Five Favorite Frostings From Amish Kitchens

By Kevin Willimas

You can have the best cake in the world, but if it is topped with a dull, flavorless frosting, then all your effort is for naught.  Conversely, you can a pretty bland cake but if it is topped with an amazing frosting, most people won't care about the cake.  So frosting really is a kep component of any cake and Amish cooks are legendary for their frostings.  I can you that, for me, when it comes to frosting more is better.  For instance, in the chocolate chip frosting, I'd add more chips.  In the maple frosting, I'd add more maple.  In the quick Iowa frosting, yes, you guessed it: more chocolate.  But that is what I like about frosting is that once you have the consistency down there really is no "wrong", it's all good.  Enjoy of these!

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CHOCOLATE CHIP FROSTING

1 ⅓ cup sugar

6 tablespoons milk

6 tablespoons butter

8 ounce package of chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Boil sugar, milk, and butter for 30 seconds.  Remove from heat and add chocolate chip.  Stir until melted. Add vanilla and keep stirring. Frosting is like a glaze.

WHITE COOKED FROSTING

1 1 /2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons Crisco vegetable shortening

2 tablespoons light or dark corn syrup

7 tablespoons milk

⅛ teaspoon salt

Bring to  full boil and cook 2 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Do not stir. Cool, then beat until the shine is gone.  Spread immediately. Covers a 9 X 13 inch cake.

MAPLE CREAM ICING

1 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1 /4 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

½ teaspoon maple flavor or pure maple sy

Bring to a full boil, boil 1 minute, but no longer.  Remover from the heat and add powdered sugar and maple.  Stir until dissover.  Spread at once on cake or cinnamon rolls.

ECONOMICAL FROSTING

4 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk

1 stick margarine

1 /2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Cook flour and milk until thick, then cool. Cream together margarine, shortening, sugar and vailla.  Add to cooled mixture. Beat all together until smooth.  Recipe is so large it can be cut in half for loaf cake.

QUICK IOWA FROSTING

1 tablespoon cocoa

3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons flour

Add milk till enough

Stir until smooth consistency.