Frostings:

 

There are many different types of frostings, as you will learn today.  Some are better for cakes, and some are better for cookies that will be stacked upon each other.  Special frostings harden up like cement and are best for holding things together, like a Gingerbread House and candies to go on it. 

 

Cake Frostings:  This type is generally soft, creamy and fluffy and used for cakes and cupcakes.  Ingredients are shortening or butter and powdered sugar.  There are many different flavors and you can color it any color you choose.  This is the type you can buy in a store in containers already made up.

 

Icing: This type is great for drizzling over donuts and cookies.  It is much runnier then cake frosting and you can write with it and draw pictures with it.  Powdered sugar is mixed and a drop of flavoring and enough milk is added until it is a smooth consistency- kind of like catsup or mustard.  You can color it any color you like.  The orange glaze we used today is like this.

 

The Gingerbread houses we will decorate next month will use icing too. The icing we will use needs to be stiff enough to hold your house together, and soft enough to be able to put your decorations on too.  This is the recipe we will use next month.

 

·       3 egg whites

·       1 tsp. Cream of tarter

·       1 lb. Powdered sugar

·       1 tsp. Vanilla