Butter Cream Frosting HELP!!!!!!!!

[Manhattan]

I used the Crabapple Bakery recipe for the first time ever last week, and it was sooooo yummy, and tasted just like the ones in their stores.

200g unsalted softened butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tbs vanilla extract
8 cups icing sugar

Butter and milk both at room temp. If using milk from fridge, microwave for bout a minute.

Cream butter for 1-2 mins. Add the milk, vanilla and half sifted icing sugar and beat for another 3 mins. Add remaining sugar and beat for a further 3 mins until light and fluffy, and of a spreadable consistency. Add some extra milk if too dry, or extra sugar if too wet.

I am far from a good baker, and this work perfectly for me the first time. Personally though I would halve the ingredients, as I had a heap left over which is now in my freezer waiting for another cake to ice

Good luck hun, and I'm sure whatever you do will be perfect x

[Epacris]

Hey ruf, I should immediately declare that I don’t do icing, I do the baking, icing is DH’s department. But I do watch (and clean-up afterwards *sigh*) so I feel somewhat qualified.

I don’t know why you’re paranoid about over-beating, I don’t think you can over-beat it. Maybe we just have really crappy beaters (hence why I don’t do icing). DH beats it till it’s almost white. I guess if it's hot (the weather I mean) and getting too soft (the butter I mean now), yeah, cooling it mid-beat in the freezer for a few minutes is a good idea.

It’ll be tops mate!

[rufalina]

Thanks all for your tips.

I did another trial today with Erins recipe.. And I think I cracked it... I was "one with the butter", and beat it when I asked DH to taste, he kept coming back for more!!!... Which he never does... So I think we have a winner!!!

Thank you all for your help. Hopefully the final run goes as smoothly! Will try and share photos after the weekend...!!!

[Shanti]

I am another one who struggles with icing!!! Nothing beats a good butter cream on a yummy cake mmmmm!

[rufalina]

Shanti, I think I have finally overcome my icing fears! *Touch wood* It seems to be good now with this recipe. I think the key is really in the butter. Beat and beat and then beat some more. I had to stop making cakes, and I was having so much fun with it! LOL.