Buttercream Frosting

I have posted a lot of cakes and frosting in 8 years - a lot, a lot. And I've shared how I make my standard buttercream recipe a bunch of times but always in a post about the cake, it doesn't have its own post. So I'm fixing that and you won't have to search cake posts for it!

• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 3 1/2 - 4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of coarse salt (don't add salt if you are using salted butter)
• enough milk or cream to give the consistency I want, maybe 2-3 tablespoons. I don't measure, just pour in a tiny bit at a time.

Beat the butter until fluffy. Mix in 1 cup of powdered sugar, add vanilla and salt. Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar (if you add it all at once it's gonna fly out of the bowl all over the place - trust me hahah)  alternating with a little milk or cream each time and mix on medium-high until the frosting is light and creamy, and the right consistency to spread or decorate. 

Makes enough to frost 24 cupcakes, an 8 or 9" layer cake, or a 13x9" cake

• It's ok to leave buttercream frosting at room temperature for about 3 days. After that you should refrigerate it. 
• If you don't immediately frost your cake it's ok to store the frosting in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days - I keep it in the fridge tho and then when it's time to use it I let it come up to room temperature and give it a quick whip to get it light and fluffy again.
• you can freeze buttercream in a ziplock freezer bag or air-tight container; you can also frost your cake, cover it, and freeze it decorated. 
• you can substitute other extract flavors for the vanilla; add cocoa powder to make it chocolatey; replace the milk with other liquid like pina colada mix, lemonade, juice, etc. 
• use clear vanilla to keep the frosting whiter

9.26.21: 🔥week 39

9.26.20: anniversary drawing

9.26.19: alfredo and pink sauces

9.26.18: german chocolate cheesecake

9.26.17: paper sunflowers

9.26.16: wood display box 

9.26.15: how to use a hulk sized zucchini