My friend, Geeg, has a daughter who is turning two-years-old. Her birthday party was on Monday at a neighborhood park. When I found out that Geeg was planning to slap some icing on a 9X13 cake and call it done, I had to intervene. No decorations? No writing? Uncacceptable!
I am by no means a cake decorating expert but I have taken a basics class. Let’s just say I know my way around some buttercream… I may not be able to do fondant or fancy basket weaves but I can turn out a respectable basic birthday cake. So, I happily volunteered to decorate Geeg’s daughter’s cake.
It’s not perfect but I am happy with how it turned out. I heard that Audrey liked it. Wildman and I did not get to go to the party since he was sick.
**********
Buttercream Icing
2 lbs. bag of powdered sugar
1/2 cup warm water
3 tablespoons meringue powder
1 cup Crisco vegetable shortening
1 tsp. almond flavoring
1 tablespoon butter flavoring
1 tablespoon clear vanilla
Mix together in a stand mixer for five minutes or so… Add gel coloring to make desired colors. This recipe makes a ton! It’s enough to cover and decorate a two layer 10-inch round cake.
If you want the kind of icing that hardens into flowers or whatever (Royal Icing) then use the first 3 ingredients only.
Enjoy!
Adventures of Four 