Are there any icing sugar recipes that don't involve powdered / confectioners' sugar?

Question

Or a ridiculous amount of work?

I ran out of confectioners sugar yesterday, and I'm baking some cupcakes as a gift, and as you probably know, cupcakes just aren't the same without icing. :(

Answer 1

You could make a ganache with just equal parts chocolate and heavy cream

Answer 2

2 cups milk

1/2 cup flour

2 cups butter

2 cups granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine the milk and flour in a medium saucepan, whisking to remove any lumps of flour. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is the consistency of yogurt. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for at least one hour.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until the sugar no longer feels grainy mixed with the butter.

Add the cooled milk mixture to the butter/sugar mixture, add the vanilla extract and combine with your electric mixer until fully incorporated together.

Makes enough to very generously frost a 9" layer cake, 1/2 sheet cake or at least 2 dozen cupcakes.

Answer 3

Your best bet is to run out and purchase some premade frosting from a can at this point.  You can take the time to make an Italian meringue buttercream, but it would be quite involved.  You can also try mixing heavy whipping cream with sugar, vanilla, a little cream of tarter and use that.  Or, you can make a simple chocolate ganache by melting chocolate chips and adding heavy whipping cream and corn syrup.  Chill for several hours to firm up or use as a glaze.