Recipes and Cooking Creamy White Frosting 3.8 (20) Add your rating & review This basic frosting recipe makes enough to top the sides and tops of two 8- or 9-inch cake layers. For a bright white frosting, use clear vanilla. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 14, 2011 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Andy Lyons Total Time: 25 mins Servings: 12 Yield: 3 cups Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla or clear vanilla* ½ teaspoon lemon extract, orange extract, or almond extract 4 ½ cup sifted powdered sugar (about 1 pound) 3 - 4 tablespoon milk Directions In a medium mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Slowly add half of the powdered sugar, beating well. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and enough remaining milk to reach spreading consistency. This frosts the tops and sides of two 8- or 9-inch cake layers. (Halve the recipe to frost a 13x9x2-inch cake.) Makes about 3 cups. *Test Kitchen Tip: Clear vanilla is an imitation vanilla extract that has no color, making it ideal for use in pure white frostings and icings. If you are tinting your frosting with food coloring or you are not concerned with creating a pure white frosting, you can use regular vanilla extract. Find clear vanilla in the cake decorating department of hobby or crafts stores. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 330 Calories 17g Fat 45g Carbs Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Calories 330 % Daily Value * Total Fat 17g 22% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Sodium 3mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 45g 16% Total Sugars 44g Calcium 5mg 0% Potassium 7mg 0% Fatty acids, total trans 2g Folate, total 0.2mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.