No cake or cupcake is complete without a layer of sweet icing on top. Choose icing with the right flavor and consistency to pair perfectly with the cake you have made. This article contains a guide on how to make 5 types of icing: boiled white icing, fudge icing, buttercream icing, cream cheese icing, and simple powdered sugar icing.
Ingredients
Cooking Vanilla Icing
- 355 g sugar
- 2 tbsp clear corn syrup
- 5 egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Icing Fudge
- 473 g granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp tasteless cocoa powder
- 158 ml milk
- 118 g butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- A pinch of salt
Butter Cream Icing
- 237 g room temperature butter
- 3 tsp vanilla
- 946 g powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp cream
- A pinch of salt
Cream Cheese Icing
- 118 g soft butter
- 227 g soft cream cheese
- 946 g powdered sugar
- 1 tsp milk
Icing Refined Sugar
- 237 g powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp milk
Step
Method 1 of 5: Cooked Vanilla Icing
Step 1. Place the mixing bowl in a pot of slowly boiling water
Choose a sauce pan large enough to place a mixing bowl in it, fill it with a few inches of water, and heat it on the stove over medium heat. When the water boils slowly, place the mixing bowl in it.
- Make sure the water level is not too high so that there is no risk of water getting into the mixing bowl.
- The water should not boil, if it starts to get too hot, reduce the heat.
Step 2. Cook the icing
Place the egg whites, sugar and corn syrup in a bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined, and continue to stir as the sugar dissolves and the mixture heats up. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of the icing; when the temperature reaches 71 degrees Celsius, the dough is ready to be kneaded.
- Keep an eye on the temperature of the icing as it can easily overcook.
- If the icing seems to be heating up slowly enough, turn up the heat. The icing should reach 71 degrees Celsius in about 2 minutes.
Step 3. Beat the icing
Use an egg beater or electric "mixer" to beat the icing until it's fluffy and glossy. Remove the icing from the stove and use it to coat your cake.
Method 2 of 5: Icing Fudge
Step 1. Boil sugar, cocoa powder and milk
Place the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. When it boils, remove from the stove.
Step 2. Add butter, vanilla and salt
Stir the ingredients until they are well combined with the boiled chocolate mixture, then reheat the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Stir in icing and cook until butter is melted and ingredients are well combined. Remove the icing from the stove.
Step 3. Beat the icing with a spoon
As the icing cools, beat it with a spoon until it thickens and is glossy. When it becomes difficult to move the spoon through the fudge icing, it is ready to use.
- This icing has a runny consistency, so pour it directly over your cake or cupcake instead of using a knife to layer it.
- If it seems too runny, reheat the mixture on the stove for a few minutes to thicken it up.
Method 3 of 5: Butter Cream Icing
Step 1. Beat butter
The first step is to change the consistency of the butter so that it is light, fluffy, and easy to mix with the other ingredients. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and beat using a hand mixer or stand mixer for a few minutes.
Step 2. Add sugar
Keep beating the butter as you add the sugar. Beat until the sugar is completely mixed with the butter.
Step 3. Add cream and salt
Finish making the icing by adding the cream and salt and beating until the icing is light, fluffy, and fully combined. Use the icing immediately to coat your cake or cupcakes, or store in the fridge for later use.
- This icing can be easily turned into a chocolate butter cream by adding a few tablespoons of cocoa powder.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice, almond extract, or other flavorings to match the taste of your cake.
- Make colored butter cream icing by adding a few drops of food coloring.
Method 4 of 5: Cream Cheese Icing
Step 1. Beat cream cheese and butter
Place cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric "mixer" or work by hand to beat the two ingredients together until they are well combined and produce a light, fluffy dough.
Step 2. Add powdered sugar and milk
Continue to beat the dough as you add the powdered sugar and milk. Beat for a few minutes, until the ingredients are well combined and the icing has the right consistency.
- If you need to thicken the icing, add more powdered sugar.
- To thin the icing, add a spoonful of milk.
Method 5 of 5: Icing Powdered Sugar
Step 1. Mix the ingredients well
Pour the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk into a bowl. Use a spoon or an egg beater to stir the ingredients until they are completely combined. Pour the icing over the cakes, cupcakes, or pastries you have made.
Step 2. Create icing variations
This simple icing can be varied to create a variety of different flavors. Replace the milk with the following ingredients if you want to try a different flavour:
- Lemon water
- Orange water
- Maple syrup"
- Bourbon
- Jam "raspberry"
- Chocolate syrup
Tips
- The smallest drops of liquid can change the consistency of powdered sugar-based icing, so add only a little at a time.
- You can use whatever extract you want. It will change the smell and feel of the icing. Nutmeg, Vanilla, Lemon, or Strawberry are all great choices.
