Summer is in full swing, and if you're like me, you're probably knee-deep in birthday parties, cook-outs, and wedding and/or baby showers galore, You want to create something special for each but, at the same time, find something everyone can enjoy. Well, look no further -- today I'm bringing to the table my favorite buttercream frosting recipe (you can pair with any cupcake mix) along with some simple cupcake decorations you can use just about anywhere. So, let's get to it!
Vanilla Frosting Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
½ stick (or ½ cup) Crisco
1 pound (box or bag) powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3-4 tablespoons milk or water
Optional: food coloring
Method:
1. Using a stand-up or handheld mixer, start by creaming the stick of butter until smooth (about 30 seconds).
2. Add the Crisco and mix with the butter until it is smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl (rubber spatula recommended) to make sure you aren’t going to have any lumps of unmixed Crisco. (Yuck!)
3. Add vanilla extract and continue until mixed well.
4. Add the powdered sugar and milk, alternating so that each are added in two parts (half the sugar, then half the milk, then the last of the sugar, then the last of the milk). Scrape sides, and mix all until smooth.
5. And, of course, mix in your choice of food coloring if you want to shake things up!
Now, let’s talk about the fun stuff: decorating! Some fun, yet simple, decorations can add so much to a dessert; it could even be used as a centerpiece!
(For this post I am using the Wilton tip 1M. This tip is shaped like a star at the end and can be found at WalMart, any craft store or right here. If you are going to have one specific decorating tip on hand, I recommend this one!)
In the video below I will be showing you how to do three different cupcake decorations, including the rose, the hydrangea and the classic swirl. As an example, my frosting is a dusty rose color, but if you’re feeling brave mix up two different colors of frosting and put a little of each in your frosting bag for a fun effect! (The cupcakes included in this video are maple butter pecan with maple frosting. It should also be noted that my husband ate THREE while he held the camera!)
And as a bonus, I like to sign off with a few tricks of the trade I’ve learned along the way to help in your baking adventures. Check them out below!
Frosting Tip #1:
When making frosting, it’s always a good idea to use the Crisco brand shortening. Other shortening brands may be less expensive, but they can cause your frosting to have a grainy texture that is noticeable both by appearance and taste. Trust me -- Crisco’s worth the extra dough!
Frosting Tip #2:
Ready to make some cupcakes but don’t have any decorating bags for the frosting? Grab a Ziploc bag, snip off the corner, slide in your frosting tip, and you’re ready to go!
Frosting Tip #3:
The key to making any cupcake decoration look polished is in the pressure you use as you squeeze your bag of frosting. For the best results, make sure to squeeze the bag steadily as you decorate. Begin releasing pressure on the frosting bag just before you finish your decoration, rather than at the same time. This will allow your frosting to have a cleaner finish, smoother lines and cause less breakage.
I hope you’re inspired to try these decorations and to get creative with your own as well. I’d love to see what you come up with, so snap a picture and tag us on Instagram @_thefront porch!
Oh, and enjoy your cupcakes!
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