How to make an Icing?

[pinkperson]

My daughter will turn 1 this coming February 14. I am planning to just buy a mini cupcake in the bakery and I'll just do the icing on the cake. I would like to give it a personal touch. Can you share a recipe of icing that is not so sweet yet delicious. I have not found a good recipe for icing. Hope you can share one. Thanks a lot in advance.

[medako]

here's my icing recipe....

1 bag powdered sugar
3/4 c. shortening
2/3 c. COLD water
1/2 t. salt
almond flavoring

beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

[Mama Mangia]

you can also use a pudding as a frosting - a friedn of mine does that for her little ones and they love it - and she frosts cakes with cool whip which she adds food coloring to for different occasions

[pinkperson]

Mama Mangia, do you have recipe for pudding? I don't know how to do it. I am just a beginner in baking. What food coloring is best to use for icing? I only have few days left before her birthday.

[Mama Mangia]

pinkperson - you can make it very very easy - purchase a no-cook pudding and pie mix from the market - you add 2 c. milk and mix! I would add 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c. milk so that it would be thicker. After mixing place in the fridge for 3 to 5 minutes to thicken up a bit and the frost away!

you can buy vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, french vanilla, dark chocolate - just about any kind you want! Jello and Royal are great brands! just make sure it's INSTANT so you don't have to cook it!

[Mrs. Chipotle]

Here is a classic:

Betty Crocker's 1956 Variety (very rich) Buttercream Frosting

Blend together thoroughly, 1/3 cup softened butter and 3 cups powdered sugar.
Add 3 tbl cream and 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla (use a traditional hand mixer for this stuff and scrape the bowl religiously. It will get lighter and lighter as you mix air into it.)

[foodlover]

Hey Thanks pinkperson for starting this thread and thanks all others for posting your icing recipes.
I just started baking and have baked only twice till date.
Each time, I used a store bought icing but now I can make one at home