This is my preferred icing for piping flowers and decorating.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Crisco shortening (4 oz. Or 1/2 stick)
  • 8 oz. Cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3 lbs. powdered sugar (3 boxes)
  • 1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract
  • 2-4 Tablespoons of milk (add to get consistency to pipe or spread)

DIRECTIONS:

Cream shortening and butter with an electric mixer (use paddle) for about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and cream cheese. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time until it’s all combined. Will be stiff. Then begin adding milk until you reach the desired consistency. (2-3 usually works).

Makes about 4 1/2 cups of frosting.

Storage: Store the icing in an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months.