Buttercream Icing Recipe

1. Get ingredients:
   • 8 oz (1 cup) butter (unsalted, room temperature, around 65° F / 18° C)
   • food colouring (optional)
   • 1 tsp vanilla extract
   • 1-3 tbsp milk (or 2-3 tbsp heavy cream or half-and-half)
   • 16 oz (4 cups) powdered sugar
   • 1/4 tsp salt
   • digital scale
   • stand mixer
   • large mixing bowl
   • spatula
   • 1 tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/4 tsp
2. Sift into large mixing bowl:
   • 16 oz (4 cups) powdered sugar
   • 1/4 tsp salt
3. Set aside.
4. Attach the whisk to the mixer.
5. Add to mixer mixing bowl:
   • 8 oz (1 cup) butter (chopped into about 4-8 pieces)
6. Mix on low-then-high speed until smooth (about 1 minute).
7. Set mixer to low speed.
8. While mixing, add to mixer mixing bowl:
   • about 1/4 of the dry ingredients
   • another 1/4 of the dry ingredients
   • 1 tsp vanilla
   • 1 tbsp milk
   • another 1/4 of the dry ingredients
   • the rest of the dry ingredients
9. Optionally, add another 1-2 tbsp milk.
   • For cake icing, add at least 1 tbsp milk, or the icing will harden while you are decorating the cake.
10. Mix on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy (about 1 minute).
11. Optionally, add food colouring while the icing is still in the mixing bowl. Mix with the mixer or stir with a spoon until consistent.
12. Turn off the mixer.

Icing a cake

1. If you have a cake turntable, place a cardboard cake round on the turntable. Otherwise, use a plate.
2. Flip the flatter cake upside down onto the cake round (so the flat part of the cake is at the top).
3. Using an offset spatula, scoop about 1 cup icing on top of the cake.
4. Spread the icing evenly to create the filling between the two layers of cake.
5. Place the second cake on top of the first cake so that the flatter part of the second cake is at the top.
6. Using an offset spatula, scoop a generous amount of icing on top of the cake. Spread the icing evenly on top of the cake. Let the icing fall down the sides, and use the offset spatula to even it out.
   • This part is hard. It's okay if it doesn't look good, because this is just the crumb coat.
7. Smooth the sides by holding a bench scraper still against the side of the cake while rotating the the cake turntable.
8. Place the cake in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes.
9. Add the remaining icing on top of the cake, and use the offset spatula as before to spread the icing along the top and sides of the cake smoothly.