Whipped Frosting Everyday Food

WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Place a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer in the freezer until cold, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, fill the bowl with ice water and let stand for 5 minutes. Pour out the ice water and quickly wipe the bowl dry.
• Sift the sugar and powdered milk into the chilled bowl, then add the cold cream and vanilla. Whip the mixture on high speed until stiff, but smooth peaks form, about 2 minutes. If you accidentally overwhip, the peaks will look like they are cracking. Add about a tablespoon more heavy cream and hand whip the frosting until it smooths out.
• The recipe makes enough frosting to generously top 24 cupcakes or to cover two 8-inch-round cakes, plus extra to pipe decorations. Unrefrigerated, the frosting will hold its shape for up to 6 hours.

PERFECT SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, corn syrup, and 4 tablespoons water. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 4 minutes. Rub a bit of the mixture between your fingers, making sure any graininess has disappeared. Raise heat, and bring to a boil without stirring. Continue boiling, occasionally washing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent sugar from crystallizing, until a candy thermometer registers 230 degrees, about 5 minutes. (Depending on the humidity, this can take anywhere from 4 to 10 minutes.) Remove the syrup from heat (temperature will keep rising).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 1/2 minutes. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup in a steady stream down side of bowl (to avoid splattering).
• Beat the frosting on high speed until cool, about seven minutes. It should be thick and shiny. Use immediately.

RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH WHIPPED FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand. Tuck strips of parchment paper underneath. Using an offset-spatula or table knife, spread top with Whipped Frosting. Top with remaining cake; frost top, then sides.

WHIPPED FROSTING I

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, mix milk into flour gradually to prevent lumps. Cook, stirring constantly over low heat until thick. Cover with waxed paper and cool completely or set in bowl of ice water and stir until cooled.
• In mixer bowl, combine shortening and margarine, beat 4 minutes. Add sugar; beat 4 minutes. Add cooled paste and vanilla and beat well.

NOT-SO-SWEET WHIPPED FROSTING

Steps:

• In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed until creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract, and then beat on medium speed until combined and completely smooth (absolutely no lumps), at least 2 full minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to smooth out.
• Switch to a whisk attachment (if you haven't already been using it). Turn the mixer to low speed and with the mixer running, carefully pour in the cream in a slow and steady stream. After all of the cream has been added, turn the mixer up to high speed and whip until thick and stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes. This time can vary depending on exact temperature of ingredients, temperature in kitchen, and even the humidity. Do not walk away during this time and do not be concerned if your frosting takes longer to whip. You're looking for a thick, airy consistency with stiff peaks. If you were to shimmy and shake your bowl, the frosting would hardly move. If your frosting appears soupy now or at any point you are working with it, it needs more whipping to introduce more air. If your frosting appears chunky or curdled, it's over-whipped. To fix, stir 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream into the frosting by hand to smooth out again. Use more heavy cream if needed to smooth out.
• After you make the whipped frosting, it's ready to frost your cupcakes, cake, or other confections. After frosting a cake or cupcakes with this frosting, I strongly recommend refrigerating them uncovered for at least 30 minutes to help "set" the frosting (especially when using on a layer cake). Then you can serve or set out for a few hours before serving. And please note that you'll notice the frosting becomes thicker and airier the longer it sits in your mixing bowl. This is not a problem and can easily be fixed by gently stirring it to pop any air bubbles. Likewise, if you notice the frosting really airy and looking over-whipped as you pipe it with piping tips, either "massage" the frosting while it's in the piping bag (sounds weird, but this can help deflate air bubbles) or pipe back into the mixing bowl and gently stir it. You can even stir in a splash of heavy cream to thin/smooth out if needed.
• After the 30 minutes of refrigerating to "set" the frosting as instructed in step 3, frosted confections are fine to serve or sit out at room temperature for a few hours. If you plan to serve later than that, such as the next day, I recommend storing in the refrigerator. Lightly cover as best you can. Confections topped with this frosting can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

EUROPEAN WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING (VIDEO)

Steps:

• Softened butter and cream cheese (or mascarpone( at room temperature for about 30 minutes, until soft to touch but not melted. Place the butter and cheese into mixing bowl and whisk on high speed for 3 to 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Add the vanilla extract, pinch of salt (about 1/8 tsp), and sweetened condensed milk. Whisk again for a few minutes until well combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
• Pour the heavy cream into a separate bowl and whisk it on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Add the cream cheese, butter and milk mixture. Whisk again for about 30 seconds, just until stiff peaks form. Do not over mix! Over mixing will cause the frosting to separate. I recommend mixing on medium speed to avoid separating the mixture.
• If not frosting a cake right away, place frosting into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This will thicken the frosting further, making it easier to work with. Do not keep at room temperature for too long.

WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Using both a chilled bowl and chilled beaters, beat the cream until frothy.
• Add the icing sugar and vanilla gradually while beating.
• Whip until light and a thick enough consistency to spread as an icing.
• Use immediately.

VERSATILE VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand. Tuck strips of parchment paper underneath. Using an offset-spatula or table knife, spread top with Whipped Frosting. Top with remaining cake; frost top, then sides.

COOL WHIPPED FROSTING

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix with milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Gently fold in whipped topping until no streaks remain. Spread evenly over cake.