While it is easy to grab a tub of frosting from the grocery store, prepackaged frosting cannot compare to the taste of homemade. Making icing from scratch can be as easy as combining three ingredients in the mixer and letting it blend until smooth. Confectioners' sugar, egg whites and vanilla extract form a basic frosting that can be used as is or transformed into a variety of flavors. Using coconut extract instead of vanilla and adding shredded coconut makes a tropical topping that is well suited for fruity cupcakes, while adding cocoa can make a chocolatey frosting that goes well with all cupcake flavors.
Buttercream frosting is another popular topping for cupcakes. It is made from a mixture of confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla extract and, of course, butter. The creamy, rich flavor is the perfect finish to any cupcake. Buttercream frosting can also be enhanced to help those cupcakes that would benefit from a little extra boost of flavor. Substituting lemon juice for milk and omitting vanilla will make a light, citrus frosting that goes well with vanilla cupcakes, while replacing the milk with hot coffee, decreasing the vanilla, and adding cocoa will produce a mocha buttercream that creates a great complimentary topping to chocolate cupcakes. Cooking the butter until it is brown before adding it to the mix will produce a burnt buttercream frosting that tastes great under a coating of shredded coconut or dried fruit.
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Lack of butter makes whipped cream frosting a little lighter than buttercream, even though heavy or whipping cream is substituted for the milk. Omitting the sugar and vanilla and adding crushed peppermint candies makes a wonderful minty variation that tastes great on chocolate or marbled cupcakes and is especially useful around the holidays. Adding shredded orange peel and orange extract makes a refreshing, light flavor that tastes great during the summer months.
In addition to buttercream and whipped cream frosting, there are several other toppings that can make cupcakes special. The best choice for spiced cakes and carrot cakes is a sweet cream cheese frosting or a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar. Semisweet or dark chocolate glazes are perfect for any moist cake recipe, and a thick ganache is a terrific topping for a fruity cupcake. Fondant can be rolled and cut into rounds and decorative shapes for a smooth finish with flare. Whether choosing one of these topping or using standard frosting or buttercream, skipping the store-bought tub and making it homemade is well-worth the effort.
Cupcakes: Buttercreams, Frostings and Other Delicious Toppings
Baking gourmet mini cakes has never been easier or faster. Create gourmet masterpieces using step-by-step cupcake recipes with tips and techniques for success. Artfully decorate your delicious treats with one of our growing collection of the best taste-tested frosting recipes.