Icing

Use this decadent, flavorful frosting recipe to make The Coconut Cake from Baked by Melissa.

The only decorating icing you'll ever need.

This recipe is part of the Epicurious Online Cooking School, in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America. To watch it being made, and to learn how to make other dessert classics, check out the videos.

Serve this icing spooned over cake or ice cream.

If not using immediately, transfer to an airtight container (icing hardens quickly when exposed to air), and store at room temperature for up to one week. Beat with a rubber spatula before using.

If either glaze becomes too firm to spread, place it in a heatproof bowl over simmering water and stir until it’s the right consistency.

This delicious icing has a tendency to separate. If it does, warm it in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water; whisk until smooth, adding a bit more milk, if necessary, to achieve the right consistency

Using meringue powder (or powdered egg whites), instead of raw egg whites, eliminates food-safety concerns. Look for the powder at baking-supply stores and many supermarkets. Royal icing hardens quickly, so if not using immediately, transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator, up to one week; before using, stir with a flexible spatula until smooth.

Although just a minor variation on the Vanilla Icing (page 136), the addition of Marshmallow Fluff makes this version a bit lighter and more smooth. The marshmallow flavor is not overwhelming, and it’s a pleasant addition to the Devil’s Food Cake (page 98) in the Mini S’mores Cupcakes (page 101). We also use this icing, along with sweetened white coconut, atop Devil’s Food Cake and call it the “Snowball” during the winter or the “Bunny Tail” for Easter celebrations. Partnered with a smear of peanut butter, this icing is much loved on Vanilla Cake (page 115) in our “Fluffer Nutter,” or substitute Banana Cake (page 126) for Vanilla in the Fluffer Nutter version to get “The Elvis.” Marshmallow Icing can even be paired with Pumpkin Cake (page 128) in a dessert twist on candied yams.

Many peanut butter icings achieve a thin, smooth consistency by diluting the peanut butter with sugar and heavy cream, but ours is concentrated and stays true to the nutty flavor. It can be more challenging to achieve a smooth finish when icing a cake with this icing, so be prepared for your cakes to have a more textured finish.

Cookies and Cream Icing is a serious crowd-pleaser. It’s a little more distinctive than classic vanilla or chocolate icings, but it’s still basic enough to appeal to traditionalists. The texture and dappled look of the icing make it easy to ice cakes with because you don’t need to spend so much time smoothing the final coat. We serve it exclusively with our Devil’s Food cakes or cupcakes (see pages 98–112), but feel free to pair it with any favorite cake.