thirteen...you dont want to know how many calories :)
Buttercream frosting is made by combining a fat (butter or shortening) with sugar; both fat and sugar tend to soften and eventually melt in warm weather. Any buttercream frosting will melt if left in a warm room or outside in the sun in warm weather.
whipped frosting
You can improve the stability and texture of your buttercream frosting by adding meringue powder, which helps to create a smoother and firmer consistency.
To thicken buttercream frosting for a smoother consistency, you can add more powdered sugar gradually until you reach the desired thickness. You can also chill the frosting in the refrigerator for a short time before using it.
Of couRse
The most commonly used frosting on store-bought cakes in the U.S. is buttercream frosting.
Yes, so long as the frosting has set properly. (If the frosting is very soft, the spray may drip/run into the frosting giving an odd appearance).
From C&H Basic buttercream http://www.chsugar.com/recipes/recipedisplay.asp?RecipeId=Va1015200120234 French Buttercream http://www.chsugar.com/recipes/recipedisplay.asp?RecipeId=Ba5142002122752
A delicious frosting recipe that does not require refrigeration is a simple buttercream frosting made with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a little milk.
You can substitute an equal amount of butter for the shortening; just keep in mind that the frosting will be much less resistant to heat, so if your cake will be in a warm environment, you may end up with puddles of buttercream on the table! If your recipe doesn't already call for egg whites, I would add a tbsp of meringue powder (or one egg white) to the recipe, to help the buttercream crust a bit; this may help with the stability of the frosting.
It melts, and you have to slurp it up with a spoon like soup!
It's best kept refrigerated, so it doesn't turn into "soup".