There are lots of buttercream icing recipes out there, but this one is the very best! Ok, maybe I'm a little biased because it's my Mom's recipe ;-) She has been baking cakes for over 30 years and has tweaked her icing recipe over the years to develop this masterpiece. In this Instructable, with her permission, I am going to share how to make the best buttercream icing ever!

Ingredient list:

4 cups vegetable shortening

1 stick butter/margarine

1 1/4 cup water

2 Tablespoons vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon butter flavoring

3 bags (6 pounds) powdered sugar

Stand mixer (for these amounts, you will need at least a 7 quart mixing bowl - if your mixer is smaller, adjust the amounts accordingly)

Step 1: Shortening

Measure out 4 cups of vegetable shortening; place in mixing bowl.

Pictured above is the best brand we've found for smooth icing since trans-fats were removed from Crisco brand.

Step 2: Butter or Margarine

Add 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine.

Step 3: Flavorings

Add 2 Tablespoons vanilla flavoring and 1 Tablespoon butter flavoring.

Step 4: Water

Add 1 1/4 cups water.

Step 5: Powdered Sugar

Add 2 bags of powdered sugar to mixer and place on lowest speed. One way to prevent sloshing out of liquid is to place a dish towel around the bowl until mixture is somewhat combined.

Mix on low speed for approximately 2 minutes.

Then add the last bag of powdered sugar.

Step 6: Mix

Mix on medium speed for at least 2 minutes - to desired fluffiness.

Tint if desired. We used "ivory" icing color here to give it an ivory tint for a wedding cake.