Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and a Birthday Cake

While I was home last weekend, I whipped a quick boxed cake mix for Mom's birthday.  She wanted Dad to use his cake decorating kit she got him for Christmas for the first time.  He actually didn't end up doing the decorating since he was outside finishing up the new brake pads I needed on my car.  Instead, Josh and I filled in.

First, whip the butter for a few minutes. It will get light and fluffy.

Next, sift your powdered into the butter and mix slowly.

Add in your vanilla and a little milk and whip it all up to incorporate.  Dad took a bite and I was surprised he said it was too sugary!! What?!?!

The artist perfectionist in him would like to tell everyone I decorated this cake, but it was all his handiwork. I just told him what to draw and helped fill the frosting bags.  We did have to decorate on the fly, though, because Kaydin was doing her best work to keep her Grammy out of the house while we finished.  I think it's cute, though!

Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Adapted from Savory Sweet Life

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!) Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
• 3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (I used milk)

Instructions

1. Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn’t blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract,  and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.

**The original recipe called for unsalted butter and 1/4 teaspoon butter. Instead, I used salted butter and omitted the salt.

**I 1 1/2 this recipe.  My final measurements were 3 sticks of butter and 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar.