The mixer giveaway is still going on through noon today and winners will be announced Friday. Meanwhile, I wanted to re-post this recipe again for a slightly controversial frosting that I love so much I just made it again this week. And I realize it’s strange to call frosting controversial, but the comments on the original post did show mixed reactions and results. I happen to love it. Let me know if you’ve tried it yet!
From the TK Blog archives – March 2010
I’ve been intrigued with this frosting recipe for months, not just because of its alluring title, but also because if its ingredients. Five tablespoons of flour? In frosting? Let’s just say my interest was piqued.
I finally got around to making it yesterday evening; Marlboro Man’s grandmother has some old friends staying at The Lodge and I wanted to take them a treat. So I whipped up this frosting, slapped it on some chocolate cupcakes…and wound up considering not sharing them with the guests because it was so delicious.
You owe it to yourself to make this frosting sometime in your life.
You’ll just have to trust me on this.
Thank you, MissyDew, for submitting!
Here’s how you make it:
First things first: I made chocolate sheet cake cupcakes. They’re the best cupcakes around.
Here’s the recipe:
The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake (or Cupcakes!) Ever
Let your cupcakes (or cake) cool completely.
Begin by pouring 5 tablespoons of flour into 1 cup of milk. I used whole milk because I can if I want.
After adding the flour, whisk it together until combined, then place the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk it as it heats up and thickens, and stop when the mixture is very thick.
Cool the mixture completely.
The mixture will be very, very thick.
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the cooled flour/milk mixture.
Stir it around to combine.
Pour one cup of sugar into a bowl with one cup of butter.
Whip it around until it’s light and fluffy, scraping the bowl once or twice to make sure it’s all mixed well.
Add the cooled flour/milk/vanilla mixture. Make sure it’s not the least bit warm!
I’m bossy. Sorry.
Next, just whip it on medium-high until the mixture resembled whipped cream.
This was slightly tricky for me, as I was afraid of overbeating the mixture and causing everything to start breaking down and falling apart. I’d say this is about 45 seconds of pretty hard beating.
And then it was time for the rubber to meet the road.
This was spread with a big spatula…
This was spread with a dinner knife. The frosting definitely has a whipped cream consistency; it’s not thick like a decorator icing.
Before I allowed myself to taste it, I made some sprinkled ones for my punks.
This makes for a crunchy cupcake!
And now…for the moment of truth.
THE VERDICT: Okay. Let me just explain something to you. After I took this bite, I looked around for the hidden camera. I was certain someone was playing a trick on me. This frosting is so UNBELIEVABLY divine, I almost couldn’t believe what was happening to me. The consistency is light, the flavor indescribably delicious, and a perfect complement to the rich chocolate cake. And don’t just take my word for it—after my daughter took her first bite, she looked at me and said “WHAT is this FROSTING?”
Even she knew she was in the presence of greatness.
Here’s the frosting recipe:
That’s the Best Frosting I’ve Ever Had
Note: I would probably recommend making the frosting on the same day you intend to serve it.
Thank you to MissyDew for sharing such a great recipe!
332 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
Andrea C on 10.7.2010
i made it and really liked it. but the consistancy was hard for some people i served it too – i had slightly overmixed it. The flavor was great, but it looks super odd, if you aren’t really careful about the time mixing.
LAURA M on 10.7.2010
I made it when it was first posted and I hated it I am sorry to say, but that’s why life is so interesting.
Annette on 10.7.2010
I love this frosting! I have used it for years in a cake we call a ‘Twinkie Cake’, but since it is chocolate, it should be called a ‘SuzyQ Cake’, BUT…nobody asked me, so I will just call it GOOD!
kristen on 10.7.2010
Ever since I saw this recipe here a few months ago, this has been the only frosting I’ve made. I loooove the feel of biting into it! yum!
Peggy on 10.7.2010
This is good on angel food cake to0. Serve with a few strawberries. Yummy
Joanne on 10.7.2010
I made this frosting and used it with chocolate cupcakes (your sheet cake recipe), and I wasn’t thrilled with the taste. It wasn’t bad, but there was something not right about it.
Reading all the positive comments makes me want to try it again.
Mspamela on 10.7.2010
This recipe has been in my family for decades; I remember my grandmother cooking the milk and flour to make it when I was no more than 5 or 6 years old. I still use it!
Heather on 10.7.2010
This is what I use on my Red Velvets…..DEEEEVINE
Leah Blevins on 10.7.2010
This is almost exact recipe we use for our frosting on red velvet cake except we use crisco intead of butter. It is my all time favorite cake/frosting and always have it on my birthday!!
Carol on 10.7.2010
My Sister-in-law gave me this recipe about 30 years ago. Everything is the same, except she used shortening. It’s so fluffy and creamy. Almost like the filling inside a Twinkie.
