ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Nothing tops an orange for delivering intense flavor and outstanding color, especially when you add the juice and zest from an orange to a basic cream cheese frosting. For an interesting change, substitute the same amount of lemon juice and zest for the orange. Great on carrot or spice cake.
1 package
(8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest (from 1 medium orange)
1. Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined – about 30 seconds.
2. Stop the blender. Add the confectioners’ sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well-combined – about 1 minute.
3. Add the orange juice and zest to the mixture. Increase speed to medium and beat until the frosting lightens and is fluffy – about 1 minute.
4. Use at once to frost the top and sides of the carrot cake. Make sure your cakes are completely cooled or it will melt the frosting – speaking from personal experience!