Spiced Icing Food

SPICED PUMPKIN BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• For the bars: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick baking spray and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper, leaving an inch of overhang on the sides.
• Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, salt, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl until evenly combined. In another bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, oil, vanilla, eggs and pumpkin puree until smooth. Pour the pumpkin mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until the batter just comes together.
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let the cake cool for 30 minutes in the pan, then unmold and let cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl and beat on medium speed with a handheld mixer until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt and beat until evenly combined and smooth. Spread the icing on the top of the cake in a smooth and even layer. Cut the cake into twenty-four 2-inch squares and serve.

CREAMY SPICED FROSTING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together 1 cup (2 sticks) room-temperature unsalted butter and 1 bar (8 ounces) room-temperature cream cheese until smooth; gradually beat in 1 pound (1 box) confectioners? sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice.

SPICED ICING

Steps:

• In medium-sized bowl, mash butter with a fork until it's soft.
• Add 1 cup powered sugar and mix with fork until there's no dry sugar left.
• Add the rum and beat with electric mixer on medium until mixture is somewhat smooth.
• Slowly add in the rest of the sugar, adding more or less depending on the consistancy you'd like.
• Beat with mixer until completely smooth.
• This makes enough frosting for a batch of brownies (um, or a snack -- ), but I'm positive it could be doubled or tripled easily; it's pretty hard to mess up frosting.

BASIC GLAZE ICING

Steps:

• Put the sugar in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on the lowest speed, slowly add the water, the corn syrup and vanilla extract. When the sugar is sufficiently moistened (it won't fly out of the mixer), raise the speed to high, and beat for 2 minutes until completely smooth and glossy.
• Divide and color, as desired. Store at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the icing, to prevent forming a skin.
• For cupcakes: Dip the surface of the cupcakes into the icing, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Clean any excess from the sides. Alternately, use a knife or a spreader to apply. Whisk as needed to keep icing glossy and smooth while using.
• For Light Blue Icing: Combine 2 to 3 drops of blue food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.
• For Deep Yellow Icing: Combine 4 to 5 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.
• For Purple Icing: Combine 4 drops of red and 5 drops of blue food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.

CHRISTMAS SPICE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Tip the butter into a large bowl and whisk with an electric hand whisk. Add the icing sugar, milk and festive spice mix. Mix well, first with a spoon, then with the electric beaters until smooth and fluffy. Makes enough for 1 x 20cm sandwich cake or 12 cupcakes.