Kay Shirey on 10.7.2010
perfect timing! I was just thinking of what kind of icing to put on Emma Rose’s first birthday cake. I wonder how it will be with a marble cake? We shall see!!
Bethany on 10.7.2010
It looks delicious! I’m going to have to give this a try!
Jean von B on 10.7.2010
I’m not big into sweets but my hubby and boys are. The one thing I really can’t stand is sickly sweet frosting. My guys love this! I’ve given the recipe to several friends. We’re all hooked!
Grandma Cindy on 10.7.2010
YUM! YUM!
Suzanne G. on 10.7.2010
Through the years, I have used this icing on our “traditional” chocolate birthday cakes for all of our kids’ birthdays. Definitely the best icing EVER:)
Suzanne @ Window On The Prairie on 10.7.2010
Homemade frosting always tastes better than store bought. This sounds like an old recipe, and they really knew how to cook back then. http://windowontheprairie.com/ Suzanne
Fridaypeach on 10.7.2010
I made it for a family picnic on the best chocolate cake ever recipe (in cupcake form)…we were so so on it. We all agreed that my mom’s recipe for frosting (that she used on our graduation cakes) was better.
It wasn’t bad per se and it was too sweet. It was just ok for us. I might need to try again…it was fun to make
Maggie on 10.7.2010
This is the only frosting I make now! It is so delicious that even my daughter who hates frosting (she is weird, I know) LOVES the stuff. Tastes like a delicious buttercream without the work of a buttercream. Thanks for posting this!
allison on 10.7.2010
I did try this recipe in August 2010, have 4 birthdays to celebrate. Everyone thought it was absolutely the best frosting ever! Thank you.
Steph on 10.7.2010
I hated this frosting! I was so excited to try it, but blegh… not at all what I was expecting.
Whitney on 10.7.2010
This is the same frosting my mom used to use when i was growing up for a cake called “Twinkie Cake” . It is my dad’s favorite! She would make a chocolate cake and split it length wise in half and spread the frosting on put the top back on and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours to chill and wa-lah… a really rich cake that tastes like a BIG twinkie! Never thought of using it as a regular frosting though… great idea. Have a Great Day!
MontreatGal on 10.7.2010
I remember this frosting from a recipe for Red Velvet Cake. The recipe for the cake and the frosting were from one of those wonderful cookbooks from a country church. Those ladies know how to cook!!
This is a strange recipe. Make it anyway.
This sounds so odd. Make it anyway.
It makes not sense. Make it anyway.
In the words of my friend from southern Georgia: “That tastes so good, you put some of that on your forehead, your tongue would beat your brains out trying to get to it!”
Make it today!
Lacey C. on 10.7.2010
I made this frosting last month and it was the HIT of the party! I did a few things differently – I used 3Tb flour with 1/2C half and half, and vanilla, and made the roux thick enough that it was like mashed potatoes and held its form when I put it in the bowl to cool. This turned out smooth as satin and light and airy – like eating a delicious cloud!
Lillie on 10.7.2010
I am going to try this again. I think it has a lot of potential, because I think the basic powdered sugar and butter icing tastes raw and uncomplicated. The first time I made it, I messed up the amount on one of ingredients and had to fix it later, so I can’t really judge it yet. Also, I was really afraid of it separating so I’m not sure I beat it long enough.
Kayla on 10.7.2010
I tried to make this twice, and failed both times. The second time it tasted good but the consistancy wasn’t right and then just started tasting bad. Maybe I need to keep trying…
Erica Snyder on 10.7.2010
Everytime I make it, I get questions about the recipe. LOVE THAT. Thanks for sharing!
Candie D. on 10.7.2010
Rhea,
I love this frosting. I grew up eating this frosting between 2 chocolate cookies (like whoopie pies) my Mom called them Gobs and they were the best……
janna on 10.7.2010
You must try a Ho Ho cake: Chocolate sheet cake, this frosting in the middle, chocolate on time. Delicious, every time.
Twinks on 10.7.2010
This is the frosting that my mom made for Red Velvet Cake when I was growing up and I love it.
Robin on 10.7.2010
This is almost the same recipe as my Mom’s (hers had a little less milk is the only difference). She always made creamed filled chocolate cupcakes with this frosting–filled the cupcakes with part of the frosting and frosted the top with the rest. This is by far my favorite frosting, especially paired with chocolate cupcakes!
Nicole on 10.7.2010
When I first read the recipe for this frosting, I said “WHAT????”…..but, I tried it anyway beacuse many of the recipes found here are really great. OMG!!!!!! It IS the BEST frosting ever!!!! I even did a chocolate version the next time I made it. YUMMY!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer on 10.7.2010
This frosting was a huge hit at my home! My husband always suggests that I make this when I make a cake. You do have to be careful not to get any flour lumps in it but other than that it is wonderful! I do beat my frosting on high for quite a bit at the end to make it good and fluffy. I was afraid it would separate or something but it didn’t. I told someone that I don’t know how it couldn’t be good, its like making gravy with sugar in it.
