Free Royal Icing by Sheryl Berk Page A

cupcake wrappers.
    2. Combine flour, baking powder, lavender, and salt in a medium bowl.
    3. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on high for about a minute. Add sugar, honey, and vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, beating until they are combined. Add in the flour mixture and milk, alternating. Beat about three to four minutes until the batter is smooth (but don’t overbeat!).
    4. Fill each cupcake wrapper two-thirds full and place in oven. Bake for approximately eighteen to twenty-two minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for fifteen minutes before frosting.
    Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
    12 ounces (one package and a half) cream cheese, room temperature
    Â½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    4 cups confectioners’ sugar
    Directions
    1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and beat until frosting is creamy and smooth. Pipe onto cupcakes or apply with a frosting knife or spatula. If you want to get fancy, add food coloring to the frosting and pipe it to look like flower petals!

Chocolate Cupcake
    Makes 12 cupcakes
    1½ cups all-purpose flour
    Â¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    Â½ teaspoon baking soda
    1/8 teaspoon salt
    3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
    1½ cups sugar
    2 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Â¾ cup milk
    Directions
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pan with cupcake wrappers. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    2. In the large bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla.
    3. Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating between them. Beat three to four minutes until the batter is smooth.
    4. Fill each cupcake wrapper two-thirds full with batter, and bake in oven for eighteen to twenty-two minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for approximately fifteen minutes before frosting.
    Salted Caramel Frosting
    1 stick (half cup) salted butter
    2 cups dark brown sugar
    2/3 cup heavy cream
    Â¼ teaspoon salt
    3 cups confectioners’ sugar
    Directions
    1. Ask an adult to help you melt the butter in a small saucepan over a low flame, stirring constantly. Once the butter is entirely melted, add brown sugar and heavy cream. Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add salt. Allow mixture to bubble for exactly two minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Beat in confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, until the frosting is smooth and creamy.

Rainbow Tie-Dye Cupcake
    Makes 18 cupcakes
    This recipe calls for a basic vanilla cupcake batter.
    3 cups all-purpose flour
    1½ teaspoons baking powder
    Â¾ teaspoon salt
    12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
    1½ cups sugar
    4 eggs
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    1¼ cups milk
    Box of assorted food coloring
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line muffin pan with cupcake wrappers. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
    2. In the large bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides.
    3. Add eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Beat until combined.
    4. Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating between them. Beat for about three to four minutes, but be careful not to overbeat!
    5. Now that you’ve prepared the batter, it’s time to color it! Pour the batter from the large bowl into five smaller bowls. Use two to three drops of food coloring in each bowl to create a bright color. Stir batter in each bowl until it is one color. I like to do red, yellow, orange, blue, and green, but feel free to mix your own shades.
    6. Using a tablespoon to scoop out your batter, layer the different colors