Recipe: Crusting American Butter Cream: My favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe!

Ingredients:

8 ounces (2 sticks) SALTED butter
3 - 4 ounces semisweet chocolate (nicest quality you can justify) 
2 tablespoons light corn syrup 
16 ounces (1 pound) confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar) 
Liquid for thinning (see Step 5. below)

Directions:
Step 1.  Using the paddle blade, cream butter until it’s very light in color. 

Step 2:  Melt chocolate carefully over double boiler or in microwave, being careful to not let it get too hot. 

Step 3:  Mix corn syrup into cooled (melted) chocolate and add mixture to creamed butter. 

Step 4:  Mix well and add powdered sugar straight from the bag or box. No need to sift. Continue mixing.

Step 5:  Add milk, half and half, or heavy whipping cream until you reach desired consistency. I typically add 1 tablespoon of skim milk at a time until I have “nearly” the consistency I want and then I add a dash or 2 (or 3 or 4) of heavy whipping cream. 

This frosting is so lush and delicious. It crusts beautifully and you can use the Viva method to smooth it. I love the silky smoothness of chocolate Swiss meringue for a filling, but to me, this icing can’t be beat for frosting the outside a cake.  It does NOT need to be refrigerated once it's on the cake, but I refrigerate the leftover icing for a few days. If I don't use it within a couple days, I freeze it.  It freezes well.  Just let it come to room temperature and give it a quick whip with your mixer.

Here is a cake I smoothed with this icing and a Viva towel:

And here are a couple other super easy techniques, the swirly rose from i.am.baker (find the tutorial HERE):

 

And the stacked ruffle technique from Sweet and Saucy (find the video tutorial HERE):

I'd love to hear from you if you try this and would like to leave a comment!

Oven's on, I'll be back soon! 

~ Peggy

And the winner is...

It’s been an exciting weekend ‘round here and I’m so happy to announce the winners of my 20,000 Fan Giveaway!

Thank you so my wonderful sponsors:  Cakes with L.O.V.E, Frosted Sensations, Not Just Cakes by Annie, Print the Party, Sophie Bifield Cake Company, Whisk Me Away, and Yummy Treats by Yane who donated over $300 worth of loot!

And with that, *drum roll* - here are our winners!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered and for all of you who support and frequent Peggy Does Cake on Facebook and on this blog!

Oven's on, I'll be back soon!
~ Peggy

Peggy Does Cake 20,000 Fan Giveaway!

Once you enter the contest via Rafflecopter (see my Facebook page HERE  to enter), leave a comment on this post telling me the name of your Business or Facebook Fan Page (if you have one) and where you are located.

It's over! See the winners HERE.

Leaving a comment is strictly optional for an extra shot at winning.

Good luck to everyone!

Must be 18 to win, one entry per household. See all Terms and Conditions HERE and see prize detail and rules HERE.

~ Peggy xx

20,000 Fan Giveaway Prize Detail

Prize 1: $100 prize package sponsored by:

• Frosted Sensations: Impression mat giftset including 16 custom textured impression mats in zig zag line, narrow line, wide line, wavy line, leopard print, giraffe print, tiger print, zebra print, diamond print (large and small), square print (large and small), scalloped lace, filigree lace, vintage lace, and royal lace patterns.

• Peggy Does Cake: Frilly apron in a festive cupcake pattern, custom made by The Little Red Wagon especially for this giveaway.

• Print the Party: Printable party giftset including invitations, thank yous, favor tags, cupcake wrappers, cupcake toppers, birthday banner, food labels, door sign, and centerpiece (in any existing theme).

Prize 2: $80 prize package sponsored by:

• Cakes with L.O.V.E:  Ateco gift set including flower sugarpaste cutters (set of 3), daisy sugarpaste cutters (set of 3), lily sugarpaste cutters (set of 3), wide leaf sugarpaste cutters (set of 3), plastic bowl scraper (1), and metal decorating comb (1), PLUS a PME gift set including 35mm 5-petal cutters (set of 4), 75mm 5-petal cutter (1), and a flower foam pad (1).

Prize 3: $80 prize package sponsored by:

• Sophie Bifield Cake Company: Sophie traveled abroad and custom created a giftset especially for this giveaway consisting of Belgian chocolate sprinkles (from Brussels), pinwheel toppers (from Amsterdam), cupcake recipes (picked up while in Paris), cupcake liners (from Canada), a selection of ribbons (from London), and a selection of decorating tools including cutters and stencils (from London).

Prize 4: $100 prize package sponsored by:

• Not Just Cakes by Annie: Cake Pop brand baking ban and accessories kit.

• Whisk Me Away:  FMM funky tappits upper case, lower case, and numbers.

• Yummy Treats By Yane: Sharon Zambito (SugarEd Productions) tutorial DVD “Totally Topsy Turvy.”

BORING STUFF (Contest Details):

·  Winners will be chosen randomly and will be contacted via email on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

·  If any winner doesn't respond within 24 hours of notification, a new winner will be chosen.

·  See Terms and Conditions HERE.

·  It's over! See the winners HERE.