Recipe Almond Buttercream Frosting

Steps:

• I recommend using a stand mixer, if you have one, if you would also like to achieve the super light frosting feel. Even if you don't have one, you can still get that lightness, it will just involve you standing there with your hand mixer for a lot longer than you might want to stand there. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until it's a smooth consistency. Add in the powdered sugar, salt, and both extracts. Mix these well. Start adding in the milk a little at a time, especially if it becomes too difficult to mix the original mixture. Keep adding milk and beating the mixture until you reach your desired consistency. After you've added all the ingredients, add food coloring, if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.

Steps:

• For base frosting:.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sugar, then cream and vanilla.
• If making both frostings: Divide between 2 bowls.
• For vanilla frosting:.
• Mix 1 teaspoon vanilla into 1 bowl of base frosting.
• For almond frosting:.
• Mix almond extract into second bowl of base frosting. Mix in yellow food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired shade is reached.

Steps:

• Combine sugar, egg yolks, eggs, almond paste and salt in medium size saucepan.
• Beat with electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
• Beat in cream and vanilkla until blended.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 6 min.
• until mixture just starts simmering Strain into large bowl.
• Refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until chill.
• Beat in butter with electric mixer until fluffy (Icing can be made up to 1 week in advance,cover in airtight container and store in refrigerator).
• Let stand at room temperature until good spreading consistency.

Steps:

• 1. In large mixer bowl, beat butter until fluffy and lighter in color, about 5-8 minutes.
• 2. Turn mixer on low and slowly add confectioners sugar little by little. Make sure that sugar is incorporated prior to adding more. Frequently scrape down sides of the bowl.
• 3. Add salt, meringue powder if using, vanilla and almond extracts and butter flavoring until combined, frequently scrapping down sides of the bowl.
• 4. Add cream one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• 5. Increase mixer speed to medium and continue beating frosting until it is almost pure white and fluffy, about 5 minutes. You are whipping air into your buttercream for that light and airy texture.
• 6. Frost cake(s) or store in airtight container until ready for use. You may keep at room temperature for up to 2 days. It will keep in refrigerator until expiration date on the butter used. Freeze for up to 1 month. If your buttercream has been refrigerated or frozen, bring to room temperature and rewhip, adding cream if needed to get desired texture.