Fail Kitchen - Brain Cupcakes

"It's not going to be perfect. It's a brain. It doesn't have to be."

Recipe Monday - Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

It's the time for many celebrations, and we need to have as many easy frosting recipes on hand as possible. With that in mind: strawberry buttercream frosting. Easy and delicious. Great twist to traditional favorite.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
1 (16 oz) package powdered sugar (I only used HALF of this and it was still a bit too sweet, be warned)
1/2 cup of fresh strawberries, chopped

Beat the first three ingredients together until creamy.
Add the sugar and strawberries a little at a time, beating each addition in thoroughly.





 

Recipe Monday - Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

It was my mother's birthday this weekend, so we made a cake in her honor (which we will now eat all by ourselves). It was a chocolate cake, and I made an almond cream cheese frosting to go with it. Absolutely delicious. And frosting is so super easy to make.

Ingredients:

 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar (I used all the sugar this time. Next time I'll just use 2 cups.)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon whole milk

Preparation:

Sift confectioners sugar over cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer at moderate speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Beat in extract and milk until just incorporated (be careful not to over-beat, or mixture will become too loose).

Done.




 

Recipe Monday - Orange Buttercream Frosting

I put food coloring in here because when my girls said orange frosting, they meant orange frosting. Without the false coloring it has an incredibly gentle, classy light orange tinge.

2/3 cup butter, softened
6 cups powdered sugar, divided (I ONLY USED FOUR CUPS!!!!!)
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 to 6 tablespoons milk


Beat butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, orange peel and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
Add remaining powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency.
If necessary, add additional milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, to get desired spreading consistency.
About 3 cups frosting.


 

Recipe Monday - Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting might be one of the best things I've ever made.

1/2 cup Nutella
5 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tblspn butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar (I used two cups. I don't like my frosting super sweet)

Beat the Nutella, cream cheese and butter together until mix. Add vanilla and confectioner's sugar slowly, beating the whole time.

DONE.




 

Recipe Monday - Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

I halved this recipe. It's an amazing mix of tastes that goes great on a light lemon cupcake.

2 (8) ounce package cream cheese softened
1 stick butter softened
2 lbs. confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
juice of one lemon


Using a mixer, blend the butter and cream cheese together until well combined. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar until fully incorporated. Finally mix in vanilla and lemon juice.

Recipe Monday - Traditional Red Velvet Cake Frosting

This is not a cream cheese frosting. It also includes the microwave, which makes it my best friend forever.

3 TBS. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. butter

Choose a large, microwaveable bowl (one quart-size or larger) to mix flour and sugar in, as mixture might bubble up some- this will reduce chances of spills in the microwave. To the large, microwaveable bowl, mix together: > 1 c. sugar > 3 TBS. flour

In separate, smaller bowl, microwave 1 minute or so, until hot: > 1 c. milk

Add hot milk to flour/sugar mix slowly, to avoid lumps. Microwave 2 minute more, stir. Return to microwave for only 30 seconds, if necessary, until mixture's bubbly hot.

Add to hot milk/flour/sugar mix: > 1 tsp. vanilla

Cover bowl with plastic; cool completely.

To a standing mixer, add: > The sugar/flour/milk mix > 1 c. butter, room temperature

Cream until light, on high speed, until very fluffy.

Frost cake.