10+ Old Fashion Icing Recipes to Sweeten Your Baking

If you love baking, you know that icing can make or break your dessert. Old-fashioned icing recipes offer a delightful way to top cakes and cupcakes with a touch of nostalgia. These timeless recipes provide creamy textures and classic flavors that can elevate your baked goods.

Making icing from scratch connects you to traditional baking methods, allowing you to create something truly special. You’ll find that these old-fashioned frostings not only taste great but also bring a sense of warmth and comfort to your treats.

1) Ermine Frosting

Ermine frosting is a classic icing that many people love for its smooth texture and less sweet taste. It is also known as boiled milk frosting. This icing is perfect for cakes and cupcakes.

To make ermine frosting, you’ll start by cooking milk and flour to create a thick mixture. Once cooled, you’ll beat this mixture with butter and sugar until it’s fluffy and creamy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and flour.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
3. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
4. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Gradually add the cooled milk mixture and beat until smooth.
6. Mix in vanilla extract and salt.

2) 7-Minute Frosting

7-Minute Frosting is a classic icing that is light and fluffy. It’s perfect for cakes and cupcakes. The name comes from the time it takes to whip it up.

To make this frosting, you’ll need simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. It tastes sweet and has a texture similar to marshmallow cream.

This frosting is great for adding a fun touch to your baked goods. You can even add food coloring to match any occasion!

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 egg whites
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, cream of tartar, and water.
2. Place the bowl over simmering water in a saucepan.
3. Beat the mixture for 7 minutes until fluffy and glossy.
4. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.
5. Use the frosting immediately on your favorite treats.

3) Vintage Vanilla Buttercream

Vintage Vanilla Buttercream is a classic treat that brings back warm memories of baking. This frosting is rich, creamy, and perfect for cakes or cupcakes. It’s simple to make and only requires a few basic ingredients.

To start, you will need softened butter. Cream it until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar. Mixing in a splash of vanilla will give it a delightful flavor. Whipping it all together will create a light and airy texture.

This frosting pairs well with any dessert. You can easily adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar to your taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3-4 cups (340-454 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons (9 g) vanilla extract
• 2-4 tablespoons (30-60 ml) heavy cream

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a bowl, cream the softened butter until smooth.
2. Gradually add in the powdered sugar.
3. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4. Add heavy cream until desired consistency is achieved.
5. Whip until fluffy and spread on your favorite dessert.

4) Boiled Milk Frosting

Boiled milk frosting is a classic choice for cakes and cupcakes. This frosting has a unique texture that is both creamy and light. It’s a great alternative to traditional buttercream.

To make it, you start by cooking flour with milk to create a thick paste. This base gives the frosting its distinct flavor and smoothness. The result is a sweet icing that isn’t overly sugary.

You can easily customize this frosting with vanilla or other flavors to suit your taste. It pairs wonderfully with chocolate or vanilla cakes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and flour until smooth.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick.
3. Let the mixture cool completely.
4. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. Gradually add the cooled milk mixture and vanilla.
6. Beat until smooth and spread on your favorite cake.

5) Old-Fashioned Cooked Icing

Old-fashioned cooked icing is a delightful treat that has a creamy, smooth texture. It is made by cooking a mixture of milk and flour, resulting in a unique and airy frosting. This icing pairs well with many cakes and adds a nostalgic touch to your dessert.

To start, you will need basic pantry staples. The resulting icing is less sweet than most others, which makes it perfect for those who prefer a lighter taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk and flour over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbles, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. In a separate bowl, beat together sugar and butter until fluffy.
5. Gradually add the cooled milk mixture and vanilla, mixing well.

6) Old-Fashioned Vanilla Frosting

Old-fashioned vanilla frosting is a classic treat that adds a sweet touch to cakes and cookies. This frosting is creamy and smooth, making it perfect for spreading or piping.

To make this frosting, you’ll need simple ingredients from your kitchen. It can also be made without powdered sugar, which is great if you want a less sweet option.

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and flour over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly until it thickens into a paste. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the cooled flour mixture, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth and creamy.

7) Classic Whipped Frosting

Classic whipped frosting is a light and fluffy choice for many cakes. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a sweeter topping without being overly rich. This frosting has a creamy texture that pairs well with any cake flavor.

You will only need a few simple ingredients to make whipped frosting. It’s easy to spread or pipe onto your favorite desserts.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream using an electric mixer on medium speed.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Continue whipping until soft peaks form.
4. Use the frosting immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

8) Silky Butter and Shortening Blend

For a creamy and smooth icing, the Silky Butter and Shortening Blend is perfect. This mixture combines butter and shortening to create a frosting that is both rich and stable.

You start by beating softened butter and shortening together until fluffy. Then, gradually add powdered sugar to achieve a sweet, silky texture.

This frosting holds its shape well, making it great for decorating cakes and cupcakes. You can even add a splash of vanilla for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (115 g) shortening
• 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and shortening until fluffy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
4. Mix in vanilla extract if desired.

9) Creamy Milk and Flour Icing

Creamy milk and flour icing, also known as ermine frosting, is a delicious choice for cakes and cupcakes. This icing is smooth and has a light sweetness. It’s made using simple ingredients that you likely already have at home.

To make this icing, you start with flour and milk, cooking them together to form a thick paste. This mixture gets whipped with butter and sugar, creating a silky texture. It pairs wonderfully with chocolate or vanilla cakes.

Many bakers enjoy this icing because it is less sweet than traditional buttercream. It spreads easily and holds its shape well.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups milk
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and flour over medium heat.
2. Stir until thickened, then remove from heat and cool.
3. In a bowl, beat sugar and butter until creamy.
4. Add the cooled flour mixture and beat until smooth.
5. Mix in salt and vanilla extract, then spread on your cake.

10) Traditional Flour-Based Frosting

Traditional flour-based frosting, often called ermine frosting, is a classic choice for cakes. This frosting has a smooth, creamy texture that many find appealing.

To make this frosting, you start by cooking flour and milk together. This thickens the mixture, giving it a unique consistency. Once cooled, you mix in butter and sugar to create a light, fluffy frosting.

It’s less sweet than typical buttercream, making it a perfect match for rich cakes. You can use it for decorative piping or spreading on your favorite desserts.

Ingredients

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a saucepan, whisk together flour and milk over medium heat until thickened.
2. Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool completely.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Gradually add the cooled flour mixture and vanilla. Mix well.
5. Add a pinch of salt and beat until smooth.
6. Use on your cake or cupcakes.