Butter Icing

This easy recipe makes enough butter icing to cover a two-layer, 8-inch cake.  Compare this ingredient list to what you would find on store bought frosting and I think you will want to take the few minutes to make this.  Don’t forget to lick the beaters!!

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup                      Butter, softened

2 cups                        Confectioner’s (icing) sugar

4-6 tbsp                    Milk (depending on how stiff you want the icing)

½ tsp                         Vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

• Cream butter in small mixing bowl with electric mixer. 
• Add one cup of icing sugar and one tbsp of milk and mix. 
• Add second cup of icing sugar and another tbsp of milk and vanilla and mix.
• Add additional milk 1 tbsp at a time until you have the desired consistency.  CAUTION:  If you add too much milk you will need to add more icing sugar to thicken the icing.  That can make the icing very sweet.
• NOTE:  If you are decorating with the icing you will want to add less milk, so you have a thicker icing. If you are spreading the icing over the whole cake, you will want to add a little more milk, so it is easier to spread.

Colorful icing:  Add a few drops of food coloring to the icing once you have the desired consistency.

Chocolate icing:  Add cocoa powder to the icing.  The amount depends on your desired result.  I like a rich chocolate taste and add about 6 tbsp of cocoa to my chocolate icing.  You may need to add another drop of milk after mixing in the cocoa.

ICING THE CAKE

Once you have transferred the cake to a plate, tuck parchment paper under the edge of the cake before icing.  Once you are finished icing the cake, remove the parchment paper.  This helps to prevent icing from messing up the display on the edge of the plate.  If you are putting an edge of icing along the bottom of the cake, remove the paper before doing so. 

TWO-LAYERED CAKE

Place first layer on plate bottom side up.  Add just enough icing to cover the surface and then place second layer on top, bottom side down. 

Whipped shortbread and festive rice krispie squares dress up real nice with a dollop of butter icing!

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