Peppermint Buttercream Icing Recipes

PEPPERMINT BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• whip butter.
• blend in icing sugar and 2 tablespoons of half and half.
• add egg whites and BEAT! until fluffy.
• mix in peppermint extract.
• Be sure to taste!

PEPPERMINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat butter in a bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth and creamy; gradually add confectioners' sugar and milk and beat until smooth. Add peppermint extract and food coloring and beat on high speed until fluffy.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH PEPPERMINT FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease an 8-by-8-inch square or 9-inch round light-colored metal baking pan with oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Use a whisk or an electric mixer to beat the mixture until foamy and slightly lighter in texture and color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, vanilla and salt, and whisk until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Stir the espresso powder into the hot water, then add the mixture to the bowl. Whisk until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan set on a rack for about 45 minutes.
• While the cake bakes, clean the mixing bowl and make the frosting: Add the butter to the bowl and mix on medium-high with an electric mixer until smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn the speed to low, and slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until the sugar is moistened, then add 2 teaspoons of the cream, the vanilla extract, 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and salt. Turn the speed up to medium-high, and whip until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, adding a bit more cream a teaspoon at a time, if necessary, to make a smooth and light frosting. Taste the frosting, and add a few more drops of peppermint extract if desired. The frosting can be kept at room temperature while the cake finishes baking and cooling.
• Top the cooled cake with an even layer of frosting, then use the tip of a toothpick to dot the frosting with a few small dots of gel food coloring, if using. Use a spoon or offset spatula to swirl the food coloring into the frosting to create candy cane-like stripes - just a few swipes will do the trick. If you mix it in too much, the frosting will turn pink. Top the cake with sprinkles and shaved chocolate, if desired. Store leftover cake loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

PEPPERMINT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pot of simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to the touch (about 160 degrees). Attach bowl to a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing speed to high, beat egg whites until stiff and glossy and the bottom of the bowl is cool, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low, and add butter, a few tablespoons at a time, until incorporated. Switch to paddle attachment, and add peppermint extract, salt and, if using, food coloring. Beat until air bubbles are gone and mixture is smooth. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature and re-whip with paddle attachment before using.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Add milk until frosting reaches desired consistency.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Cream together margarine and shortening until well combined. Add cocoa powder and mix well.
• Add the icing sugar about half a cup at a time and beat well each time adding a little splash of soy milk when all ingredients have been mixed . Beat in the essences for about 3 minutes with a hand held mixer until light and fluffy. Cover with cling film and refrigerate until needed. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles.