Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese frosting is a favorite for cupcakes, muffins. Perfect carrot cake, pumpkin muffins.  Yummy goodness!

Ingredients:
8oz Cream Cheese - Room Temperature
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter - Room Temperature
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2-3 Cups Powdered Sugar - Sifted
Food Coloring (Optional)

Directions:
Beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar in small amounts. Beat for 3-4 minutes, until very smooth.

Tips:
It is important that the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature before beating.

Royal Icing

Icing that hardens after it is dry. Great for decorating.  You choose the consistency.

Ingredients:
2 Cups Powered Sugar
2-6 Teaspoons Warm Milk or Water - Depending on desired Consistency.

2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Your Choice of Food Coloring

Variations:
Substitute your choice of flavor for vanilla.

Directions:
Beat sugar and 2 teaspoons water together until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and continue to beat until icing is glossy and stiff peaks form.  This takes 8-10 minutes. Add additional milk in small amounts until desired consistency is reached. Add a few drops of food coloring until color is achieved.

Tips:
Icing made with water can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks. Dried decorations last for months.

Confectioners' Sugar Glaze

Sugar glaze for cupcakes, cookies, donuts or anything sweet!  Hardens when dry and is great for decorating.

Ingredients :
1 Cup Powered Sugar - Sifted
1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter - Melted
2-4 Tablespoons Cream - Can use milk or half & half.
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Variations:
Cocoa Glaze :  Add 2-4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.  You decide how much chocolate is needed.  A small amount of cream/milk may be necessary to reach a pourable consistency.

Directions:
Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl, adding liquid slowly until desired consistency is reached.

Tips:
If glaze starts to thicken you can microwave for a few seconds to thin it out.