Jennifer M. on 10.7.2010
I made this frosting for a red velvet cake to take to a church potluck when you posted this the first time. My dad loved it! He insisted that I make this cake for his birthday which is tomorrow. Perfect timing! Now I don’t have to look up the recipe.
Emilee on 10.7.2010
Yes I have tried it and absolutley loved it!!!! Huge hit in my office and at home. I would have to agree with you it is the BEST.
Clare on 10.7.2010
I love this frosting, and so did everyone else who tried it. I even tried piping it and it worked.
Sue on 10.7.2010
Typically, I hate frosting, especially that thick sweet buttercream stuff. It hurts my teeth to even think about it. However, THIS frosting is simply the best ever. It is smooth and light and yummy and not overly sweet. I made dark chocolate cupcakes with this frosting and topped with fresh raspberries for a friend’s house party, and the guests raved.
I did discover that the frosting does not spread well if refrigerated first, so it must come to room temperature again before it is easily spreadable.
Lene on 10.7.2010
I really love this stuff. And yay me — my 50th birthday is coming up on the 15th of the month, so I get to make a cake and have some of this yummy frosting!
Bipolar Betty on 10.7.2010
I made it for a 4th of July cake (not smart when it was 100 degrees in my kitchen) and wasn’t impressed, but I feel like it was most likely my fault and am waiting for another opportunity to try it out again!
Lauren on 10.7.2010
I have made this frosting several times, used it to frost chocolate sheet cake, cupcakes, and most recently, the pioneer woman’s pumpkin spice cake to RAVE reviews. I know it must be an old recipe because I’ve had several people close their eyes dreamily and say, oh yes. That’s my granny’s frosting. For the pumpkin cake, I used food coloring to give the frosting an orange hue. Just for fun. I also put it in a ziploc bag, cut the corner, and piped it onto cupcakes for my daughters second birthday party. I think because of the flour you get a larger volume of frosting without the super sweet sugariness of buttercream or sugar icing. I could write a sonnet…
Amy S. on 10.7.2010
We tried this the last time you posted it and I have to say, even my frosting loving kids hated it. My youngest said it tasted like they were frosted with mayonnaise. They like the ultra sweet, nothing-but-powdered-sugar-and-butter kind of frosting. Oh, and don’t forget the sprinkles.
Amber K. on 10.7.2010
I was so excited to try this recipe, so I decided to make it for the cupcakes I was making for a bridal shower. (Which was also a bit of a taste test for someone who wants me to make wedding cupcakes for them.) I was so dissapointed. I felt like it tasted very much like flour and not much else. I do not think I did anything wrong, but the taste was just not good. No one else seemed to like it either. A lot of wiping off of the frosting happened to get to the yummy lemon-coconut cupcake. Maybe I need to try this again, but I am not very hopeful…
Kelsey on 10.7.2010
This frosting is my favorite. I frosted some angel food cupcakes with it and oh how marvelous. I refrigerated the leftover and my roommates and I just ate it with a spoon the next day. So. Good.
Patti on 10.7.2010
Yes! This really is the best frosting ever, especially on Ree’s chocolate cake. It’s really good in a layer cake. It’s fluffy, not super sweet, kind of like the frosting in a devil dog, but better! When I have company or holidays, I always make this and everyone raves. Try it!
Liz on 10.7.2010
This sounds a little like the red velvet frosting in our family and I tried it once and failed. I am SO inspired to try again! Perhaps Saturday game day with red sprinkles.
Jill on 10.7.2010
this is very similar to my frosting recipe………..my absolute favorite, too!!! dreamy!!
Trina on 10.7.2010
We always used this frosting recipe when I was growing up. It is the BEST. FROSTING. EVER. Red velvet cake would not be the same at all without it. I even use it as the filling in homemade whoopie pies, whick will make your eyes roll back in your head, BTW.
PW, do not listen to the nay-sayers; they know not of which they speak. This stuff rocks!!
Donna on 10.7.2010
Sorry to drop the cupcake…but I made this frosting and I have to give it a thumbs down. It tasted like paste
NellO on 10.7.2010
Oh, we have used this recipe in our family for YEARS!!! The only difference is we also add 1 teaspoon butter flavoring. We use this frosting on red velvet cake, just delicious!!!!! Try it!!!
FunMom on 10.7.2010
MMMmmmmMmmmmmmmmmm.
Amanda C. on 10.7.2010
I think I will try both the chocolate cupcake and the frosting for the afterschool snack today!!! YUMMY!!