Buttercream icing

p-pincher

The one i use is from the primrose bakery cookbook and its lovely, the basic vanilla buttercream covers about 18/20 regular sized cupcakes

110g unsalted butter
60 ml milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (couls substitue this for other flavours)
500g icing sugar
Few drops of food colouring (otional and you only need to use a tiny bit)

In a large bowl beat together butter, milk, vanilla and half of the sugar until smooth, gradually add the remainig sugar and beat until really smooth and creamy.

its best if you use an electric hand whisk and it can take upto 5 mins mixing to get a really light buttercream.

patchwork_cat

For swirly that'll be a piping bag. I always make buttercream by adding ingredients until I get the desired consistency.

carriebradshaw

patchwork_cat wrote: »

For swirly that'll be a piping bag. I always make buttercream by adding ingredients until I get the desired consistency.

I do that too and if I make too much I just freeze it for another time

oligeo

For a really indulgent buttercream, use 50g phillidelphia, 100g butter (unsalted) and 300g icing sugar, add a few drops of vanilla EXTRACT (much nicer than essence)

Sunshine_and_Roses

I cheat - I use a tub of Betty Crocker's ready made buttercream!!!

It costs about £1.60 for a tub, but by the time you have bought butter and icing sugar etc, it is not that more expensive.

Feel most embarrassed now. Will go and hang my head in shame.

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

Thanks all,
I think it must be because I don't use butter, I love the idea of using cream cheese, I may do mini carrot cakes with that for the topping.

p-pincher

clareski wrote: »

I cheat - I use a tub of Betty Crocker's ready made buttercream!!!

It costs about £1.60 for a tub, but by the time you have bought butter and icing sugar etc, it is not that more expensive.

Feel most embarrassed now. Will go and hang my head in shame.

I love the chocolate one x

narabanekeater

Betty Crockers is 59p in both B&M AND Home Bargains

Ladyhawk

I use the Magnolia bakery recipe which is also yum.

ralloctiger

I dont use a recipe but cream cheese with icing suar and the flavouring choc , lemon zest, orange you get the picture always works for me. I use whatever cheese is on special offer you only need a little to hold the icing . Can add colouring if you wish. Can use a piping bag for fancy effect or a spatula for quick.