Crusting Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 bag (2 lbs) sifted confectioners' (powdered) sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened and cut into ½" cubes
• 1½ cups solid vegetable shortening
• 1½ tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 - 1/2 cupwhole milk (to desired consistency)

Instructions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, shortening and vanilla exctract until smooth, 3-5 min on medium speed. Stop the mixer.
    
2. Add about ¼ of the confectioners' sugar. You need to add this gradually, or you might have a sugary snowstorm in your kitchen when you start to mix.
    
3. Mix on low speed until incorporated. Pause to scrap the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula and add another ¼ of the confectioners' sugar. Continue mixing and pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl until you've added all the confectioners' sugar. This mixture will likely be quite thick.
    
4. Add 1/8 cup of the milk and mix at low speed until incorporated. At this point, it's up to you whether or not you'd like to add more - it's a matter of your preference for the consistency.