Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

By Bostoncook

Countrylifecityliving

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 6 tablespoons cream, or milk, plus more if needed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

1. Cream butter. Gradually beat in sugar, alternating with cream and beating well after each addition.

2. Stir in vanilla. Add more cream as needed.

3. Chill - will thicken as butter hardens.

Notes: Easy and perfect. Was better with cream than milk. Did need a pinch of salt - which toned down the cloying sweetness nicely.

Enough for 1 9" layer cake or 24 cupcakes

Chocolate - Can add 2 ozs melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate - add after adding about half of the sugar.

Mocha - Add 1 oz melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate - add after adding about half of the sugar. Sub 2 tbsp very strong coffee for 2 tbsp milk or cream.

Lemon - Omit cream and reduce vanilla to 1 tsp. Thin mixture with 1 large egg yolk and 1 tsp lemon juice or orange juice. Stir in 1 tsp grated lkime zest or 1 tbsp grated orange zest. Can use cream cheese for half of butter.