Red Velvet Cupcakes

McCormick Red Velvet Cupcakes (taken from family circle magazine nov 09)

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp slat
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 bottle (1 ounce) Red Food Color
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
vanilla cream cheese frosting (directions to follow)


Mix flour ,cocoa, baking soda, and salt.set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs., 1 at a time. Mix sour cream , milk food color, and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. BAKE in preheated oven 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans ; cool completely. spread with frosting... makes 30 cupcakes

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat 1 package (8ounce) softened cream cheese, 4 tbsp softened butter, 2 tbsp sour cream and 2 tsp pure vanilla extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 box(16 ounces) confectioners' sugar on medium speed until smooth.

Cream Cheesse Frosting

This icing is good on Cinnamon rolls, banana cake, ...lots of good things really!

Frosting:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), at room temperature
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, blend together the cream cheese and butter. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla.Frost cake when cooled

some variation:
take 1/2 cup pecans and stir in frosting or after cake is frosted sprinkle pecans over cake.

Qucik cookie glaze

stir together
3/4 cup powdered sugar,
3-4 teaspoons of milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
in small bowl - mix until of drizzling consistency-
add 3-4 drops food coloring for decorating!

Best ever butter Cookies

Butter cookies

1 cup butter- softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp. orange juice
1 tbsp. vanilla
2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1tsp. baking powder

frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter- softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 tbsp milk
Optional:food color and/or decorator
candies/sugars if desired


Combine 1 cup butter , sugar ,and egg in large bowl. beat at medium speed , scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and vanilla, mix well. reduce speed to low, add flour and baking powder, beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds ; wrap each in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (2-3 hours)

Heat oven to 400 degrees . roll out dough on lightly floured surface.one third at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated). roll to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with 3 inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. cool completely

FROSTING
combine powdered sugar, 1/3 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency. tint frosting with food color, if desired. frost and decorate cooled cookies as desired.
Makes 3 dozen cookies