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Cooking with Kids: Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

Paige, Will and I made cupcakes this afternoon. There was no particular reason … it was just something we could do for a nice dessert.

Can I let you in on a little secret? This might come as a surprise — especially due to my fondness for cooking from scratch. Prepare yourself … When I make cupcakes, the cake usually comes from a box.

Yes, it’s true. I have a few cupcake recipes that I love like Black Bottom Cupcakes and Pumpkin Cupcakes. But usually, if I am making them, it starts with a box of chocolate cake mix. All in all, it’s great since making cupcakes from a box is a perfect activity for kids … there is minimal measuring and way fewer steps.

My secret to making that box great? I add one serving of instant coffee — usually from a single serv package. It makes the chocolate so wonderfully rich.

Once that part is out of the way, the frosting comes …

Butter, sugar, vanilla beans, milk. It’s a simple combination that creates an amazing, creamy topping. I like to pipe it on using a disposable pastry bag and a big round tip to make swirls. Other tips work fine, but that’s just my favorite.

For the kids’ part, they get to decorate the cupcakes with sprinkles of their choice. Paige is so exacting when she places hers on the cupcakes … Precision is a good thing, right? Will, on the other hand, just tosses them on (me too!).

Do you ever make cupcakes just because?

Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, , softened to room temperature
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 3 vanilla beans, , seeded
  • 1/3 cup nonfat milk

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy.
  2. To color: add food coloring and beat until well-combined.

josephine

Wednesday 26th of May 2010

We always make cupcakes for no reason!!! Or as Amelia calles them....cuppy-cakes

The Teacher Cooks

Tuesday 25th of May 2010

Looks like you and the kids had a fun afternoon. Nice job decorating! .-= The Teacher Cooks´s last blog ..Pan Seared Scallops with Bacon and Kale =-.

Maria

Tuesday 25th of May 2010

Love the pink frosting. So fuN!

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