Citrus Icing Recipes

LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Combine the butter, lemon juice, vanilla, and confectioner's sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add more confectioner's sugar, or lemon juice to adjust the consistency as needed.

LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon rind, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar in 2 additions. Beat until creamy. Add more icing sugar or juice as needed for easy spreading. Makes about 3 2/3 cups.

CITRUS GLAZE

Steps:

• Add the powdered sugar, zest, juice, and salt to a medium mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.
• Drizzle immediately over the completely cooled cake or store glaze in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Stir well before using.
• Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 375 degrees F.
• Coat a 10-inch aluminum tube pan or 2 (9 by 5-inch) loaf pans with 1 tablespoon of butter and dust with 2 tablespoons of the flour.
• Combine the remaining 12 ounces of butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream for 6 minutes on medium speed, using the paddle attachment. Stop once to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. With the mixer running at lowest speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Again stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl. This will take approximately 1 1/2 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.
• With the mixer on the lowest speed add the flour in 3 installments, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour, making sure each portion is fully incorporated before adding the next. After the final addition, beat the batter for 30 seconds on medium speed until almost smooth.
• Scoop the batter into the prepared pan(s), dividing evenly if using 2 pans. Bake for 1 hour in a tube pan or 40 minutes in loaf pans, until the internal temperature reaches 210 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. The crust will be golden brown and spring back when pressed, but the crack around the center will appear moist.
• Remove the cake from the oven to a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan(s) and cool on the rack. Store the cake on the rack covered with a tea towel for up to 3 days.

ROYAL ICING FOR CITRUS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer on low, combine confectioners' sugar, egg whites, and cream of tartar; beat on high until icing is whipped and opaque, about 2 minutes. Thin with water as needed to make a stiff but spreadable icing.

LEMON WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Chill a bowl and beaters (or a whisk attachment for a stand mixer) in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Add the heavy whipping cream to the chilled bowl and beat on medium-high speed until frothy and soft peaks form.
• Reduce speed to medium and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest while beating. Continue beating until smooth, thick, and stiff peaks form. Use immediately.

LEMON FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating and scraping sides of bowl after each addition, about 5 minutes total. Add lemon juice and zest, and beat until frosting is smooth. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)