Frosting Recipes

So I’m thinking to myself, “I wonder if anyone’s made a red wine cake frosting.”  You have port wine at dessert, perhaps accompanied by some cookies.  Why can’t you mix your wine with your cake?

Naturally, you would think that a red wine cake frosting would combine well with a cream cheese frosting or a ricotta cake – a new take on the wine and cheese plate, perhaps.

But this red wine chocolate cake frosting recipe surprised us and knocked our socks off.   Twin Tables developed the recipe for Red Wine Rosemary Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Red Wine Chocolate Frosting.  The red wine and dark chocolate is a lovely combination, and made even more sophisticated by the addition of fresh herbs.

Here’s the fabulous frosting recipe.  Cake recipe and full instructions after the jump.

Red Wine Chocolate Frosting Recipe By Twin Tables

2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons red wine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh sprigs of rosemary

To make the frosting, sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with the red wine. Blend in vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Frost the cooled cupcakes and top with fresh sprigs of rosemary in a fun design.

Twin Tables: Iron Cupcake – Round Two.

Frosting recipes rely upon fat to create flavor and texture.  As we see, there is enormous variety in the fats used in frosting recipes.  We seen cream cheese and whipped cream but also yogurt and avocados.  All of these contribute to a rich, delicious cake or cupcake frosting.

Two of the most common fats used to make frosting from scratch are butter and vegetable shortening.   Just like in pie crust recipes, bakers have very strong feelings about which one (or combination of the two) produce the best results.

The advantage of using butter in a frosting recipe  is its flavor.  Butter adds a rich, melt-in-your-mouth feeling to the frosting.  Using vegetable shortening can be preferable for its texture, because it makes for a lighter, fluffier frosting.  However, shortening is all fat (butter is around 80% fat) and not especially flavorful.

The solution?  We’re now trying a combination of butter and trans-fat free vegetable shortening (Smart Balance, Spectrum Organics and Crisco make it) to achieve the best frosting flavor and texture.  Ratio of each to be determined! We’ll let you know how it goes.

Behold a cinnamon cream cheese frosting on a pumpkin cupcake filled with nuts and spices.  This is a perfect fall holiday treat to bring to gatherings or have around for visitors.  It’s basically a cream cheese frosting with the addition of cinnamon, but along with the vanilla, it brings a nice warmth to the frosting.  Plus it’s a great balance with a sweet pumpkin or dark chocolate cake or cupcake.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting From Gimme Some Oven

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 Tbsp. butter, at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon

In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar and cinnamon, mixing well until it’s all incorporated.  Use immediately or refridgerate.  The frosting will harden in the fridge, so plan on bring it back to room temperature if you must refrigerate it before frosting the cupcakes.

Cupcake recipe and pics after the jump.

pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting | gimme some oven.

From Wilton, the most trusted name in cake decorating: Wait until you see how much fun cupcakes can be using the decorating tips! Just place tips in the bags included, fill with icing and follow the easy decorating instructions. You’ll create all kinds of fun frosting designs perfect for celebrations or everyday treats. Includes 4 tips and 8 disposable bags for basic decorating, plus instruction booklet.  Available at Meijer.

Wilton 12-Piece Cupcake Decorating Set

What a refreshing end to a meal!  We came across Born to Entertain’s recipe for Margarita Cupcakes with Lime Frosting and they look gorgeous.  We also love the pale green food coloring that supports the lime frosting flavor.

Lime Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients:
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/8 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. lime juice
green food coloring (optional)

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low until combined. Turn the speed to medium-high until the icing is light and fluffy. Use water to thin the frosting if necessary (I used about 2 tbsp). Add the icing to a pastry bag or use a spatula/knife to frost the cupcakes.

Be sure to check out the cupcake recipe after the jump that features a touch of Grand Marnier and lime zest.  Lovely!

Margarita Cupcakes « Born to Entertain.

Note: If you’d like a vegan version of margarita frosting, check out the Mucho Margarita Cupcakes in Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.  We made these awhile back and loved ‘em.