This is a cake entender recipe. You add the following ingredients in addition to all that is already listed on the cake box. I've only used it with a white and yellow cake mix so far but I think it is supposed to work for most cake mixes. We thought it made thecake taste better.
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/2 package pudding (flavor of your choice)
Here is a recipe for a great buttercream icing. It is fabulous for decorating. It actually called for a lot more shortening then I like so this recipe is my altered recipe. Before I reduced the amount of shortening it left a film of shortening in our mouth after every bite. Yuck! My kids and Jonny actually really like the flavor of this icing.
2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 cup shortening
3/4 tsp. butter flavoring ( you can get this at Michael's or Walmart in the cake decorating section)
1 tsp. vanilla (I use Wilton's clear vanilla)
1/4 tsp. almond extract
2 pounds powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
Water as needed (I usually end up using around 2 tablespoons or so)
Combine butter, shortening, and salt. Mix about 5 minutes on low. Add almond, butter and vanilla extracts. Mix together well. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time and mix well. Add water as needed.
Another tip: If you are frosting a cake, do a crumb coat first. This means to do a quick frosting, nothing pretty, then put the cakein the freezer for about an hour. This will seal in the crumbs so when you do your final coat of frosting the crumbs will not mix in.
