67GOINGON50'S FLUFFY, CREAMY BUTTERCREAM ICING with less butter

Foolproof, fluffy, creamy icing that's not too sweet... 

Looks pretty creamy & fluffy; tasters think its magnificent!

Election volunteers are beginning to flag as voting day (May 5) moves closer and closer and they desperately needed something not-too-healthy.

Where icing is concerned 67 is quite happy to melt a bit of chocolate or stir a few tablespoons of milk or other liquid into some icing sugar to drizzle over cakes or cookies in order to avoid using butter.

But a recent experiment to create a 'proper' icing that is lower-fat but creamy, smooth and gorgeously delicious was a huge hit.

It was layered thickly over a banana coconut bread and was stupendously wonderful.

67's tasters were over the moon and raved about its texture and flavour.

The recipe makes a generous half a cup, but is so spreadable, it looks a lot more.  And there's nothing stopping you doubling the recipe or multiplying it by half for the sweet-toothed in the household.   

The icing is not one for drizzling; it needs to be spread and the thicker the better.

This is the basic recipe but there are lots of variations.

Ingredients: 

50g very soft butter or vegan margarine
1/2 cup icing sugar

1/2 tsp essence of flavouring (liquid): vanilla, orange or peppermint essence (near the vanilla in the bakery section) or another of your choice

generous tablespoon (natural) flavouring: cocoa powder or zest of lemon, lime or orange or another of your choice 

1 tbsp water OR liquid like fruit juice OR plant/dairy milk

Method: 

1. If you can, start with a hand whisk; wait until step 3 before using  electric beaters  or you will have icing sugar all over the kitchen and yourself
2. Blend icing sugar gradually into the butter/fat with a hand whisk or wooden spoon: it will resist at first then soften into something more spreadable
3. Add liquid flavouring, whizz with electric beaters
4. Add natural flavouring; beat slowly
5. Add milk/water/juice; beat until creamy and fluffy; it should plop softly from the spoon
6. Spread over cake, swirling with a palette knife

 

Comments:

'Wow!  This is absolutely glorious!'  'I don't normally like icing but this is amazing!'

Election Volunteers

'I love that it's buttery but not over the top.  Is it meant to be healthier?  Because it tastes like it might be.' Retired writer

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This recipe has been created by B  Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.