Frost Yourselves!

My most favorite bakery, Ketchie Creek Bakery in Mocksville, NC, has some of the best buttercream frosting I've ever tasted. I'm been on a mission to find a comparable frosting I could make in my own kitchen & I think I've finally located a most perfectly fluffy frosting!

Things You'll Need:
A good stand mixer
1 to 2 pounds powder sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon imitation butter (I didn't have any & substituted almond instead)
1 stick butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 to 3 tablespoons of Half & Half (I didn't have any & substituted heavy cream)

Step 1
First of all, put the butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and be prepared to let this mix on high for a a few minutes. I put the two ingredients into my KitchenAid, turn it on and go do other things in the kitchen for a while. A lady I met in a rummage sale said the secret is to really lighten the butter and shortening with air. And she was right!

Step 2
Reduce to stir, then add the salt and granulated sugar. Drizzle in the vanilla and butter flavorings. Up the setting to high slowly and let mix another 30 seconds or so.

Step 3
Reduce to stir again and add about 1 cup of the powder sugar. Let it work into the butter/shortening mixture. Add another cup of powder sugar and let work in. Add a third cup of powder sugar and let mix together nicely.

Step 4
I usually end up using 3/4 of a bag of powder sugar to make sure I have a really generous amount of frosting. Once you have added enough powder sugar, it may be on the clumpy side. Add the Half and Half one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting will peak when stirring with a spatula. The test is to lift the spatula up and the frosting should hold it's peak after the spatula is out of the bowl. The consistency is easily adjusted by either adding more powder sugar to thicken the frosting or more Half & Half to lighten the frosting. Humidity and heat do effect the consistency so don't worry about exact measurements.

Step 5
Now comes the special step. Slowly up the speed and let the mixer do it's job. Let it mix on high for at least 3 minutes. Five minutes would be even better! It will become light and fluffy - just a bit heavier than whipped cream if done right!!! This is truly butter cream frosting!

Let me tell you, the finished product is almost exactly the same fluffy (slightly gritty) textured frosting as my favorite bakery! I'll definitely be playing around with different flavors & colors...I'm such a happy camper now!!! Tomorrow, I'll be trying this fabulous on my mini layer cake. If all goes well, pictures will follow!

May your frosting always be sweet! =)