What kind of icing is the best icing to decorate a cake/cupcake

Cupcake Date 04 March 2009 by The Cupcake Chef

Q: What kind of icing is the best icing to decorate a cake?

A: Easy. Simple and hands down the best icing to decorate cakes or cupcakes is buttercream. The really great thing about buttercream is you can do so much with it! It’s soooo easy to spread.

Here is a recipe for the best icing to decorate your cakes and cupcakes with. Use a high quality brand of shortening, like Crisco in equal part with butter for a lighter texture.

You can make this simple recipe for icing the day before and refrigerate it so you don’t have the hassle of mixing it at the same time you’re baking. :)

1/2 cup butter (or non-hydrologized margarine, or organic butter, or organic non-hydrologized margarine)
1/2 cup Sweetex or Crisco shortening (or vegan shortening, i.e. vegan shortening)
4 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar (cane gives the best texture)
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (you can use non-clear it just won’t keep the pure white)
add a teaspoon of milk at a time until you get the fluffy texture you want :)

Cream together butter and shortening. Add in the vanilla. Then blend in the sugar a cup or 1/2 cup at a time.

Want to eliminate the cornstarch that is in most confectioners sugar? You can either put granulated cane sugar in your mixer to break it down into powdered form. Even organic confectioner’s sugar can have cornstarch in it. Some people don’t like the taste.

Want to cut down on the sweetness? Add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the vanilla to dissolve before adding it to the butter and shortening. (Only add in salt if you used unsalted butter)

Want to make it fluffier? Add a tablespoon of milk.

I like to use “Earth Balance” natural buttery spread and the “Earth Balance” shortening. Has no trans fat, it’s non-dairy, gluten free, lactose free, vegan, non-GMO.

Let me know how you like it. I’ll post some additional recipes for buttercream frosting and how you can dress it up in upcoming articles!

Do You need more cupcake decorating inspiration?
Check out the Cupcake Inspiration Index