading this type of frosting.
Bettercreme Vs. Buttercream: Which One is Better?
If you can make the buttercream at home, then it is always the superior option. Because here you can control the level of sugar and fat in the frosting as well as its texture.
But if you are short on time and you only want to top your pastry, then Bettercreme offers you more convenience.
To conclude, both buttercream and Bettercreme can be used to take your baked goods to the next level. You can even use them simultaneously to make for a unique cake experience.
