Frosting can make or break a cake. No matter how great your cake tastes, it has to have the right icing to be, well, the icing on the cake! While it may seem like an unnecessary extra step given how many store-bought frostings are now available, homemade frosting is infinitely better tasting and very easy to make! These four frosting recipes are easy, versatile, and sure to please any baker. Just be sure to whip up a little extra, because you’re going to want a taste!
1. Buttercream frosting
Buttercream frosting is a staple for most bakers and cake aficionados, due to its versatility. This icing can be easily paired with many different flavors of cake, including chocolate, spice, and vanilla.
Buttercream is also extremely easy to make, as it uses only four ingredients, which you probably already have in your home. Because buttercream frosting is white, it’s easy to add dye and make it into any color you like! This is a great option for themed cakes for parties or events, and can be a great tool for people looking to dip their toes into the world of cake decorating. Buttercream is also a perfect option for cupcakes, due to its light and fluffy texture. You can find detailed instructions and ingredients here.
2. Whipped cream frosting
Whipped cream icing is light and airy, and delivers all the great taste of whipped topping with the stability and density of cake frosting. And since it is homemade, you won’t have to deal with any of the chemicals or unnatural ingredients that so often come with store-bought whipped toppings.
Thanks to its airiness, this frosting is not as sweet as many other frostings, meaning it is a great option for people who have less of a sweet tooth but still want to whip up a great dessert. It can also help balance out the sweetness in the cake itself, if you have made something especially rich or intensely flavored. This recipe only calls for a handful of ingredients, all of which can be found easily at the supermarket, and also includes a chocolate variety for those who want a little extra cocoa flavor in their frosting. You can find both recipes here.
3. Marshmallow frosting
Imagine the delicious, gooey taste of marshmallows in a giant bowl — that’s marshmallow frosting. This icing is thick, producing clouds of billowy white frosting.
Due to its density, marshmallow frosting is especially great for topping cupcakes and using in layer cakes, because it holds its shape very well. With only five easy-to-find ingredients and a mere seven steps, this frosting is perfect for whipping up quickly while your cakes cool. Marshmallow frosting is also very glossy when its done, meaning it is a perfect topping to show off a little bit! Additionally, more adventurous bakers can use a kitchen torch to slightly brown the marshmallow frosting, giving it a nice, toasted s’mores taste. Please find the full recipe here.
4. Chocolate cream cheese frosting
When it comes to decadent frostings, nothing beats chocolate cream cheese icing. It is rich, dense, and fudgy enough for even the most avid chocoholics.
Best of all, this recipe only has two steps: blend the ingredients together and chill the frosting for 30 minutes. It doesn’t get much easier than that! Once the frosting is chilling in the refrigerator, you can prepare your cakes and have everything ready in a very short time. With ingredients like whole milk and a whopping 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar, you can be sure that this delicious frosting will be a hit on any cake you make. This frosting complements vanilla and chocolate cakes best. Find the full recipe and details here.
Featured photo credit: IrishMomLuvs2Bake via flickr.com
