RECIPE FOR CAKE DECORATING FROSTING RECIPES

Steps:

• Using electric mixer (prefereably not handheld), cream shortening until very soft.
• Add salt, a little powdered sugar and flavorings.
• Alternately add water and powdered sugar, beating on medium speed until frosting is smooth after each addition.
• ***Do not mix on high speed as it will cause bubbles in the finished frosting.
• ***NOTE: This frosting makes enough to frost a 2-layer cake with enough left to make decorative roses, etc.
• for the top of the cake.
• DECORATIONS: Roses, leaves and other decorations can be made by adding tasteless food coloring paste (Wilton is one brand) to the frosting.
• Make decorations, place on plastic wrap on cookie sheet and cover gently with plastic wrap.
• Freeze for up to 1 month.
• ***If you decide to freeze your frosted cake, DO NOT put the decorations on it until after you have thawed both the cake and decorations, as the colored decorations will bleed into the cake frosting when they thaw.
• ***Defrost cake and decorations separately and then place decorations on the cake.
• VARIATIONS: For chocolate frosting, add 3 tbs powdered cocoa to the sugar mixture.
• For lemon, omit butter and vanilla flavorings and add 3 tsp.
• lemon extract.
• COLORED FROSTINGS: Frosting can be made any color you want with tasteless food coloring, but be sure to mix well after adding the coloring.
• WEDDING CAKES: Five recipes of this frosting will decorate wedding cakes as follows: top layer 6-inch cake, middle layer 14-inch cake and bottom layer 18-inch cake.
• This will serve 50-60 people.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in chocolate and vanilla. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in three parts and buttermilk in two, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes; run a knife around edge of each pan, and invert cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Set a rimmed baking sheet upside down on a work surface. Place one cake on sheet, and spread top with 1/3 of ganache. Place second cake on top, and spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake. Using two wide metal spatulas, carefully transfer frosted cake to a serving platter.