This is a pretty much standard traditional buttercream frosting. This basic vanilla recipe makes enough to cover a dozen cupcakes, but feel free to double it (for cakes), triple it, add food coloring or different flavor extracts. If you find this too sweet, you can add a dash of salt to the milk or the vanilla. Personally I like it sweet, and I used salted butter, so I didn’t find it necessary.
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons salted butter
- 5 tablespoons shortening
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Directions
1Beat butter and shortening together with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Beat the vanilla extract into the butter mixture. Add sugar, one cup at a time, beating on medium speed until fully incorporated. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, beating on high until fully incorporated and you have frosting.
