Icing (food)

Common card · No. 267951

Icing is a sweet glaze, made of sugar with a liquid, such as water or milk, that is often enriched with ingredients like butter, eggwhites, cream cheese, or flavorings. It is used to coat or decorate baked goods, such as cakes, donuts, or honey buns. When it is used between layers of cake, it is known as a filling in some foods. Icing can be formed into shapes such as flowers and leaves using a pastry bag. Such decorations are commonplace on birthday and wedding cakes. Edible dyes can be added to icing mixtures to achieve a desired hue. Sprinkles, edible inks or other decorations are often used on top of icing. A basic icing is called a glacé, containing powdered sugar (also known as confectioners' sugar) and water. This can be flavored and colored as desired, for example, by using lemon juice in place of the water. More complex icings can be made by beating fat into powdered sugar (as in buttercream), by melting fat and sugar together, by using egg whites (as in royal icing), by whipping...

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