A Good Go-To Icing Recipe

I’ve learned that the job description for a mother includes the ability to ice cakes and cupcakes.  This is NOT a natural skill for me.

My cake-decorating adventures have been made a whole lot easier, however, by finding this great icing recipe.  So for everyone else out there who has suddenly found themselves expected to create a cake that looks like a princess or a truck, here’s a recipe that won’t let you down.

Basic White Icing

1 c. softened butter
4 c. icing sugar
2 T water
1 t. vanilla

Combine the ingredients in a mixer.  Mix them at low speed for a while until it’s safe to move to a higher speed.  (You’ll know that it’s NOT safe if bits of butter go flying around your kitchen when you dial up the speed.)  Then beat the mixture at medium speed for five full minutes.

It will start out looking dry and lumpy, and then suddenly it will transform into this wonderfully creamy, light icing.  If you’re not going to add food colouring or use it to create intricate designs (and hey — if you’re doing the latter, you obviously don’t need my help here), then you can make the icing more spreadable for a cake by adding another 1 T of water.

That’s it!

By the way, I originally found this recipe here and have used some of the modifications suggested by other cooks.  You may want to check out the original and their comments.