Baking · 1 batch

Butter Icing

Butter and icing sugar. Colour it, flavour it, spread it on anything.

5 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 115g butter, soft
  • 175g icing sugar, sifted
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Vanilla essence
  • Food colouring

Method

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and light.
  2. Lemon juice, vanilla and colouring beaten in.
  3. For chocolate icing, use 1 tsp cocoa instead of the lemon.
  4. For lemon icing, add 2 tbsp grated lemon rind.

Questions people ask about Butter Icing

How long does Butter Icing take?

About 5 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. That is start-to-finish, so it works on a weeknight when you have not planned anything.

What can I use instead of butter in Butter Icing?

Use ghee or oil. Ghee has no water in it, so things brown faster and you may need slightly less.

Can I make Butter Icing ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Butter Icing vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

How long does home-made butter icing keep?

Depends what it is: pastes and stocks keep a few days refrigerated or months frozen in portions; dry mixes keep for months in a sealed jar.

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