Extra Special Buttercream Icing

Directions

1. 1
   Cream butter and shortening until fluffy.
2. 2
   Add sugar, meringue powder, about half of the cream, and continue creaming until well blended.
3. 3
   Add salt, flavorings and enough whipping cream to make the consistency you need.
4. 4
   Beat at medium speed until icing is fluffy.
5. 5
   You may substitute all shortening for the butter, which will give a pure white icing, but the flavor will not be quite as good.
6. 6
   I used butter and real vanilla and the icing turned out a very pale ivory, which I personally prefer to a stark-white icing.
7. 7
   The meringue powder gives the icing a light crust, but it remains soft underneath.