Decorator Buttercream - Aka Classroom Buttercream

Total Time: 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon clear butter flavoring
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (approx. 1 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons milk

Recipe

• 1 cream shortening with salt and flavorings in electric mixer or with hand mixer until smooth and soft.
• 2 add half of powdered sugar and the milk, then mix until smooth.
• 3 add remaining sugar, scrape down sides, and mix on low speed until combined. if mixture is too stiff add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• 4 thick consistency icing should be spreadable, not rough or crumbly (if you can roll it into a ball you probably won't be able to squeeze it through a tip!)--when beater is pulled out icing should hold firm pointed peaks which may be a little ragged at the edges; medium consistency icing should be easy to squeeze and can be pretty loose (you just need it to hold its shape on the top or side of the cake)--when beater is pulled out icing will pull to a smooth point; thin consistency icing, used for lace, writing or icing the cake, should hold a soft point (sparrow's beak) when beater is pulled.
• 5 to make lighter, fluffier icing, beat medium consistency icing at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• 6 tips from laurie clarke - visit www.sweetcelebrations.us for more recipes and helpful decorating hints!