The BEST Cupcake Frosting

For my daughters princess party this past weekend she wanted cupcakes...and she wanted me to make them (gulp).  I can make cupcakes, but I am not good with frosting.  That is until I came across THIS baby. OMG! It's light and fluffy, but still creamy...(pausing to daydream). It really is the best homemade frosting I've ever had. It's super easy too, which is key to success for me. I've now done vanilla, vanilla bean, and last night I made a batch with almond extract.  I think next will be lemon, but the possibilities are endless...(drooling again).

Also, if you're like me and are challenged when it comes to putting the frosting on the cupcake, here's an awesome tutorial.

Looking for Chocolate?
Multicolor swirl how-to

Enjoy!


Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling

3 tablespoon Flour
1/2 cup milk (whole milk is best, but I use non-fat when it’s all I have and it’s actually fine)
1/2 cup real butter (I prefer salted, but you can use also unsalted and add salt to taste)
1/2 cup sugar (that’s granulated sugar, not powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or other flavor if you wish.

Whisk together the flour and the milk. Heat in a small sauce pan on medium heat.
Whisk continuously until it starts to thicken. Let it cook, while stirring with a rubber spatula, until you can start to see the bottom of the pan.   Continue to cook until mixture has the consistency of thick pudding or paste.

Put  mixture in the fridge and let it cool completely, it’s fine if it stays in there long enough to get chilly, you just don’t want it warm at all. As it’s cooling, feel free to stir it occasionally to speed up the process and keep it from forming a crust on top.

Using an electric stand mixer, beat the butter and the sugar for a minute or two until well combined and fluffy. You’ll want to use the whisk attachment on a stand mixer if you have one, instead of the flat paddle. Then while beating, add in the thickened milk mixture and the vanilla. Beat to combine and then scrape down the sides. Mixture will separate and look messy, keep beating!  Continue beating until mixture comes together and is light and fluffy, about 7-8 minutes, but time varies.  Take a sample of frosting between your fingers; frosting is done when light and fluffy and sugar granules are dissolved.