Sunday 19 September 2010

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

I would like to start off with a big thank you to my absolutely super-lovely husband, Mr WWW, for the gorgeous cake stand. It was given as a gift on our wedding anniversary (a week ago) and I have been using it constantly since. Thank you babe!

I started thinking "I need a pretty cake to go on my pretty cake stand" and so I made this chocolate cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting which turned out so beautiful [blush]. I've been having a hard time finding a 'go-to' recipe for cream cheese frosting which has a good balance between the sweet and the tang and is also easily adaptable for other flavours. I had a big problem with this frosting, as soon as I would add the sugar, the whole thing would become a soupy mess :( I did everything by the book - not softened, no overbeating but still no luck. However my good friends over at the Daring Kitchen gave me brilliant advice. And it's worked! Yay!!! Oh, and it is sooo quick and easy to make - can it get any better?!



Cream cheese frosting is quite often seen with carrot cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes but lately I've seen alot of bakeries frosting their cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Perhaps the tooth-achingly sweet traditional buttercream is becoming too sweet for people??!! I also like frosting my cupcakes with frostings other than the normal butter-sugar American buttercream. This recipe had just the right amount of icing sugar which gave it a spreadable, thick consistency and didn't gloop once. I'm just so excited now about all the flavours I can try with it. Most cream cheese frostings starting with beating the butter and cream cheese together but this one asks you to beat the sugar and butter together just like a normal buttercream and then add the cream cheese. Give it a go, it's a sure winner!

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of the inside of the cake as I quite smartly gave the cake to my sis-in-law (rather on her hips than mine - lol!)

One final note - I've just designed my logo which should be at the top right-hand side of this page. I'm quite happy with it but would always love to hear all your opinions.

Here is the Cream Cheese frosting recipe:

Adaptable Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
this makes enough to fill and cover a 2 layer 9" cake

1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (55g) icing sugar
8oz cream cheese, room temperature  
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract or any other flavouring

Make frosting:Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until blended (about 3 mins). Beat in cream cheese, then flavouring. Chill until beginning to firm, about 20 minutes.

Assemble cake:

Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with second layer. Spread 1 cup frosting in thin layer over cake. Chill 15 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over cake. Decorate cake as per usual. Chill until frosting is set, at least 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

13 comments:

  1. The frosting sounds delicious and your cake stand is gorgeous!
    Love your logo!

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  2. Your husband is a keeper. That's a beautiful cake stand. And I love your logo!
    I made your Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing and it was delicious. The best icing I've ever made - everybody loved it. They've insisted that I post it on my blog and I'll do that as soon as I get a chance. Thanks for the great recipe!

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  3. @ Renata: Thank you for your lovely comment. I visioned the logo how I wanted it and designed the logo straight away and I love it but I wanted to know if it's just me or is it actually nice so thank you xx

    @Tease-spoon: Yes, he sure is! So glad you like the logo and the SMB! I've become a follower so I will definately be waiting for your SMB post, cant wait.

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  4. Love the logo. You designed it yourself?? Wow, that is impressive! Very stylish and feminine. Inspired by the lovely pressie from your husband, eh?:)

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  5. Thank you Ewa! Yes, I designed the logo myself. So glad it impressed you ( I like impressing people!) Wanted something shabby chic, whimsical and very girly without being barbie pink, wat'u reckon?

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  6. Totally hit the nail on the head. And I also know what you mean i.e. not too barbie..I was going for the same thing.:)

    P.S. I responded on my blog to your comment too.:)

    P.P.S. Keep those posts coming!

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  7. Ewa: I've got bit of a fish brain lately. Tried to click on your name in order to get to your blog but cant seem to find it. Please remind me of your blog by sending the link x

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  8. No worries, I had to track back to my comments section to find you again too.:) Won't forget now.

    Here's my link: dascupcake.com

    :)

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  9. I love your logo! The dusky pink shade you have on your logo is my favourite! :)

    I didn't find a follow link on your website blog but definately add yourself to mine so we can keep in touch. I have a feeling I'm gonna need your help very soon! Reading your blog about the taste-testing, I love your idea of questionnnaire. I would like to do something along those lines too, but what type of questions did you ask in the questionnaire? I can only think of two: 1. How does it taste? 2. How does it look? :S

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  10. I too love cream cheese frosting BUT I love the cake stand more!!!! How wonderful is your Hubby! Can't wait to see your Daring Bakers challenge! Thanks for your comments!

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  11. Wow the cake looks awesome! and I'm glad our advice over at the Forum helped you with the frosting!

    I'm your new follower… can't wait to see all your creations.

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  12. What a lovely cake stand your hubby give you. And the frosting looks so professional well done yes the DK is full of good advice. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia. Love the logo and the colour is so so cute.

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  13. tried this recipe and it was good. held up nicely when i frosted my cake with it. thank you so much! creaming butter and sugar really worked. mine is usually grainy. and this has the perfect amount of sugar though it was too tangy for me and i liked it a tad bit sweeter. there definitely is a method to this madness!

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