Baking Our Hearts Out

We've been doing some Valentine baking at our house and oh what fun we've had!  Over the last couple of days we've baked 6 dozen cookies and 4 dozen cupcakes.  We made Buttercream frosting too.  It turned out so yummy that I don't know why I ever use store bought cans.  Not only does the Buttercream frosting taste better but using this recipe costs less than buying the canned stuff.

• 3-3/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine ingredients in large bowl, with mixer at low speed.  Beat at medium speed 1-2 minutes until creamy.  Makes enough to fill and frost 2-layer cake, or 9x13 sheet cake, or 24 cupcakes.  

We used a bit of icing color

to turn our white frosting pink!

Yum...sugar cookies.

Sprinkles

and fun plates and platters.

Here's the plate Olivia made for our new next door neighbors.

And the cupcakes we toted to church.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Classic Buttercream Frosting Recipe

We are busy here getting ready for a birthday party for my youngest boy!  He is turning 9 tomorrow!!  Since I was looking this recipe up I thought I would share it.  I'll be making a chocolate Star Wars cake with buttercream icing for his party.  If it turns out well I will post pictures!

Classic Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Makes 3 - 3.5 cups

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound) softened (but not melted!)  Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
• 3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, sifted.
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream.

Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed.  Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn't blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter.  Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes.  If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar.  If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoon at a time.  Enjoy!