Tutorial Tuesday: Frosting

Tutorial Tuesday

Almost two years ago I took a Wilton cake decorating class... and although I am fully certified (seriously, I have a Certificate of Merit with my name written in Sharpie... ah, if it only was in calligraphy, I'd frame it for my kitchen...) but I still struggle baking a cake that looks like it should be on an episode of Ace of Cakes!

I am, however, hooked on making my own (OK, its Wilton's recipe) homemade frosting!


Ingredients: Vegetable shortening, Powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla and water.

To make a generous single batch of frosting, first place a single cup of vegetable shortening in the bowl of your mixer. Do NOT lick the spoon... you just have to trust me here!!!

Next, add a tablespoon of meringue powder. Meringue powder is a little bit pricey, but it will last a long time! I purchase mine at JoAnn Fabrics with a 40% off coupon!

One teaspoon of vanilla then needs to be added to the mixer. My vanilla is a gift brought back from Haiti for me from my husband! I LOVE that man... and he LOVES it when I bake!!!

Two tablespoons of water are also added to the mix.

Lastly, four cups of powdered sugar are added.

TIPS:
1. Place a towel over your mixer to help keep sugar dust from flying all over your kitchen... TRUST ME!
2. Add your sugar a little bit at a time- its MUCH less messy!
3. Purchase a one pound bag of powdered sugar, it is the equivalent of 4 cups! (Sneaky!!!)

After you have thoroughly mixed all of your ingredients, your frosting will mostly stick to the mixing tool in a large clump because it will be very thick frosting! Frosting in this state is too difficult to spread on your cake!

So... add another 1-2 tablespoons of water and continue mixing!

When the majority of your frosting remains in your bowl and not on your mixing tool, you've made a spreadable frosting! At this point, if you are interested in coloring your frosting, now would be a great time!

I love that this recipe yields about 3 cups of frosting... plenty to frost a cake and enough for the family to sample before the cake is served... wink!

Recipe Recap:
1 Cup of vegetable frosting
4 Cups powdered sugar
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
1 Tablespoon of Meringue
2 Tablespoons of water (plus an additional 1-2 T.)

*This frosting can be made ahead of time and can even sit on your counter (covered of course) for up to a month! Plus, if you have extra frosting, you can freeze it for another use!