What’s a cupcake without its frosting, we ask? With the US celebrating National Cupcake day, today, The Telegraph gets you the best frosting recipes from the city’s fave, Sneha Singhi Upadhaya, who has been cooking up a storm on Instagram (@snehasinghi1).
From dense chocolate to fresh strawberry, and fluffy cream cheese flavour, we’ve got it all for you. So let’s get your hands dirty!
Vanilla Buttercream
Ingredients:
• 2 cups (480g) butter
• 4 cups (907g) powdered sugar
• 3tbsp (45ml) fresh cream
• 1.5tsp vanilla essence
Method:
• Using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium speed, beat in a large bowl the butter until smooth and creamy, for about 3-4 minutes.
• Reduce mixer speed to low, add 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar and keep mixing until incorporated.
• Add cream and vanilla. Once incorporated, add the remaining confectioners’ sugar; beat on low speed for 1 minute, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 4-5 minutes until the frosting is smooth, fluffy, and spreadable, scraping down bowl once or twice.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
• 1 cup (230g) butter, softened
• 5 cups (600g) icing sugar
• 1tsp (5ml) vanilla essence
• 2cups (452g) cream cheese
Method:
• Using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium speed, beat in a large bowl the butter until smooth and creamy, for about 3-4 minutes.
• Reduce mixer speed to low, add 1 cup of sugar and keep mixing until incorporated. Add vanilla and salt. Once incorporated, add the remaining sugar; beat on low speed for a minute, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 3-4 minutes until the frosting is smooth, scraping down the bowl once or twice.
• Add the cream cheese and beat for 2 minutes, or until well incorporated, fluffy and spreadable. Do not over beat, or the frosting will lose the firm consistency.
Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients:
• 1cup (150g) chocolate (I use dark chocolate)
• 1 cup (228g) butter, softened
• 2tsp vanilla essence
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar
• 3-4tbsp (45-60ml) milk
Method:
• Place your chocolate in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well. Return chocolate to microwave and heat for another 15 seconds and stir again. Continue heating chocolate for 15 seconds, stirring after each, until it is completely melted and smooth.
• In a medium bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until soft.
• Add melted chocolate, vanilla essence, and salt. Mix until well combined.
• Add powdered sugar and keep mixing until blended. Gradually beat in 3-4tbsp of milk, 1tbsp at the time, to make frosting smooth and spreadable.
Strawberry Buttercream
Ingredients:
• 1 cup (230g) butter, softened
• 4 cups (480g) icing sugar, sifted
• 2tbsp (30ml) fresh cream
• 1tsp (5ml) vanilla essence
• 1/8tsp salt
• 1/4 cup (60ml) strawberry puree
Method:
• Using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy, for about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low, add 1 cup of the sugar, and keep mixing until incorporated. Add the cream, and vanilla essence. Once incorporated, add the remaining 3 cups sugar; beat on low speed for 1 minute, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 4 to 5 minutes until the frosting is smooth, fluffy, and spreadable, scraping down the bowl once or twice.
• Add strawberry puree and mix until well incorporated.
Chef Sneha Singhi Upadhaya, who has been cooking up a storm on Instagram (@snehasinghi1)