Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi, I’m hoping to make the Tatty Teddy Cake next week for a Christening and would like to make a white teddy. Is it possible to use white icing for the fur as I don’t think you can colour buttercream white? Can anyone help please?

I’m sure I’ve read that you should add a little bit of violet colouring to offset the yellow. I’ll be making buttercream today so I’ll try it and let you know!

Hi Tracy

If you type in the search box ‘snow white butter cream icing’ there are several answers there which could be helpful. When you say white icing do you mean Royal icing? If it is, then yes you could use it however, it does go brittle when dry and wouldn’t have a very nice mouth feel. To make soft royal icing so it feels tender to bite, add a teaspoon of glycerine per 450 g of icing sugar. Using merri whites would be better than real egg white and the icing can be flavoured with clear vanilla essence . I do have another recipe somewhere, just got to look for it, I’ll post when I find it. Hope this helps.

Hi MIWL, looked up “snow white butter cream icing”, but all seeemed a bit complicated to me!! Like your idea for using soft royal icing and will definitely give that a go. If you do find that other recipe would love to see it, thank you so much for your help.

Hi Tracy

I’ve found that recipe, it’s called 7 minute frosting, because apparently that’s how long it takes to make it.

1 egg white
175g caster sugar
2 tablespoons hot water
pinch of salt or cream or tartar.

1 Put all the ingredients in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water
2 Using a hand held electric whisk, beat the mixture until it thickens sufficiently to stand in soft peaks,
use immediately. Makes enough to cover 7 -8 inch cake.

Downside, you do have to use it quite quickly because it sets up quickly and has to be used while still warm.
I haven’t used this actual one but I have used the cooked fudge icing which is very similar and contains butter which is not much use because it will have a yellow tint. As for the soft royal icing, before you go making up a whole batch, try out a small amount with half quantity to make sure that it will stay in peaks and not flop after a few minutes. The glycerine might just make it too soft to let it stand. Better to be safe than sorry. Doodlecake has mentioned using violet, I think that information is in the same place as the snow white buttercream icing which says to use blue gel paste. I’d love to see a pic of your white teddy,you could post it on Paul’s facebook??
Did you notice David’s comment about using Merri Whites in butter cream to whiten it? that might also be worth a try.

I think the violet does work but I used a little too much and it had a greyish tinge!

Thank you to everyone who replied to my question. Will practice first with a couple of your ideas and report back on my findings. Wish me luck!!!