Very Vanilla Frosting Food

VERY VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, add powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla bean paste.
• With a spoon, stir ingredients together until moistened. Form a well in the center of the mixture and add food coloring if desired.
• With a hand-held electric mixer, beat on high for two minutes or until smooth and creamy. If a stiffer frosting is desired, add a little more powdered sugar at a time until desired consistency is reached. For a thinner frosting, use less powdered sugar or add a little more milk at a time until desired consistency.
• Spread frosting onto cooled cookies. Allow frosted cookies to sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes in order for frosting to become firm enough to pack cookies away in an air-tight container. Be sure to place a sheet of wax paper between each layer of cookies to prevent them from sticking together.

THE BEST VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds; lightly coat the paper with nonstick spray.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl until combined. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, oil and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl until the batter is completely combined, smooth and creamy. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
• Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Smooth the tops. Bake, rotating the pans from left to right halfway through, until the cakes are a light golden brown and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cakes cool for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto the wire rack. Remove the parchment and let the cakes cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar until completely smooth. With the motor running, drizzle in the heavy cream, vanilla and salt. Increase the speed to high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake, domed-side down, on a platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the frosting evenly over the top. Place the remaining cake, domed-side up, on top. Spread the top with 1 1/2 cups of the frosting. Frost the sides of the cake with 1 1/2 cups of the frosting and smooth out completely to make an even crumb coat. (It's ok if some of the cake shows through. This is just a base layer.) Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
• Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides, smoothing it out.

VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread over cake or cupcakes. Store in refrigerator.

VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat 4 sticks softened butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy.
• Reduce the speed to low and beat in 5 cups confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, increasing the speed to medium high between each addition. Add 1/4 cup milk and 1 tablespoon vanilla and beat until smooth.

CREAMY VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a medium-size saucepan, whisk the flour into the milk until smooth. Place over medium heat and, stirring constantly, cook until the mixture becomes very thick and begins to bubble, 10-15 minutes. Cover with waxed paper placed directly on the surface and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl, on the medium high speed of an electric mixer, beat the butter for 3 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sugar, beating continuously for 3 minutes until fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat well.
• Add the cooled milk mixture, and continue to beat on the medium high speed for 5 minutes, until very smooth and noticeably whiter in color. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes (no less and no longer-set a timer!). Use immediately.

VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla, lemon juice, and zest.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer and a bowl, combine the butter and sugar and mix on low until incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula.)
• Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the milk mixture in 3 batches, waiting for each batch to be fully incorporated before adding the next (scrape the bowl down occasionally). Raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy. Use as desired. May be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days.

QUICK VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
• Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

BASIC VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine ingredients and beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.