Vanilla Buttercream (and What It's Taught Me) There’s something about buttercream. People assume it’s the easy part—the fluffy, sweet, just-pipe-it-on part of cake decorating. But if you’ve ever tried to smooth a side or fix a wonky edge, you know it’s anything but. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made a wedding cake, cupcakes, and a unicorn birthday cake. And every time, I’ve ended up back in that same familiar rhythm—where working with buttercream becomes less about frosting and more ...


