“These frostings make enough to frost 12 cupcakes. To cover a cake (top and sides), double the recipes. They are used in cupcakes and cake recipes throughout the book. Dye the vanilla or Cream Cheese frostings any shade you like with a couple of drops of food colouring mixed in until evenly incorporated. At the Hummingbird, we like our cupcake frostings in pretty candy colours, but you can choose any colour you like.”

Vanilla

• 250 g icing sugar, sifted
• 80 g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 25 ml whole milk
• vanilla extract, a couple of drops

Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium0slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixture down to slow speed. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Chocolate

• 300 g icing sugar, sifted
• 100 g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 40 g cocoa powder, sifted
• 40 ml whole milk

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Add the milk to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Cream Cheese

• 300 g icing sugar, sifted
• 50 g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 125 g cream cheese, cold

Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Add the cream cheese on one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not over beat, as it can quickly become runny.

Difficulty : Easy

Tags: baked goods, bakery, cake, cakes, cupcakes, decoration, frosting, hummingbird, icing, recipe, recipes