Classic butter and powdered sugar American-style buttercream. The frosting most Americans grew up with, especially if their moms made their birthday cakes!
powdered sugarsifted (3-4 cups per stick of butter)
pinchof salt
splash of vanilla
Liquid of choice to thin to spreading consistency(see Options below)
Optional Ingredients
melted and cooled chocolate
cream or half and half(or other liquid: orange juice, lemon juice, liqueur, etc)
food coloring
other extractssuch as lemon, orange, mint, etc
dried spices(cinnamon, ginger, etc) or citrus zest
Instructions
Cream the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add the pinch of salt and then add the powdered sugar, a bit at a time, until you are happy with how sweet it is. Figure around 2 cups of powdered sugar per 4 oz. butter, but just do it to taste.
Add your vanilla and chocolate, if using. Or, omit the vanilla and add your other extract along with some zest, if you'd like.
Thin to spreading consistency with the liquid of your choice.
Notes
VariationsThis frosting is incredibly versatile. Stir in mini chocolate chips, toasted and ground nuts, coconut--almost anything you can think of. Substitute some peanut butter or other nut butter for half the butter to make a peanut butter frosting.For Cream Cheese FrostingUse 4 oz cream cheese (half a block) and 4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter and 6-8 cups of confectioner's sugar. Cream cheese frosting is excellent with a bit of orange or lemon zest mixed in. Use buttermilk for the thinning liquid to get a nice tangy flavor.