How to Make Coconut Whipping Cream Icing

This icing is very light and goes very well with just about any cake flavor. I just made a cake for my cousin and I wasn't too sure what icing to use since she has diabetes, so I threw a few things together and came up with this. Everybody loved the cake and the icing was perfect. It's not too sweet, so it's perfect for any occasion.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons of coconut extract
• 1 tablespoon of piping gel
• 1/2 cup of sweetened coconut

1. Pour the whipping cream into a chilled bowl and mix on high with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. (You know when soft peaks have formed when you lift the mixer and the whipping cream lifts up but, then falls back down.)

2. Add the coconut extract, sugar and piping gel and continue to mix until stiff peaks form. (Stiff peaks have been formed when the whipping cream has thickened and it stays up when the mixer has been lifted.)

3. Now take the coconut .
   nd place it in a chopper or food processor and chop it up for a few seconds to cut it into smaller pieces. If you don't have a chopper, a knife will work okay as well. Make sure the knife is sharp and just chop it up as best you can. Fold in the coconut until well incorporated.

Tips & Warnings

• The piping gel helps the whipping cream to stabilize so try not to omit it. It can be found at the Wal-Mart and is fairly inexpensive.
• If using the icing to pipe borders, make sure to chop the coconut or use a large decorator tip to avoid clogging.
• Before making this icing, make sure that the whipping cream has been in the refrigerator for a day or in the freezer for at least an hour.
• To avoid getting a cottage cheese like texture, freeze the bowl and the attachments from the mixer.
• Add ice in a larger bowl and place the frozen bowl onto the ice to keep the whipping cream cold.
• If the whipping cream is too warm, it will curdle and it will get a cottage cheese like consistency.