Ready made or home made?

I never did find a nice, tasty ready made icing in over 20 yes of decorating. I don’t find it tricky to make and as for the time needed – make the icing while the cakes are baking. Try this one: Here is a great b’cream icing recipe that’s easy to make and use:

Ingredients
•2 cups butter
•2 cups shortening
•2 pounds powdered sugar
•2 Tablespoons flavoring

Directions for 2 of Everything Icing:

In KA mixer (best) mix together butter and shortening for at least 5 minutes. Add about 1/3 of the sugar; mix 5-10 minutes; add another 1/3 of the sugar, along with the flavoring, mixing 5 minutes; add the remaining sugar and mix 5-10 minutes until smooth.
There is NO liquid needed in this recipe.
Flavorings can be ANY! combination you want. What I used mostly is: 1 part vanilla; 1/2 part butter flavoring and 1/4 part almond. A “Part” can be any measure you want. Do you make many, many cakes? Mix it up by the cupfull; OR if for only one cake/icing use teaspoons as the ‘part’/measure.
Don’t like almond? Use lemon OR orange OR whatever you want. But, please do try it as stated at least once:)
I had a friend who didn’t like almond but after trying it once just added an additional 1/4 tsp lemon extract and was happy w/it.

Want this icing to crust? Reduce either the butter OR the shortening by 1 cup OR reduce each by 1/2 cup.

I have not tried making this recipe with any mixer other than a KitchenAid so not sure how it will mix up. The amount of time needed to make this super smooth icing will be hard on a hand-held one. You might get by making it once or twice but then the mixer motor surely will burn out :(

As kakeladi pisted, I’ve never found a good “store bought” icing. I make SMBC. If I need a lot, make a double batch and freeze.

Thank you