Too sweet frosting

[Night Elf]

I'm making a plain jane vanilla cake and wanted to use vanilla frosting. How can I fix a frosting that isn't overly sweet? Is it possible? The recipes call for so much powdered sugar. I'm making this for a picky eater so I can't add flavoring or I would do a chocolate frosting, like with cocoa. That sounds delicious but he doesn't like the taste of cocoa.

[umsami]

This is my favorite not too sweet frosting.  You don't even need powdered sugar.  It's known as flour frosting, so doesn't work for gluten free folks.

 

It rocks!
 

http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2010/03/a-tasty-recipe-thats-the-best-frosting-ive-ever-had/

[KungFuPanda]

Do a whipped cream frosting and use very little sugar.

[Woodhaven]

This is my favorite not too sweet frosting.  You don't even need powdered sugar.  It's known as flour frosting, so doesn't work for gluten free folks.

 

It rocks!

 

http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2010/03/a-tasty-recipe-thats-the-best-frosting-ive-ever-had/

 

I agree!  I use this recipe too, but never saw it on-line.  It's in a cookbook I own. :hurray:

 

[IdahoHomeschooler]

I always add salt to my frosting recipe. The salt needs to be pretty fine, or else it feels slightly gritty. Popcorn salt works well, but I just run some regular salt through my blender until it's powdery. The salt really helps cut down on the sweetness of the powdered sugar.

[zoobie]

Use salted butter.

 

Cream cheese frosting is less sweet to me.

[LostSurprise]

Flour frosting is less sweet. 

 

A sour cream frosting can also be less sweet. Most buttercreams rely more on the richness of the butter than the sweetness of the sugar. 

 

Or whip some cream until thick and fold that into whatever frosting you have. That will cut the sweetness. 

[nevergiveup]

Real buttercream--the one where you cook 4 eggs and a cup of sugar over a double boiler until it reaches 160 degrees, then whip until cool, adding one pound of butter a chunk at a time....pinch of salt, couple of teaspoons vanilla.

Divine.