Less Sweet Butter cream icing recipe

I got a request today from BAKE for a less sweet butter cream icing. Her family has has told her that her icing is too sweet! I do understand that people like a lighter icing and that is also my preference.

So I believe that I can help BAKE and anyone else that is looking for a lighter butter cream icing. One thing that you have to remember when you use this icing is that it is for frosting the cakes, not for the decorations. This is because it does not have the stiffness you need to trim or decorate a cake.

The first thing that you will notice in this recipe is that the amount of 10x sugar has been decreased. The next thing is that the butter has been increased. Another important step is that you really have to make sure that the butter and the shortening is creamed to a fluffy stage. This is important in order for the sugar to be incorporated into the mixture so it dissolves completely. This prevents that strange feeling you get at the back of your throat when the sugar has not dissolved all the way.

This recipe will frost a 2 layer 8" or 9" cake


Ingredients:

* 2 pounds of 10x powdered sugar
* 3/4 pounds of butter (3 sticks)
* 1 cup of vegetable shortening
* 1 TS. vanilla or almond extract
* 1/2 TS salt
* 1/4 cup milk

Step 1: Cream butter on medium/high speed for 2 minutes.
Step 2: Add shortening and cream again for 2 minutes. The mixture should be fluffy now. If it is not, cream some more
Step 3: Combine milk, salt and vanilla together
*Step 4:With mixer still on med/high, slowly add
the milk mixture blending completely.
Step 5: While that is blending, sift the 10 x sugar and start spooning it into the blender small amounts at a time. Be sure that each addition is combined completely before you add the next scoop.
Step 6: Continue adding and scraping the bowl until all the sugar is incorporated and has a beautiful smooth texture.

The appearance of this icing is more like a stabilized whipped cream than regular butter cream icing. It is delicious and light. I hope you try it.